Resources

• Nurse Navigator

  A team of dedicated breast nurse navigators serve as the single point of contact to assist patients and families throughout their breast cancer journey by coordinating care with all members of the healthcare team. To schedule an appointment, call 913-355-8000.

• Your Team

  We take a team approach to your diagnosis, treatment and ongoing support. Meet your team here.

• Support Services

  You may need additional help throughout your breast cancer journey. From specialized nurses, cardiologists, physician assistants, pharmacists and nutritionists to social workers, psychologists and financial counselors, our support services team has all your needs covered.

  Here’s a closer look at how members of this team can help.

  Social Worker
  Your social worker, Paola Alor, LSCSW, will provide support to you, your family and/or caregivers to give you the resources and tools you need to thrive throughout your cancer journey.

  Paola can be reached by email at [email protected] or 913-355-3910.

  Cardiologists
  Depending on the treatment you receive, a cardiologist may assess you for the potential risk of developing heart conditions if you take certain types of cancer drugs or have radiation therapy to the chest.
  
  Pharmacists
  Your pharmacy team is responsible for preparing and administering your personalized drug therapy regimen. Your pharmacy team is responsible for processing your medication orders, preparing treatment protocols and consulting with your oncologists, and answering any drug-related questions you or your family might have.

Treatment

• Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic

  The Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic is available to newly diagnosed breast
  cancer patients. For many patients, this is the first and most important step in
  their treatment journey.

  Benefits:

  • During a 2.5-hour appointment, patients will meet with their medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, breast surgeon and nurse navigator.
  • Providers meet beforehand to review patient cases, which results in comprehensive, coordinated care.
  • This appointment allows patients to get the information they need, when they need it most.

  If you have a question about the Olathe Health Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic, call 913-355-8000.

• Breast Surgery

  Breast surgery is typically the primary treatment for breast cancer. Lumpectomy and mastectomy are the most common breast surgeries performed. For additional information, visit Breast Cancer 360, a resource presented by The American Society of Breast Surgeons Foundation. Craig A. Anderson, MD, FACS, is Olathe Health’s breast surgeon.

• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

  Plastic surgery can be an integral part of your cancer care, depending on your surgical decisions. The board-certified specialists at Olathe Health perform advanced surgery and procedures, including many minimally invasive options.

• Medical Oncology

  Available Medical Oncology Treatments:

  • Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells.
  • Hormonal Therapy: Hormone therapy is the use of hormones, or hormone-blocking drugs, to fight cancer. It’s a form of systemic therapy, meaning it reaches cancer cells almost anywhere in the body and not just in the affected area.
  • Biological Therapy (Immunotherapy): Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses certain parts of a person’s immune system to fight cancer.
  • Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs or other substances to more precisely identify and attack cancer cells.

• Radiation Oncology

  More than 50% of people with cancer receive radiation therapy. Radiation therapy, which causes DNA damage within cells, is used to help treat your tumor directly or to help manage the pain caused by your cancer. Radiation used in cancer treatment works similar to that of an X-ray to see inside your body. The difference is that this radiation is given at higher doses.

  All breast radiation oncology services are available in the Olathe Health Pavilion on the campus of Olathe Medical Center.

  Linear Accelerator Radiation
  The linear accelerator is one of the most sophisticated radiation technologies available. It allows for enhanced speed and accuracy when delivering targeted radiation—accurate to the millimeter—to allow for even more precise targeting and treatment of tumors. In some cases, this will reduce the number of treatments needed by patients. The linear accelerator allows for additional types of therapies that use exact localization of tumors in the body to treat small, precise radiation fields and requires only a few minutes to complete in outpatient settings.

  Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
  SBRT  is a procedure that uses the linear accelerator to deliver fast and accurate high-dose radiation treatment. The procedure uses a specially designed system for exact localization of tumors in the body to treat small, precise radiation fields. It is commonly used to treat many types of cancers, including lung, prostate, pancreas, liver and metastatic disease.

Screenings

• Mammography

  Mammography
  3D mammograms help doctors to look at breast tissue in dozens of tiny layers, which means more precise imaging to reduce unnecessary, and sometimes worrisome callbacks. 3D mammography is especially effective for invasive and hard-to-find cancers, and for women who are high risk or who have dense breast tissue. Every mammogram is read by a fellowship-trained breast radiologist to ensure you get the care you need.

  Our breast imaging navigator, Susan Smith, is available to assist with appointments and answer questions to help make your experience with us as seamless as possible. Susan can be reached by email at [email protected].

  Schedule Your Mammogram
  

  Women who have an average risk of breast cancer, should begin mammograms at age 40, and continue to get screened every one to two years. Women who are at a high risk of breast cancer, should begin mammograms at age 30, and continue to get screened every year.

  To schedule your mammogram, please call one of the following locations:

  • The Women’s Imaging Suite at the Olathe Medical Pavilion: 913-791-4395 (Extended evening hours are available.)
  • Miami County Medical Center: 913-294-6611

• FAST Breast MRI Screening

  The FAST Breast MRI Screening is a screening tool used in combination with mammography to identify breast cancer in early stages, when it is easiest to treat. It should not replace yearly screenings mammograms and is not for women with symptoms or a disease diagnosis. Mammography is still the best option for detecting breast changes from year to year and is critical in early breast cancer detection.

  Benefits:

  • Gives patients with dense breast tissue a more accurate reading
  • Discovers more breast cancers than mammography alone
  • Faster and more affordable than traditional breast MRIs (takes approximately 10-15 minutes on the MRI table)

• High-Risk Breast Clinic & Genetic Testing

  Olathe Health offers a high-risk breast clinic for individuals at an increased risk of developing breast cancer due to personal risk factors. Our nurse practitioner, Melanie Knight, APRN, CGRA, CRNFA, will meet with patients to complete a detailed risk assessment and formulate a risk-reduction program and develop a personal surveillance strategy for each patient.

  Genetic Testing – Genetic counselors can help you better understand your risk for breast and/or ovarian cancer and how genetic testing will affect you and your family. Counselors can also discuss options to reduce the risk of cancer if a mutation is found. Qualifying patients may also receive genetic testing and/or a referral for genetic counseling,

  You might be a candidate for our high-risk breast clinic if you:

  • Have a family history of breast cancer
  • Have had an abnormal mammogram
  • Have a known genetic mutation (based on having had genetic testing)
  • Have a first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister, or child) with a known genetic mutation, and have not had genetic testing themselves

  If you think you might be a candidate for our High-Risk Breast Clinic, talk with your primary care provider about a referral, or call Melanie Knight, APRN, CGRA, CRNFA, at 913-355-8000
  .

Clinical Trials

Olathe Health Cancer Center has access to the latest research and clinical trials through the NCI-backed Masonic Cancer Alliance. Participating in clinical trials can provide you with access to innovative treatments, also allowing you to take an active role in your healthcare. Talk to your doctor or another member of your health care team to learn more about the clinical trials available to you.

An Agent for Early Detection

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