Breast Care Center

Excellence in Breast Health

The Breast Care Center provides comprehensive healthcare in a welcoming and patient-centered environment. Services include consultations for benign breast conditions, diagnostic imaging, high-risk and genetic counseling services, and comprehensive treatment of breast cancer.

Our multidisciplinary team of specialists includes Brigham and Women’s breast surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and South Shore Health’s radiologists and pathologists. Non-physician experts of the team include breast-certified nurse practitioners, nurses who have received specialized training in breast health, an oncology dietitian, oncology social workers, and experts in integrative therapies to help with the symptoms and side effects of cancer and some treatments. The team of experts in the Center creates specialized plans of treatment unique to each patient’s situation including the type and stage of breast disease. The goal of the team at the Breast Care Center is to be an active partner in each patient’s lifelong journey of comprehensive breast health.

While a referral from your primary care physician is recommended, it is not required. Our staff can assist you in obtaining a referral, if needed. We strive to treat each breast care patient with personalized attention, the best diagnosis and treatment options, and exceptional follow-up care.

For more information on breast cancer screening, prevention, and treatment, see our Breast Cancer Infographic.

Breast Conditions

Breast pain
Atypia
In situ (or non-invasive) breast cancer
Invasive lobular breast cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer
Paget’s disease
Metastatic breast cancer
Nipple discharge
Fibrocystic breast syndrome
Follow-up of benign biopsy
Follow-up of radiographic changes
Family history of breast cancer
Patient with benign breast history
Mastitis/abscess
Ductal carconima

Treatments

Treatment options for breast cancer include surgery, medical oncology, and radiation therapy (radiation oncology). Clinical trials are also an additional treatment option for eligible patients.

Surgery: Depending on tumor location, size, grade and node status, surgical options include breast-conserving lumpectomy, quadrantectomy (partial mastectomy), and mastectomy. Breast Care Center surgical care is overseen by Medical Director, Suniti Nimbkar, MD, a fellowship-trained surgical oncologist.
Medical Oncology: The latest, most effective standard-of-care chemotherapy, hormonal treatment and trastuzumab (Herceptin®) regimens for all stages of breast cancer are available to patients.
Radiation Oncology: Includes conventional external beam radiation and, for appropriate patients, partial breast irradiation, which is a shorter, targeted radiation therapy treatment that places the radiation source inside the lumpectomy cavity.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Before undergoing mastectomy or other surgical treatment, patients can explore options for immediate or delayed reconstructive breast surgery.
Clinical Trials: By participating in a clinical trial, patients may not only benefit from a new leading-edge cancer treatment, but will also be advancing medicine and potentially helping others who are diagnosed with breast cancer in the future.

Screenings & Early Detection

The Breast Care Center provides clinical breast exams and screening mammograms in our South Shore Hospital Outpatient Imaging and Women’s Specialty Center for both early detection of breast cancer and for those patients with elevated risk due to family history or prior history of atypical ductal hyperplasia, atypical lobular hyperplasia, or lobular carcinoma in situ; pre- and post-menopausal benign or malignant breast masses. Upon discovery of a breast lump or an abnormal mammogram, we follow up quickly with the appropriate diagnostic resources.