About the Providence Breast Centre at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital

Improving outcomes for women with breast cancer

This year about 2,800 BC women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 600 will die from the disease.

Although early diagnosis is key to treatment for breast cancer, in 2008 only two-thirds of BC women with an abnormality found in their breasts received a diagnosis within five weeks of initial screening. In the meantime, they experienced the distress of not knowing their results, and whether they actually had breast cancer.

The Providence Breast Centre (PBC) at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital (MSJ) is on the front line of efforts to improve these statistics and outcomes for women with breast cancer.

In its first year of operation (2010), MSJ's Rapid Access Breast Clinic (currently the Providence Breast Centre) provided:

• 7,400 screening mammograms
• 5,150 diagnostic mammographies and fine wire localizations
• 1,013 breast cancer surgeries - or 49% of all breast cancer surgeries done in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, and more than at any other clinic in BC.

Our Providence Breast Centre offers you access to all the tests you would need for a confirmed breast cancer diagnosis.

We have a team of caring doctors and other health care professionals with special training in breast surgery and breast x-rays. Together, we work to diagnose the breast abnormality. We use the latest state-of-the-art equipment and health care practices. We even have a nurse especially dedicated to helping you navigate through the process and keeping you informed every step of the way.

With our streamlined process, all tests and exams are done right here, with our team of specialists working together to carefully follow the patient. By using the Providence Breast Centre, you won't need to go to different locations to have tests done. We make sure you get everything you need right here.

Patients who have used our clinic have fewer medical appointments. They tell us it is very convenient and less stressful to have everything in one place and know they will get a diagnosis sooner.

Providence Breast Centre improves care for those at risk of breast cancer by offering:

• Diagnostic digital mammogram for maximum accuracy
• Diagnostic ultrasound
• Physical examination by a breast specialist
• Ultrasound-guided biopsy
• A coordinated care plan

We will coordinate any further care or treatment you may need. This may include a breast MRI, stereotactic core biopsy, surgical bookings, and consultations with various cancer specialists. Should you need it, we will also refer you to the BC Cancer Agency for radiation and chemotherapy. If required, we will organize appropriate surgical care (lumpectomy, mastectomy and breast reconstruction).

In order to be seen at the Providence Breast Centre, you must be referred by a Vancouver Coastal Health Authority family doctor. You can also be referred through the Mount Saint Joseph Hospital Screening Mammography Program.