The Breast Care Center is available to treat women with a variety of symptoms and conditions, including cysts and lumps, breast pain, nipple discharge and cancer. A woman may also use the Breast Care Center if she has been referred to a breast surgeon, or simply wants a second opinion. Additionally, the Breast Care Center features the only fully digital mammography program in the region. Patients are scheduled for a physician appointment at the Breast Care Center within 24 hours of a problem identified, such as an abnormal mammogram.

Services at the Breast Care Center are designed to assist a woman from the time of her initial symptoms or abnormal mammogram throughout the entire treatment process. These services include imaging, diagnosis, surgical and non-surgical treatments, radiation and medical oncology, and breast reconstruction.

The Breast Care Center is staffed by health professionals dedicated to the newest techniques and treatments for diagnosis and recovery. Members include Medical Director and surgeon Steven M. Schonholz, MD, FACS, surgeon Lisa Planeta, MD, FACS and Lois Menard, Office Coordinator, serving as a type of concierge or liaison who works with patients throughout the care process by coordinating their appointments and treatment.

The Latest in Biopsy and Screening Techniques

Intact® Procedure
Statistics indicate that 80% of surgical breast biopsies result in non-cancerous findings. So, if your mammogram does find something, we don’t want to put you through surgery if you don’t need it. Another first for the region, by using our Intact® device, we can diagnose and remove benign lesions under a local anesthetic in the office or mammogram suite, avoiding an invasive surgical biopsy in the operating room. The Intact® also takes out a suspicious area in one piece. This allows our pathologists to make a more accurate and definitive diagnosis than is possible with other biopsy devices.

HALO® Breast Pap Test
HALO, a new, simple five-minute test is also available in the fight against breast cancer. Like a “pap test” for cervical cancer, this non-invasive test looks for abnormal cells in breast fluid before larger, potentially cancerous lesions might develop. For women between 25 and 55, HALO can help identify risk and improve the way you monitor your breast health. The Breast Care Center is the only facility in Massachusetts to offer the HALO® Breast Pap Test.

The Latest in Screening and Detecting Lymphedema
Early detection is the best way to curb the effects of lymphedema and now the Lymphedema Program can detect its onset in the arm sooner than ever. A new measuring device called the ImpediMed XCA can quickly determine fluid properties in the arm with far greater accuracy than the current methods. With a measurement that is four times more sensitive, we are able to detect lymphedema up to ten months earlier in a patient. So patients who are at risk for lymphedema can be tested and treated even before symptoms are noticeable.

Testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome
A mutation in the breast cancer genes (BRCA 1 or 2) is known to significantly increase a woman’s lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. However, once a woman is found to have a mutation, there are medical management options and surgical options available which are known to reduce the risk of developing these cancers. Therefore, it is important that women at risk who carry a mutation in the breast cancer genes (BRCA 1 or 2) are identified and tested. At the Breast Care Center your risk will be evaluated and if elevated a simple blood test will be drawn.

Breast MRI
Breast MRI is a scan used for detecting and staging breast cancer and other breast abnormalities. It is not a replacement for mammography or ultrasound imaging but rather is a supplemental tool. The average breast MRI takes 30 minutes and requires an intravenous for a contrast injection. A report will be sent to your referring physician.

MRI Guided Breast Biopsy
Once your Breast MRI exam is reviewed, the radiologist will decide if you are a candidate for a biopsy and will discuss the case with Dr. Schonholz. Dr. Schonholz will discuss the MRI results with you and arrange a biopsy if needed.

For more information or to schedule and appointment, call the Breast Care Center at Mercy Medical Center at 413-452-6600.