Health Signs - Winter 2010 - (Page 3)

can’t afford your annual mammogram? Women in low-income households are significantly less likely to have had a mammogram, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). And during a down economy, more women find themselves unemployed or underemployed—often without the health insurance that typically covers at least some, if not all, of the cost of examinations. In an effort to help low-income, uninsured and underinsured women receive mammograms, Washington Hospital—in collaboration with Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center and Tri-City Health Center—offers a program for uninsured women who live in the Tri-City area to obtain a mammogram free of charge. Patients must contact Tiburcio Vasquez at 510-471-5880 or the Tri-City Health Center at 510-770-8040 to see if they qualify. In addition to mammograms, the Washington youR WomEN’s cENTER, youR hEalTh The center’s imaging capabilities also go well beyond mammography. “As screening tests need to be sensitive to many abnormalities, mammography lacks some specificity,” Lin explains. “To try to compensate for the lack of specificity, additional imaging, including extra mammographic images and ultrasound, may need to be done. At the Washington Women’s Center, we can do these additional procedures, often on the same day. Occasionally, more advanced procedures such as MRI or biopsies also need to be done. One of the wonderful aspects of the Women’s Center is our nurse navigator who can help patients understand and arrange for these studies.” Women’s Center offers breast ultrasounds if a suspicious area shows up on a mammogram or if the patient or her physician detects a lump. “Because the Washington Women’s Center provides the full range of imaging services, we can expedite any necessary additional imaging if a patient’s screening mammogram shows any areas of concern,” says Mimi Lin, M.D., medical staff diagnostic radiologist at Washington Hospital. “It is our goal to provide a complete work-up of a patient within a week, which may include doing an image-guided biopsy.” For more information about mammograms and other imaging services, or to schedule your annual mammography screening at the Washington Women’s Center, call 510-791-3410 or visit whhs.com. the genetic link Another unique aspect of the Washington Women’s Center is access to genetic counseling and testing services, which are geared toward individuals with a family history of breast or reproductive cancer. Vandana B. Sharma, M.D., Ph.D., a Washington Hospital medical oncologist, heads the center’s genetic counseling and testing program. Her extensive research background in breast cancer development and treatment, coupled with her expertise in cancer genetics, provides patients with a complete To learn more about the Washington Women’s center, visit whhs.com, click “services,” and select “Washington Women’s center” under the “specialized Programs” heading. To find out more about classes and programs at the center, call 510-608-1301. To schedule an appointment for your annual mammogram, call 510-791-3410. To speak directly with Kathy hesser, the center’s coordinator, call 510-608-1356. understanding of their personal risk for developing breast cancer. A major goal of the program is to identify individuals with a strong family history of cancer and offer them effective cancer screening and prevention strategies. “Our goal at the Washington Women’s Center is to deliver outstanding integrated and personalized care to our patients,” Sharma says. “In addition to cancer genetics, state-of-theart imaging, and personalized patient navigation and education, our NAPBC certified program also offers individuals the opportunity to participate in clinical trials, thus providing them local access to the most up-to-date and fully integrated cancer treatment and prevention options.” WINTER 2010 http://www.whhs.com http://www.whhs.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Health Signs - Winter 2010

Health Signs - Winter 2010
Contents
Brest Cancer Care
Take Heart
Can You Spot Sepsis?
A Helping Hand

Health Signs - Winter 2010