You will find that we offer one of the most comprehensive programs in the country, in recognition of the special needs women have when it comes to selecting and receiving breast care and treatment for breast problems. (See unique features of the Johns Hopkins Breast Center)

The Johns Hopkins Breast Center serves women with a variety of breast related concerns and needs. The Breast Center can help you if you:

• discover a breast lump
• have an abnormal mammogram or biopsy
• have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer
• want a second opinion
• need breast cancer treatment
• need breast cancer recovery advice or rehabilitation
• are considering or breast reconstruction
• are concerned about your breast cancer risk
• want to learn about breast self examination
• want genetic counseling for yourself or a family member
• need lymphedema prevention and/or management
• want a pathology (second opinion) consultation
• want a breast specialist to routinely perform your clinical breast exams
• seek support services from Johns Hopkins breast cancer survivor volunteers
• seek possible participation in National Cancer Institute-sponsored clinical trials

The Services We Offer

Depending upon the reason for your visit to the Breast Center, your consultation may involve one or more of the following:

• Specializing diagnostic evaluation and testing
  - radiological evaluation: mammography, ultrasound and newer imaging techniques
  - biopsy: fine-needle, core-needle and stereotactic biopsy, and surgical

• Consultation and treatment with breast cancer specialists who have focused expertise in breast cancer surgery, breast reconstructive surgery, and adjuvant treatments
  - lumpectomy and mastectomy surgery
  - reconstructive surgery including DIEP flap reconstruction
  - drug therapy, including tamoxifen and chemotherapy
  - radiation therapy, including computer-assisted treatment planning

• The Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic - The Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic is designed to evaluate patients with known breast cancer. The clinic is committed to a single day comprehensive patient evaluation by surgical oncologists and radiation oncologists incorporating all the resources available for the education, diagnosis, treatment and research of breast cancer by some of the top breast cancer clinicians and specialists in the country.

• Second opinions for newly diagnosed and recurrent breast cancer patients
  - consultations to review treatment recommendations given to you elsewhere
  - for surgical oncology and radiation oncology consultation; limited consultation is available for medical oncology if not living in this regional area.
  - consultative review of your mammography films or pathology slides

• Access to National Cancer Institute- sponsored clinical trials
  - radiology/breast imaging clinical trials
  - surgical option trials
  - hormone therapy trials
  - chemotherapy trials
  - radiation therapy trials

• Individual and family psychological counseling and support
  - individual psychotherapy
  - support group programs for breast cancer patients and survivors

• Physical and occupational therapy
  - preoperative rehabilitation consultation and lymphedema prevention
  - lymphedema management
  - post-operative therapy for arm strengthening

• Comprehensive patient education
  - preoperative educational program for you and your care partner at home
  - guidance on hormone replacement therapy
  - educational seminars on topics of interest to women with breast cancer or a history of the disease
  - training and education on breast health

• Preventive services including
  - assessment of breast cancer risk based on family history and other factors
  - instruction in breast self exam
  - recommendations for mammography and other types of screening
  - risk-reduction through lifestyle changes