Breast Cancer

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What to Expect

To get you started, we’ve put together some information about what you can expect when you become a breast cancer patient at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA).

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Where You Will Be Seen

Women who have breast cancer or concerns about breast cancer are seen in the Women’s Center on the third floor of the SCCA clinic. The Women’s Center is home to our:

  • Breast Health Clinic
  • Breast Cancer Specialty Center
  • Breast and Ovarian Cancer Prevention Program
  • Women’s Wellness Clinic

For Evaluation

If you have a breast lump, another symptom of breast cancer, or a confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer, your first visit will be at the Breast Health Clinic or the Breast Cancer Specialty Center.

  • Breast Health Clinic: Women who have suspicious lumps or symptoms have an evaluation at the Breast Health Clinic. Staff members at the clinic also provide pre- and post-operative care.
  • Breast Cancer Specialty Center: Women with a confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer have an evaluation with a breast surgeon, a medical oncologist, and a radiation oncologist at the Breast Cancer Specialty Center. This team of people will help you decide on the best treatment plan for you. Read about what will happen during your first visit to the Breast Cancer Specialty Center.

For Treatment

During treatment for breast cancer, you will have regular appointments with your doctors at the Women’s Center. Depending on the type of treatment you are receiving, you will see a surgeon, a medical oncologist, or a radiation oncologist. If you develop recurrent or metastatic breast cancer, you will also be seen here at the Women’s Center.

For Those at High Risk for Breast or Ovarian Cancer

If you are at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer, SCCA has a special program to help you know which screenings are appropriate for you and how you can decrease your cancer risk. It’s called the Breast and Ovarian Cancer Prevention Program. Call the program coordinator at (206) 288-6990 with questions or to make an appointment. Patients in the prevention program who need routine medical exams and close monitoring are also seen at the Women’s Wellness Clinic at SCCA.

For Those Who Have Completed Treatment

After your breast cancer treatment is complete, you will be seen at our Women’s Wellness Clinic. Staff members there can help you put together a plan to maintain good nutrition, manage menopause, regain strength and flexibility, take care of your emotional health, and handle sexual issues. You may also need help managing lingering side effects of cancer treatment, or you may want to come to the Women’s Wellness Clinic for routine follow-up care.

Your First Visit to the Breast Cancer Specialty Center

During your first visit to the Breast Cancer Specialty Center, your mammograms and scans will be reviewed by a breast-imaging specialist, who will will discuss your medical records with your team of doctors.

Next your team will review your pathology slides (tissue samples from any biopsies) using a special microscope that allows everyone to see the same image at the same time. 

Then one or more of the doctors on your team will see you for a thorough physical examination.

Finally one or more of your doctors will meet with you (and your family or friends) to discuss the team’s findings, answer all of your questions, and suggest a treatment plan. You will leave at the end of the afternoon with a treatment plan for care either at SCCA or with the doctor who referred you to SCCA.

Life After Cancer

After cancer treatment, many women say they have a new appreciation for the small things in life and a new joy in living. They are more willing to take chances and to climb mountains—whether real mountains or metaphorical ones.

The majority of breast and gynecological cancer survivors can look forward to a long life after their treatment is completed. Your health care should reflect this expectation. And it should include care for all aspects of your health and well-being.

You will need a plan for follow-up care to monitor your healing process and to watch for any possible recurrence of cancer. Your oncologist will outline a follow-up plan for you that includes regular check-ups and a number of tests, such as mammograms, X-rays, blood tests, and scans.

Many women find that they experience anxiety around the time of their follow-up appointments. This is normal, and the staff at the Women’s Wellness Clinic can help you cope with these feelings.

Your Wellness Plan

Staff members at the Women’s Wellness Clinic can help you put together a plan for a happy, healthy life after cancer treatment. Here are the building blocks.

  • Maintaining good nutrition: Obesity, a high-fat diet, and high alcohol intake may increase your risk for another cancer or a recurrence. Good nutrition is important for healing and also for cancer prevention.
  • Managing menopause: Many women who have had breast cancer or a gynecological cancer will not be able to use estrogen replacement therapy for menopause because of questions about its safety for these women. We can help you manage the effects of menopause, which may include hot flashes, osteoporosis, and a higher risk of heart disease.
  • Regaining strength and flexibility: You may need physical therapy to regain your strength, flexibility, and range of motion. Exercise can also help you manage lymphedema (swelling that is a common side effect of cancer treatment).
  • Taking care of your emotional health: Cancer treatment can cause intense psychological consequences and disruptions in your relationships with family and friends. Common feelings include depression, anxiety, mood swings, and fears of a recurrence or death. These emotions do not automatically go away once treatment is over. We can help you regain your emotional well-being.
  • Handling sexual issues: The cancer experience hits many women hard. They may feel less feminine and less sexually attractive after cancer treatment. We can help with the physical, medical, and emotional issues that may be getting in the way of your sexuality.

Learn More 


Women’s Center

The Women’s Center at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance is home to all of the clinics that treat the special health-care needs of just women.

Breast Health Clinic

If you are concerned about a breast lump or have another breast symptom or an abnormal mammogram, make an appointment to see a providers at our Breast Health Clinic.

Breast Cancer Specialty Center

If you have been newly diagnosed with breast cancer, during your first appointment at the Breast Cancer Specialty Center, you will meet with a team of breast cancer specialists.

Women’s Wellness Clinic

Women's Wellness Clinic

The Women’s Wellness Clinic offers wellness-focused follow-up care for women who are ready to shift their focus from cancer treatment to recovery.