What to Expect
Where You Will Be SeenWhere You Will Be Seen
If you have a breast lump or other symptoms, or a confirmed diagnosis you will first be referred to one of our clinics located in the Women's Center at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
The Breast Health Clinic evaluates women who have suspicious lumps or symptoms and provides pre- and post-operative care.
The Breast Cancer Specialty Center, also within the Women's Center, is where you 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.
Women who are in cancer treatment at SCCA will have regular appointments with their doctors at the Women's Center. Depending on the type of treatment you are receiving, you will see a surgeon, medical oncologist, or radiation oncologist.
If you are undergoing chemotherapy, you will receive treatment in the Infusion Suite on the fifth floor. Radiation therapy appointments are on the first floor, and our patients have surgery at University of Washington Medical Center.
If you have recurrent or metastatic disease, you will be seen by one or more of our breast cancer specialists in the Women’s Center without going through the Breast Cancer Specialty Center.
If you are at high risk for breast (or ovarian) cancer, you may be seen at the Breast and Ovarian Cancer Prevention Program, which is, again, part of the Women’s Center on the third floor. Call the clinic coordinator, Angela Brothers, M.S., if you have any questions or to make an appointment at (206) 288-6990. She may suggest the Cancer Genetics Clinic at UW Medical Center or the Women’s Wellness Clinic for routine medical exams and close monitoring.
If you have completed your breast cancer treatment, you may find that it’s time to focus on wellness. The Women’s Wellness Clinic is part of the Women’s Center on the third floor of the SCCA clinic. The staff will help you put together a plan that includes good nutrition, managing menopause, regaining strength and flexibility, emotional health, and 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
- Your mammograms and scans will be reviewed by a breast imaging specialist and a nuclear medicine physician with expertise in PET and lymphatic mapping and discuss these with your team of doctors.
- Your 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.
This visit usually takes most of the afternoon. You may bring a friend or family member with you for all or part of the appointment.
Here's what happens during this appointment: