Breast Care

The expert team of nurses, radiologists and breast surgical oncologists at PeaceHealth can screen, diagnose and monitor a range of benign (noncancerous) breast conditions. Most breast lumps are harmless. However, there are some, such as complex cysts, that may have a higher risk of causing breast cancer.

If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, you can receive advanced breast cancer care close to home at PeaceHealth.

Breast care at PeaceHealth

Find breast care services that are comprehensive and close to home.

Accredited breast imaging center

PeaceHealth has been named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology. This means we've met or exceeded high standards for imaging quality and safety and you can expect care and procedures from us that enhance outcomes.

You’ll have a nurse navigator to guide you

Learning you have breast cancer can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. Your dedicated PeaceHealth nurse navigator will guide you at every step throughout your treatment and recovery.

Access to free screenings

Lack of insurance shouldn’t keep you from having a mammogram that could help save your life. Through our partnerships with local nonprofits, patients that qualify can get free breast exams.

A wide support network

Educational and support services can help you cope with a cancer diagnosis and treatments. Resources include cancer rehabilitation, support groups, nutrition services, palliative care and financial counseling. We also offer an on-site boutique where you can find prosthetic breasts, wigs and scarves.

Conditions We Treat

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS, or lobular neoplasia)

With this condition, cells that look like cancer cells are growing in the lobules (milk-producing glands of the breast). LCIS is not a form of cancer, and it usually doesn’t spread, even if untreated. However, women with LCIS do have a greater chance of getting invasive breast cancer.

Cysts

Simple cysts are fluid-filled sacs. They may be small or large and grow in one or both breasts.

Fibroadenomas

Fibroadenomas are benign tumors made of connective tissue or extra milk-producing glands. They feel firm and rubbery and move easily when touched.

Fibrocystic changes

These are noticeable breast changes that may happen monthly. Symptoms include tenderness, swelling and lumps. Lumps may grow the week before your period, then shrink a week later.

Hyperplasia

Hyperplasia happens when your body makes too much of a certain kind of cell. These cells line the inside of the milk glands and ducts in the breast. Subtypes include ductal, lobular and atypical hyperplasia. Women with atypical hyperplasia have a higher risk of breast cancer.

Intraductal papilloma
These are small growths that look like warts. They grow inside the mammary duct, near the nipple. Symptoms include nipple discharge or bleeding.
Mastitis

Mastitis is an infection caused by bacteria that enter the breast through the nipple. It is common among breastfeeding women.

Treatments Provided

Advanced breast imaging

If your mammogram results aren’t clear, your doctor may order extra tests to help confirm or rule out cancer. These tests include breast ultrasound or breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Breast biopsies

Breast biopsies confirm if breast cancer cells are present and the type of cancer cells they are. PeaceHealth offers several biopsies, including fine needle aspiration (FNA), core needle, surgical, lymph node and image-guided (also called stereotactic biopsy). You and your doctor will discuss which biopsy is right for you.

Breast Surgery

Breast surgery treats both cancerous and non-cancerous (benign) conditions of the breast, such as infections and fibroids. Common procedures include lumpectomy and mastectomy.

High-risk services

Some women have a higher risk of breast cancer for reasons they can’t control. This includes a family history of the disease. Your PeaceHealth doctor can help you get tested for inherited gene mutations including BRCA1 and BRCA2. If you test positive, you may need to be screened for cancer more often and at a younger age.

Prevention and wellness

We can help you make lifestyle changes that may lower your risk of cancer. You may need to lose weight, quit smoking, cut down on alcohol use or limit hormone therapy during menopause. You’ll learn how to perform monthly breast self-exams, so you can quickly find changes that may be signs of cancer.