The Breast Health Program at St. Patrick Hospital offers mammography screening, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer as well as lactation consultations and is the only breast health center in western Montana to be awarded the Three-Year Full Accreditation by the National Accreditation Program from Breast Centers (NAPBC). Learn more about this accreditation.
The Breast Care Coordinator is Char Houska, RN, OCN, CBCN. To learn more about her role, click here.
The Broadway Imaging Center (BIC) performs mammograms, both for annual screening and taking a closer look with a diagnostic mammogram. BIC offers fully digital capabilities for screening and diagnostic mammography. Also, ultrasound and ultrasound biopsy, stereotactic biopsy, MRI and MRI assisted biopsy are available. Radiologists that specialize in breast diagnosis perform and review the testing.
Two surgeons with a special interest and emphasis in breast disease perform the majority of breast surgeries. They are Dr. Brad Pickhardt, FACS, and Dr. Lori Grimsley, FACS. They can be reached at Missoula Surgical Associates at 406.542.7525.
Montana Cancer Center offers full service medical and radiation oncology for treatment of breast cancer. Six medical oncologists provide management of chemotherapy and recovery, providing chemotherapy at teh infusion center on site. Two radiation oncologists specialize in radiation treatment of cancers at the Radiation Oncology Department at St. Patrick Hospital.. They can be reached at Montana Cancer Center at 406.728.2539.
Breast Cancer
One in eight American women will face breast cancer in her lifetime. When discovered early, breast cancer is a highly treatable disease with one of the highest cure rates known today. The most effective way to detect early signs of breast cancer is through:
- Breast self exam
- Clinical breast exam by your physician
- Routine mammograms
Early Warning Signs:
- A lump
- Thickening of the breast
- Swelling in the breast or surrounding area
- Pain in or around the breast
- Nipple discharge on one side
- Retraction (where the nipple or skin is being pulled in)
- A skin rash on or around the breast
St. Patrick Hospital Breast Center Awarded Three-year Full Accreditation from October 2009 through October 2012 from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC)
This NAPBC is a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. Accreditation by the NAPBC is only given to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. During the survey process, the center must demonstrate compliance with standards established by the NAPBC for treating women who are diagnosed with the full spectrum of breast disease. The standards include proficiency in the areas of: center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement. A breast center that achieves NAPBC accreditation has demonstrated a firm commitment to offer its patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease.
Receiving care at a NAPBC-accredited center ensures that a patient will have access to:
- Comprehensive care, including a full range of state-of-the-art services
- A multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best treatment options
- Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options
- Quality breast care close to home.