Nurse Navigator
A Nurse Navigator is a specially trained registered nurse available to
every patient of the Breast Diagnostic Center. As an expert in the care
of patients with cancer, the Nurse Navigator acts as a personal guide
to patients during diagnosis and treatment, answering any questions you
or your family has regarding breast health.
If you are diagnosed with breast disease, this nurse will aid in coordinating
appointments and guiding you through the treatment process. She is available
to answer questions about study findings, treatment options and side effects,
and she serves as a liaison between patients and various physician specialists
to ensure timely care.
Tumor Board
All breast cancer confirmations are sent for review by the Breast Tumor
Board: a weekly meeting of radiologists, pathologists, oncologists, radiation
oncologists, surgeons, reconstructive surgeons and registered nurses who
develop as a group the best course of treatment. This collaborative approach
to treatment ensures continuity of care across the many team members that
will aid you. It also allows multiple experts in the field of cancer care
to personally examine your case and find the most appropriate path to healing.
Registered Nurses
At the heart of the Breast Diagnostic Center is the compassionate nursing
team that keeps it running smoothly. With years of training and experience
particular to breast health, these nurses make time to attend to the questions
and concerns of you and your family. They move you quickly through the
procedure process with the greatest degree of comfort both physically
and mentally.
Mammography and Ultrasound Technologists
Experienced technologists with special training in the use of mammography,
ultrasound and stereotactic biopsy devices ensure the best possible experience
for your visit to the Breast Diagnostic Center. These highly trained professionals
are kind and experienced with patient questions and concerns, providing
the information and direction to keep you moving through the procedure.
As a part of the team, each technologist is certified in hours of experience,
safety and outcomes for each device. It is this experience that enables
quick readings and less patient discomfort.
Pathologist
These often unseen physicians play a crucial role in the diagnostic process
for women receiving a breast biopsy. Pathologists work in a lab at Torrance
Memorial, closely examining microscopic slides of samples taken during
biopsies. Based upon the appearance and behavior of cells in these slides,
the pathologist can determine if breast cancer is present, identify the
type of cancer, and determine how aggressive or wide-spread a tumor has
become. These physicians make the diagnosis that all following physicians
use for treatment.
While many hospitals outsource their pathology reports to an external laboratory,
Torrance Memorial prides itself on the skill and reputation of its in-house
physicians. Due to the expertise and consistency of the pathology department,
the Breast Diagnostic Center can receive the quickest and most accurate
results for biopsies.