If you want to do something extra special for the women you love, help them to join the Buddy Check 4 program.
We ask women to do a breast self-exam once a month, and then call their "buddy" to remind her to do the same. Our hope is that breast cancer is discovered in its early stages, when it is most treatable. Until there is a cure, there is Buddy Check 4 - our program in partnership with KOB Channel 4 designed to honor the importance of all women throughout the year.
Together we can make a difference - one "buddy" at a time.
Click here for breast self-exam instructions.
Caregiver Stress
A spouse, relative, or family friend usually becomes the unpaid caregiver when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer. Caregiving can be rewarding, but it can also take a toll on a person’s physical and emotional health. This is called caregiver stress. The Breast Care Center at Lovelace Women’s Hospital provides help and information for caregivers. Call 505.727.6900 to learn more.
Healthy Holidays
Weight gain is a concern around the holidays since many dishes are high in sugar and excess calories. With a few small changes, you can stay focused on eating healthy and minimize weight gain or maintain weight.
Physical Therapy
Lovelace Women’s Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation offers physical therapy for breast cancer survivors experiencing pelvic floor disorders including incontinence, pelvic pain, constipation or sexual dysfunction. Pelvic floor physical therapy treatments may include biofeedback of the pelvic floor muscles, pelvic floor strengthening and stretching, bladder retraining, manual therapy, postural education, core strengthening, and education. To learn more about these services or schedule an appointment, call 505.727.4620.
Fear of Recurrence
Communication
It’s hard to know what to say to a friend or loved one who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. You may feel uncomfortable or inadequate, but remember that simple gestures can have a profound impact. Watch this short video to learn about some communication tips that can help you and your loved one.
Survivorship
Lovelace Women’s Hospital’s Certified Breast Care Center offers specialized, long-term follow-up care and resources for women who have gone through breast cancer treatment.
We develop an individualized survivorship or transition care plan to help monitor for any chance of recurrence, check for lymphedema, manage treatment side effects and other health conditions. We will work your primary care physician and other providers for any additional follow-up care. To learn more, call 727.6900.
Mammograms
Major American medical organizations with expertise in breast cancer care recommend screening mammograms EVERY year beginning at 40. A routine mammogram can detect breast cancers before they are felt and when they are at a smaller size, earlier stage, and more likely to be curable.
During a mammogram, your breasts will be compressed in our machine for a few seconds to acquire an image and your results will be reviewed for any abnormalities or changes. Call 727.6900 to schedule your mammogram today!
Intraoperative Radiation Therapy
Lovelace Women’s Hospital’s Breast Care Center now offers Intraoperative Radiation Therapy, or “IORT”, to treat early stage breast cancer. IORT allows our radiation oncologists to deliver a precise beam of radiation during the time of a patient’s lumpectomy.
This procedure can shorten treatment time and helps spare healthy tissue compared to other treatment methods. Call 727.6933 for more information.
Yoga for Breast Cancer Survivors
Many studies have shown that yoga can benefit breast cancer patients by helping to ease pain, fatigue and depression. The Breast Care Center at Lovelace Women’s Hospital offers weekly yoga classes for survivors. Watch the clip below to learn more about yoga for breast cancer patients and our classes.
Nutrition
Studies show that a healthy diet and regular exercise are two key factors that can help reduce your risk of developing certain types of cancer.
Some tips for a healthy diet include:
· Filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables
· Eating whole grains every day
· Eating lean protein foods
It’s also important to get regular exercise at least 5 days per week, and keep up to date with medical exams, like your annual mammogram. To schedule your mammogram, call 727.6900 today!
Lymphedema Compression Garments
Compression garments can help prevent or manage lymphedema after breast cancer treatment. These garments prevent or reduce swelling by moving fluid from the arm back to the body.
A certified lymphedema therapist can assess your compression needs based on your lymphedema risk. Lovelace Women’s Hospital offers expertise in lymphedema and other breast cancer rehabilitation services.
Call 727.4657 to meet with a certified lymphedema therapist at Lovelace Women’s Hospital.
Anti-hormone Therapy
Did you know that the growth of breast cancer is driven by estrogen? Pre-menopausal patients have estrogen and post-menopausal patients still have some estrogen production.
Treatment with anti-hormone medication post-surgery can increase your chances for survival by decreasing your chances for recurrence. Anti-hormone therapy works well because it treats the whole body, not just the site of the original breast cancer.
There are 2 types of hormone therapy medications:
- Medications that stop estrogen production
- Medications that block estrogen
Call 727.3040 for more information!
3D Mammograms
Lovelace Women’s Hospital now offers 3D mammography as a new screening tool to help detect breast cancer. 3D mammogram images show the different layers in the breast, helping radiologists better determine if there are any areas of concern.
Your experience will be very similar to a traditional mammogram and will take about 10 minutes to complete. Breast compression will last about 5 to 7 seconds per image.
Call 505.727.6900 to schedule your 3D mammogram appointment today!
Comadre a Comadre program:
Comadre a Comadre is a support and advocacy program devoted to educating Hispanic and Latina women about breast health and breast cancer. They connect patients to important health resources and support women going through breast cancer treatment. Their volunteers are breast cancer survivors who are trained to access services and lend support from someone who “has been there.”
Some of the benefits for new patients in the Comadre a Comadre program include:
- Patient navigation services
- Gasoline gift cards for cancer treatment appointments
- Assistance completing your financial assistance applications
- Breast cancer education for patients and their families
Call 505.277.2398 for more information.
Look Good Feel Better
Look Good Feel Better is a program offered by the American Cancer Society that teaches female cancer patients how to cope with appearance-related side effects of cancer treatments. Volunteers teach patients how to use skincare and makeup products, wigs, scarves and other accessories to restore their appearance and self-esteem. Participants receive a Look Good Feel Better cosmetic kit matched to their skin tone.
The program is available to women who are currently undergoing cancer treatment, about to undergo cancer treatment or have recently completed cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other forms of treatment). Lovelace Women’s Hospital has partnered with the American Cancer Society to bring this program each month free of cost.
Registration is required. For more information and to register, call 505-727-6933.
Breast Health Tips and Education:
Lovelace Women’s Hospital is proud to be the only hospital in the state using L-Dex technology to detect early signs of lymphedema, is a type of swelling that can occur in breast cancer patients. L-dex allows doctors to detect tiny changes in the tissues before symptoms develop and possibly reverse the condition.
L-Dex uses a low-level electrical signal to quickly and painlessly diagnose lymphedema and it gives immediate results. If results are positive, patients are referred to a lymphedema therapist for management. Call Lovelace Women’s Hospital Breast Care Center at 505.727.6900 for more information.
The Breast Care Center at Lovelace Women’s Hospital offers comprehensive care – from early detection to treatment and aftercare – in one convenient location. Our team of breast health professionals will help you assess your risk of developing breast cancer, guide you through mammograms and clinical exams, and teach you the proper method of breast self-examination. We also offer counseling, education and support programs. For more information or to schedule a clinical breast exam or mammogram, call 505.727.6900 or visit lovelace.com.