A comprehensive diagnostic and surgical clinic for the assessment and treatment of breast abnormalities.
The Breast Health Outpatient Clinics at Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer provide comprehensive care for assessment and management of patients with suspected or biopsy proven cancer. They are comprised of two teams: Breast Clinic (formerly known as the Breast Health Program, seen at the Foothills Medical Centre) and Breast Oncology (formerly seen at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre).
Within the Breast Clinic there are two main triage pathways: Surgical Clinic and High Risk Assessment Clinic.
Surgical Clinic
Our general and plastic surgeons are dedicated breast surgeons who focus on comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for patients with confirmed breast cancer. Patients will be triaged to the first available appointment, with most appropriate care provider, based on the following criteria:
Category 1: Inflammatory / suspicious for inflammatory - target: within 3 weeks of biopsy
Category 2: Locally advanced breast cancer (LABC), Node positive, < 40 y.o. - target: within 4 weeks of biopsy
Category 3: Screen detected cancer or BI-RADS 5 - target: within 6 weeks of biopsy
Category 4: Lesions requiring excision ie Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) - target: within 6 weeks of biopsy
Category 5: Lesion which may require excision ie atypia - ADH, papillomas with atypia, radial scar target: within 8 weeks of biopsyCategory 6: Oncologic Reconstruction clinic - general and plastic surgeon assessment for risk reducing surgery in patients with genetic predisposition to cancer (ie BRCA1/2), prophylactic lymphovenous anastomosis and delayed reconstruction (for individual whom have had mastectomy) - elective
We work collaboratively with our medical oncology and radiation oncology colleagues within the Breast Oncology team and patients requiring multidisciplinary care with neoadjuvant therapy (ie chemo or other drug therapy before surgery) will be triaged to the appropriate clinician based on presenting symptoms.
High Risk Assessment Clinic
Our medical oncologist and nurse team provide evaluation and assessment of individuals with elevated risk of breast cancer due to: an inherited genetic mutation; strong family history preferably with prior assessment by genetics; high risk pathology such as Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia (ADH), carcinoma in situ (LCIS) on breast biopsy; and history of radiation to chest area in teen / young adult years. The clinic is consultative only and will provide a recommendation for ongoing screening or prevention strategies for patients and their primary care team following assessment.