Comprehensive Diagnostic Care
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 230,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer each year, with more than 39,500 American women dying from the disease. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in this country other than skin cancer, and is the second leading cause of cancer death in the nation, following lung cancer.
In recent years, the death rate among women diagnosed with breast cancer has been steadily declining, which is probably the result of earlier detection and better treatment methods. Regular screenings can help detect breast cancer in its earliest stages, when it is most treatable, and can help women increase their chance of surviving the disease. That's why doctors recommend women begin monthly self-exams and regular clinical breast exams at age 20, and annual mammograms starting at age 40.
Our Location
The Breast Health Center is now located in Medical Office Building 1:
8340 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, Suite 160
Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202
(On the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center campus, next to the hospital)
Where to park:
When parking, please remember that the new Breast Health Center location is not in the hospital. Parking for Medical Office Building 1, off of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, should be utilized to access the new location.
Breast Health Center
At the Breast Health Center, we want to make our patients as comfortable as possible throughout their entire experience, whether it's an annual mammogram or comprehensive diagnostic care. The center is located within a quiet, tastefully appointed suite where patients can relax in our tranquil waiting room and take comfort in the professional, compassionate care we provide.
To schedule an appointment, call 941-782-2264.
Appointments can usually be scheduled within 48 hours. We are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m - 4:30 p.m. The Breast Health Center is located next to the hospital in Medical Office Building 1.
Breast Care Navigator
Certified Breast Care Navigator Denise Andrews, BS, RDMS, RVT, BHCN, provides professional guidance to patients of the Breast Health Center. Denise works closely with patients, their family members and medical staff members to help provide support, education and assistance navigating individual plans of care.
Learn more about our Breast Care Navigator >
3-D Mammography
An important screening tool for detecting breast cancer is available at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. Breast tomosynthesis, or 3-D mammography, allows physicians to examine breasts with more precision during the first screening, saving patients time, unnecessary worry and exposure to radiation.
Unlike traditional two-dimensional breast images, 3-D mammograms allow physicians to examine breast tissue one layer at a time, giving them increased ability to detect very small cancers. A tomosynthesis exam is very similar to a traditional mammogram, and takes approximately the same amount of time to complete.
Learn more about our advanced breast diagnostic imaging technology >
3-D digital mammography provides:
- Outstanding image quality
- Images produced in seconds rather than minutes
- The option to zoom-in for a close-up view of specific areas
- Reduced need for additional images of problem areas, reducing radiation exposure
- Electronic transfer and storage of images, thereby increasing efficiency
Diagnostic Mammograms, Know Before You Go
Our goal is to provide you with as much information as possible on the day of your diagnostic mammogram. A radiologist will analyze the images gathered during your exam while you wait. You will be provided with preliminary results and recommendations for follow up before you leave the Breast Health Center that day.
Breast Ultrasound
Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that uses a transducer to send inaudible, high-frequency sound waves into a breast to produce an image of its internal structure to help physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.
Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radio-frequency waves and magnetic fields to produce detailed images of the breast to help physicians identify and treat medical conditions. The Breast Health Center at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center uses an advanced Phillips Intera MRI scanner because it has shorter scanning times and allows patients to go into the unit head first or feet first. That provides increased comfort for patients, particularly those who are apprehensive about having an MRI scan.
Computer Aided Detection (CAD)
Using sophisticated computer algorithms, any areas on the digital mammogram image that might contain features consistent with the presence of an abnormality are immediately highlighted. CAD provides the security of a second independent reading.
SAVI SCOUT® Wire-Free Radar Localization System
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is the first hospital in the region to offer wire-free radar localization technology. SAVI SCOUT improves the surgical experience for breast cancer patients by eliminating the need to place a wire inside breast tissue to locate a tumor. Radar has been used for decades when precision is vital to success. It is an efficient and precise approach to localization and surgical guidance and helps surgeons remove cancerous tissue with greater confidence.
The SCOUT wire-free radar localization system is a clinically proven, FDA-cleared, zero-radiation approach to targeting tumors and breast lesions. SCOUT uses a unique radar signal to detect a reflector, the size of a grain of rice, that can be placed at the tumor site at the patient's convenience. During the procedure, the surgeon scans the breast using the SCOUT guide to precisely and efficiently locate the reflector to within 1mm of accuracy.
The ability to precisely locate tumors increases the probability of complete cancer removal and reduces the likelihood of needing follow-up surgeries — a huge advantage for early-stage breast cancer patients. In addition, the ability to strategically plan the incision may result in better cosmetic outcomes.
Read our SAVI SCOUT news release for more information >
Affirm® Prone Biopsy System 3D™ Guided Breast Biopsy
The Affirm Prone Biopsy System is the world’s first and only dedicated prone biopsy system to offer both 2-D and 3-D imaging-guided breast biopsies. Many physicians prefer to perform breast biopsies with the patient reclining comfortably in the prone position, removed from the field of view of the biopsy instruments. The availability of 3-D imaging for biopsy guidance facilitates the localization and accurate targeting of lesions, including those that can be challenging to detect with conventional imaging techniques. In addition, this new biopsy technology from Hologic® has several key advantages over standard X-ray biopsy procedures, including faster targeting and fewer X-ray exposures, resulting in shorter patient procedure times and reduced patient doses. The Breast Health Center at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is the first in Manatee and Sarasota Counties to offer the Affirm Prone Biopsy System 3-D guided breast biopsy.