Breast Care
Southern Indiana Surgeons (SIS) at The Breast Health Center at Columbus are committed to providing women the most comprehensive technology for early diagnosis, rapid treatment and comfortable recovery. Board certified SIS physicians are some of the most knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated specialists you'll find anywhere. Because they have offices on the campus at Columbus Regional Hospital, Southern Indiana Surgeons are immediately available for consultation. SIS works together with The Breast Health Center radiologists, pathologists, nurses, technologists and support staff. From initial diagnosis to education, surgery and follow up, the Southern Indiana Surgery team provides superior breast health care services focused on giving patients unsurpassed personal care.
Breast Health Center services include:
- Image Checker
- Screening mammography
- Genetic high-risk education
- Treatment planning
- Nurse Navigator
- Minimally invasive biopsies
- Ultrasound
- Stereotatic biopsy with Mammotome vacuum assistance
- Sentinel Lymph node biopsies
- Access to clinical trials
- Next day results for biopsy patients
Breast Health Center patient support:
- Support groups
- Referral services
- Treatment planning
- Information resources
- Access to clinical trials
- Community and screening education
Breast Cancer Survivor Stories
Decreasing the WaitAs a part of our commitment to women's health, Southern Indiana Surgery physicians at The Breast Health Center offer streamlined services. Referring physicians can expect mammograms to be scheduled within 24 to 48 hours. In most cases, minimally invasive biopsies can be performed within 48 to 72 hours of diagnosis. Next day results are almost always possible. Decreasing the wait for procedures and answers is incredibly beneficial to our patients.
High Tech ProceduresSIS physicians at The Breast Health Center utilize Image Checker, computer aided mammography screening technology that improves breast cancer detection rates by as much as 15%. Detecting cancer at an earlier stage helps save lives. The Breast Health Center at Columbus is one of the few facilities in Indiana to offer it. The Breast Health Center also offers several minimally invasive biopsy options including biopsy guided with ultrasound, stereotactic biopsy with vacuum assistance, and sentinel lymph node biopsies. Each highly specialized procedure is designed to minimize invasiveness, maximize detection and removal, and provide the fastest possible physical and emotional patient recovery.
Individualized Care
Nurse Navigators
Whether a patient has a suspicious mammogram or has just been diagnosed with breast cancer, emotions are intense and the medical questions can be overwhelming. That's why The Breast Health Center at Columbus Regional Hospital and Southern Indiana Surgery offer individual care such as a Nurse Navigator for their patients. A Nurse Navigator can provide a level of personal patient care and follow up that is intensely helpful during this stressful time. A Nurse Navigator assists patients by answering questions, attending physician-patient meetings, explaining treatment options, providing postoperative follow up, and offering person-to-person patient and family support.
MammoSite®
Early detection plus advancements in technology mean getting back to your normal life sooner.
| Watch this video to learn more about MammoSite® |
Breast cancer isn't easy. Waiting for the diagnosis, going through procedures to let doctors understand your cancer and work out a treatment plan, then getting treatment — it all feels like your life is on hold.
But thankfully, more cancers today are being found at the very earliest stages due to more and better mammography screening and women performing breast self-exams. And, with advances that have been made in understanding breast cancer, more women are able to have these early cancers treated with little or no change in appearance, and minimal disruption of their lives.
When cancer is found early, MammoSite® 5-day Targeted Radiation Therapy could be used following lumpectomy to help keep cancer from coming back. It only takes 5 days and it targets the radiation right to the area that the cancer is most likely to recur. Since it's so targeted, there is minimal radiation delivered to other healthy tissue.
Your doctors will carefully evaluate your cancer to determine if you are a candidate for this advanced treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
"If my doctor found a suspicious lump in my breast, wouldn't the best place to get treatment be in Indianapolis?"
Answer: The best place for treatment is closer than you think. Together with The Breast Health Center at Columbus Regional Hospital, the surgeons at SIS provide the latest, most comprehensive technology for early diagnosis, rapid treatment and comfortable recovery. The board certified SIS physicians are some of the most knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated specialists you'll find anywhere in the state.
"What diagnostic equipment do you have and what does it do?"
Answer: Image Checker is The Breast Center's newest computer aided mammography screening device. Because it detects cancer earlier than almost any other device on the market, it improves breast cancer detection rates by as much as 15%. Few other Indiana facilities have it. We also offer Four-view (4-D) mammograms, to aid in discovering masses that standard (2-D) mammograms may overlook.
"What are my biopsy options?"
Answer: The Breast Health Center has several minimally invasive biopsy options. Each highly specialized procedure is designed to minimize invasiveness, maximize detection and removal, and enable the fastest possible physical and emotional recovery.
Your physician can help guide you toward the process that's right for you.
- Biopsy guided with ultrasound
- Ultrasound wand developed especially for breasts helps surgeons navigate through dense breast tissue
- Stereotactic biopsy with vacuum assistance
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy
- Radioactive tracers help surgeons find and remove specific lymph nodes infected with cancer, saving patients from having more breast tissue removed than necessary.