The Breast Care Center: Comprehensive Approach Reduces Stress
from BestHealth, October 2004

Few things are more stressful for a woman than being told she has breast cancer. At a time when she needs comfort and reassurance, having to make multiple visits to a variety of specialists escalates the stress experienced between diagnosis and the beginning of treatment.

The Breast Care Center was developed to minimize the stress and expedite definitive diagnosis and treatment. The region’s only truly multidisciplinary breast care center consolidates the services of a team of specialists in a central location so the patient can be seen by multiple physicians during a single visit. The team includes breast surgeons, radiologists, medical and radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons, pathologists, specialty nurses and genetic counselors.

“I can’t tell you how much it meant to me to have such a supportive team of caregivers,” said Esther Lawson, a special education teacher from King who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. “The diagnosis caught me totally off-guard. I had a history of fibrocystic breast disease but wasn’t expecting breast cancer. They made sure I understood all my options, were supportive of my decisions, and walked me through every step of the process.”

Sally Hauser, a nurse practitioner with more than 30 years of experience, is one of two coordinators who shepherd patients through the system and ensure continuity of care. “She is simply wonderful,” said Lawson. “She is gentle and patient, she addressed my fears and calmed my nerves, and has been with me through this whole journey.”

The Breast Care Center recently moved into the new Outpatient Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of the most advanced treatment facilities in the country—and one of the most beautiful. “I love the new surroundings,” said Lawson. “The colors are soothing, and everything’s so convenient. But nothing surpasses the care I received—at every turn I was treated with dignity and respect.”

A National Leader  in Cancer Care

• The Breast Care Center is part of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute designated comprehensive cancer center in western North Carolina.

• In most cases, patients leave at the end of the day with a comprehensive treatment plan in place, thus reducing the stressful period between diagnosis and the beginning of treatment.

• In addition to receiving the most advanced treatments, patients have access to the latest clinical trials on breast cancer treatment and prevention.

• The Comprehensive Cancer Center is consistently ranked as one of the best cancer centers in the country by U.S.News & World Report.