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Our doctors and nurses approach treatment and long-term care as a team. And that team includes you and your family. We make sure you receive all the information and support you need to feel comfortable with each decision. We even have a designated staff member—called the breast cancer nurse navigator—whose job is to guide you through the process and make sure you get answers to your questions.
For more information on our Breast Care Center, please call (402) 219-5900. If you would like to schedule a 3D or digital mammogram, please call St. Elizabeth CARE office at (402) 219-7123.
If you are over 40, you should also have an annual mammogram. 3D and Digital mammography is offered at the hospital with same-day results. Along with regular self-exams, digital mammography is the best way to detect breast cancer early, when it is most treatable.
While mammography is an excellent way to detect breast abnormalities, additional testing is often needed to determine whether the finding is malignant (cancerous) or benign. A biopsy, MRI or ultrasound is typically the next step.
There are several types of breast biopsies, but all involve removing tissue from the breast and studying it under a microscope. A pathologist will examine the cells and make a diagnosis. In some cases, a diagnosis can be made using an MRI or ultrasound.
Depending on the type and stage of your cancer, your surgery may be a lumpectomy (when the surgeon removes the tumor from the breast) or a mastectomy (when the surgeon removes the entire breast). At your request, a plastic surgeon may also be involved.
Your nurse navigator will meet with you before surgery to answer any questions you may have. If you wish, a chaplain will also meet and pray with you.
St. Elizabeth is committed to advancing cancer treatment through research. One way we do this is by offering our patients the opportunity to participate in clinical trials. By joining a clinical trial, you’re ensuring your experience is used to help others in the future.
The St. Elizabeth Breast Care Center has access to national clinical trials through the Breast Cancer Collaborative Registry, the Center for Translational Research, the Nebraska Cancer Research Center and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. Read more about research and clinical trials.
Chemotherapy uses chemicals to target cancer cells in the body. These chemicals generally inhibit the cells’ ability to divide, or reproduce. Chemotherapy may be the sole treatment method, or it may be used in combination with surgery and radiation.
Many patients choose to receive chemotherapy at a physician’s office. However, chemo is available at St. Elizabeth if you wish to receive this treatment through the hospital. Read more about the CHI Health cancer treatment options.
Radiation therapy targets cancer cells using radiation beams. Computerized treatment-planning programs allow us to direct radiation at a tumor from multiple angles, thus targeting the cancer cells and minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
St. Elizabeth offers top-quality radiation treatment that is close to your home, family and friends. Women at St. Elizabeth Breast Care Center are benefiting from a new radiation therapy treatment called AccuBoost® that cuts down on the body’s exposure to radiation. Read more about radiation therapy.
Our job is to help patients heal not only physically but also emotionally and spiritually. The St. Elizabeth Breast Care Center takes a holistic approach, offering a complete range of support services designed to promote all aspects of healing. View a list of support group opportunities.
Healing continues even after treatment is over. Our survivorship program is designed to help you move forward with your life after cancer. We help you work through the recovery process, as well as organize and keep track of your treatment records.
