Breast Program Update

JENNIFER McALISTER, MD, FACS

Pardee’s Breast Program has experienced significant growth this year. We have seen 209 new breast cancer patients in the last year. Our ability to provide comprehensive breast cancer care at Pardee is exceptional with breast surgery, medical oncology and radiation oncology services all under one roof at Pardee Cancer Center. Our patients continue to be navigated through their journey by our Breast Navigator, Jodi Rector. Jodi has continued to provide excellent patient care in her new role. We are able to provide individualized care for all breast cancer patients and are now seeing patients not only from Henderson County, but from surrounding counties as well.

Our services and staff at the Breast Center have grown. We have now increased our capacity for mammograms with the addition of a second 3D mammography unit. This has also increased our capacity for biopsies. The Elizabeth Reilly Breast Center recently added ABUS (Automated Breast Ultrasound) as an additional imaging modality for patients with dense breast tissue. Additionally, we now have the capability to perform MRI guided breast biopsy. These additional modalities allow us to provide patients with all of their breast imaging needs where in the past, they had to go outside our system.

At Pardee Breast Surgery, our staff has continued to grow as well to allow for excellent patient-centered care. As far as newer surgical techniques, were are no longer using wires for localizing surgeries but instead are using a seed that is placed prior to surgery. This allows for more precise targeting of the area. We have also decreased the number of injections that patients require prior to cancer surgery. Our anesthesia providers are also now using techniques to decrease postoperative pain in our breast cancer patients.

Pardee’s services are expanding and we are excited to provide excellent, comprehensive breast cancer care to all patients in Western North Carolina. 