Anderson Regional Breast Center is Meridian’s only Breast Imaging
Center of Excellence, offering a state-of-the-art, full-service facility
for comprehensive breast care. We provide screening services, highly advanced
diagnostic imaging and professional consultations in a warm, welcoming,
family and patient-centered environment.
Center of Excellence
Anderson Regional Breast Center is also designated as Meridian’s
only Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.
Accreditation in mammography, stereotactic biopsy, ultrasound breast,
ultrasound biopsy, and breast MRI accreditation are required to achieve
the center of excellence status.
Anderson Regional Breast Center has voluntarily gone through a rigorous
review process by board certified, expert radiologists and medical physicists
in advanced diagnostic imaging to ensure that the center meets nationally
accepted standards of care set by the American College of Radiology (ACR).
Our facility's personnel qualifications, equipment requirements, quality
assurance and quality control procedures meet the highest level of imaging
quality and radiation safety, which qualified Anderson Regional Breast
Center for the Gold Standard of Accreditation.
Anderson Regional Breast Center is also recognized by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) as a Certified Mammography Facility.
Breast Center Staff: Sitting from L-R: Shanta Elliott, Lacey Waltman, Sharlyn
Braddock, April Smith
Standing from L-R: Kay Rains, Debra House, Flossie Straight, Dr. Amy Coleman
Patient Focused Environment
Our patients are very important to us. We strive to:
Develop an active partnership with our patients
Embrace our patients and their families
Provide our patients with dignity and respect
Promote education and early detection
Leading-edge Diagnostic and Screening Services
Anderson Regional Breast Center provides screening mammograms and clinical
breast exams to aid in the screening and early detection of breast cancer.
Upon discovery of a breast lump or an abnormal mammogram, immediate follow-up
— in a timely manner — is provided, and a comprehensive array
of diagnostic resources is available.
They include:
The most advanced diagnostic imaging modalities, including full-field digital
mammography, ultrasound and breast MRI, as well as lymphoscintigraphy
for lymph node mapping
Nonsurgical stereotactic and ultrasound guided breast biopsy to evaluate
breast abnormalities, performed by diagnostic radiologist breast specialists
Interpretation by diagnostic radiologists with specialty training in breast imaging
Sentinel lymph node biopsy by experienced breast surgeons
Types of Breast Conditions and Breast Cancer Treated
Anderson Regional Breast Center specialists treat all types of breast conditions,
including:
Atypia
In situ (or non-invasive) breast cancer
Invasive ductal breast cancer
Invasive lobular breast cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer
Paget's disease
Metastatic breast cancer
Nipple discharge
Breast pain
Fibrocystic breast syndrome
Short term follow-up of benign biopsy
Short term follow-up of radiographic changes
Family history of breast cancer
Patient with benign breast history
Mastitis/abscess
Comprehensive Breast Cancer Treatment Resources
Treatment options for breast cancer, in conjunction with Anderson Regional
Cancer Center, include:
Medical Oncology: The latest, most effective standard-of-care chemotherapy,
hormonal treatment and trastuzumab (Herceptin®) regimens for all stages
of breast cancer
Radiation Oncology: Includes conventional external beam radiation and,
for appropriate patients, HDR partial breast irradiation, a five-day targeted
radiation therapy that places the radiation source inside the lumpectomy cavity
Surgical Oncology: Depending on tumor location, size, grade and node status,
surgical options include breast-conserving lumpectomy, quadrantectomy
and mastectomy
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Before undergoing mastectomy or other
surgical treatment, patients can explore options for immediate or delayed
reconstructive breast surgery
Establishment of long-term survivorship care plan
Our Patient Navigator Gives Support
If a diagnosis of cancer is made, our patient navigator is available to
help you through this time and provide the support you need to make sure
you get the best care possible. Our patient navigator provides streamlined
access to a range of local support services to help patients and their
families deal with the physical, emotional, financial and logistical impact
of a cancer diagnosis. Careful attention to each patient’s personal
needs — and those of his or her family — is our patient navigator’s
specialty.
Exceptional Education and Support
We provide an exceptional array of education and support resources, including:
For women with a family history of breast cancer or other special concerns,
risk assessment, genetic testing for the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene and genetic
counseling are available by physician referral.
Individual and group education on breast self-examination is available.
Center staff provides up-to-date information on community-based breast
cancer support groups as well as local, state and national advocacy and
support organizations.
For every biopsy patient, educational literature on breast cancer is available,
providing a wealth of information and educational resources.
Survivorship care plans are given to patients who have completed their
treatment. This plan provides a summary of treatment received and the
expected follow-up in the future.
Early Detection is the Key
Mammograms play a central part in the early detection of breast cancer
because they can detect changes in the breast that may be early signs
of cancer, but are too small or subtle to be felt. The use of digital
mammography has greatly enhanced the ability to detect breast cancers
at earlier stages and are a must for women with dense breast tissue. Remember
that an annual mammogram is one of your best defenses against breast cancer.
The American Cancer Society recommends:
Breast exam yearly by your physician
Self-breast exam monthly
Mammogram yearly, beginning at age 40 to 45, depending on your family history
and the recommendations of your physician
Media
Mammography
Dr. Amy Coleman explains the guidelines on how and when you should have your mammogram.