What to Expect
To get you started, we've created a short list of what you can expect when you become a breast cancer patient at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
Where You Will Be Seen
For evaluation
If you have a breast lump, other symptom, or a confirmed diagnosis, you will first visit one of the two clinics within the Women's Center on the 3rd floor of the SCCA building:
Breast Health Clinic - Evaluates women who have suspicious lumps or symptoms and provides pre- and post-operative care.
Breast Cancer Specialty Center - Where women will see a breast surgeon and an oncologist for a confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer. During this appointment you will also meet with a radiation oncologist. This team of people will help you decide on the best treatment plan for you. Read about what will happen during your first visit here.
For treatment
During treatment, you will have regular appointments with your doctors at the Women's Center as well. Depending on the type of treatment you are receiving, you will see a surgeon, medical oncologist, or radiation oncologist.
- Chemotherapy treatment takes place in the Infusion Suite on the 5th floor.
- Radiation therapy takes place in the Radiation Oncology Suite on the 1st floor.
- Surgery occurs at University of Washington Medical Center.
For recurrent or metastatic disease
You will be seen by one or more of our breast cancer specialists in the Women's Center on the 3rd floor.
For those at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer
If you are at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer, SCCA has created a special clinic to help you know what screenings are appropriate for you and what you can do to minimize your risk for cancer.
Breast and Ovarian Cancer Prevention Program - also within the Women's Center on the 3rd floor. Call clinic coordinator Angela Brothers with questions or to make an appointment at (206) 288-6990.
Cancer Genetics Clinic at UW Medical Center or the Women’s Wellness Clinic (located within the Women's Center on the 3rd floor) see patients for for routine medical exams and close monitoring.
For those who've completed treatment
The Women’s Wellness Clinic is also part of the Women’s Center on the 3rd floor. The staff will help you put together a plan that includes good nutrition, managing menopause, regaining strength and flexibility, emotional health, and handling sexual issues. You may also need help with managing some of the 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 BCSC
During your first visit to the Breast Cancer Specialty Center your mammograms and scans will be reviewed by a breast imaging specialist and a nuclear medicine physician with expertise in PET and lymphatic mapping. They will discuss your medical record with your team of doctors.
Next, you pathology slides (tissue samples from any biopsies) will be reviewed by the team using a special microscope that allows everyone to see the same image simultaneously.
One or more of the doctors on your personal team will meet with you and conduct a thorough examination.
One or more of the doctors on your team 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, either for your care at SCCA or with the doctor who referred you for the consultation.
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, 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 healthcare 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 has probably already outlined a follow-up plan for you that includes regular checkups 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 these appointments. This is normal, and the staff at the Women's Wellness Clinic can help you cope with these feelings.
Your Wellness Plan
Here are the building blocks of a plan for a happy, healthy life after cancer treatment:
Good nutrition
Obesity, a high-fat diet, and a 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 face menopause without estrogen replacement therapy, because of questions about its safety for these women. We can help you manage the side effects of menopause, which 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, the swelling that is a common side effect of cancer treatment.
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.
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.