Breast Health

Breast health is much more than a mammogram. At the Rush-Copley Center for Breast Health, women find hope, guidance, information and answers for everything from breastfeeding to a first mammogram, a suspicious finding and fibrocystic breast disease.

Digital Mammography

Rush-Copley is the Fox Valley’s leader in breast health, bringing the region’s most comprehensive, academic-level services to women in our community. Unlike most hospitals, we offer same-day digital mammogram results, saving you the anxiety of needless waiting. If something suspicious is found, we’ll schedule a follow-up assessment within two days. And if treatment is required, you’ll have access to the latest procedures, including brachytherapy, an advanced radiation treatment that requires just five days instead of the usual five to six weeks. By weighing every option and carefully considering the best treatment for each patient, Rush-Copley ranks among the best in the state for successful outcomes of its breast cancer patients.

Prevention and Early Detection

We offer a variety of diagnostic services, community education programs and online resources, many of which are located in the Heart Institute building. To make you feel comfortable, we’ve created a spa-like atmosphere complete with terry cloth robes, herbal tea and more. Services include:

• Mammography 
     -Screening mammograms are performed when no evidence of a lump or  another symptom is present.
     -Same-day appointments
     -Results within 1 hour
• Nutritional Counseling
• Smoking cessation programs
• Genetic risk assessments

Pinpointing Disease with Advanced Diagnostics

In the case of a breast abnormality, a mammogram is only the first step. To ensure the accuracy of your diagnosis, Rush-Copley’s highly skilled radiologists may also utilize the following techniques:

• Diagnostic radiology: Diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, CT and PET imaging
• Stereotactic biopsy: A minimally invasive technique using computer-generated images to locate breast abnormalities which more accurately pinpoint the area to be biopsied
• Sentinel lymph node biopsy: Allows the surgeon to minimize the extent of underarm lymph node removal necessary to diagnose and stage breast cancer

Improving Your Odds with the Latest Treatment Options

Treating breast cancer requires an integrated approach and expertise. Rush-Copley specialists are skilled in procedures that you’d find only at academic medical centers

Medical Oncology Services

• Private infusion rooms
• Latest cancer-fighting drugs including biologic therapies
• 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy
• MammoSite® Radiation Therapy System: High Dose Rate brachytherapy  for early stage breast cancers —shortens radiation treatment time by  as much as 80%

Surgical Services

• Specially trained surgeons are experts in using the most advanced  therapeutic* and reconstructive techniques designed to maximize the  patient’s quality of life and body image. Organ preserving and minimally invasive procedures may reduce the need for mastectomy or the  complete removal of the underarm (axillary) lymph nodes. When  possible, therapeutic and reconstructive procedures are performed  during the same visit.
  
   *Rush-Copley exceeds national benchmarks for patients who receive  breast-conserving treatments.

Someone To Watch Over You: Patient Navigator

Facing a cancer diagnosis alone can be overwhelming. At Rush-Copley, we believe you should never be alone from that point on. In addition to the support of your family, it’s important that you have a clinical advocate, a trusted friend, to guide and comfort you through every step of your diagnosis and treatment. This patient navigator will watch over you during a difficult process, calming your anxieties and easing your confusion. Whether you need additional screenings and tests, or an abnormality has been detected, your navigator will coordinate your care, scheduling appointments and offering sound advice and support.

In addition to facilitating Living with Cancer, a bi-weekly support group, the Center for Breast health team offers a number of programs to aid in your recovery:

• Fatigue management
• Nutritional support
• Lymphedema clinic
• Pain management
• Financial counseling
• Social worker and psychologists
• Look Good…Feel Better®
• Therapeutic memberships at Rush-Copley Healthplex
• Yoga and massage
• Y-Me breast cancer support group