The breast cancer care team is robust Patients connect with a medical oncologist, a fellowship-trained breast radiologist, a surgical oncologist, pathologists, technologists, nurses, researchers and more. There are support services that include financial counseling, genetic counseling and fertility care. With so many elements of your care to address, it would be easy to start feeling overwhelmed. But another key player on the team is a nurse navigator, a registered nurse whose job is to sit with patients during appointments and help them understand their options. They also connect patients with services and act as a listening ear. “They have one of the most important roles,” says Wagemann. At Edith Sanford Breast Center, the focus isn’t only on treating the disease, it’s also on caring for the whole person. Patients should be informed and empowered to make decisions about their care, and the nurse navigator is critical in making that happen.
Supporting communities, screening early
For many breast cancer patients, asking for help, or even accepting it, can be one of the most difficult parts of the journey. But the reality is that people want to help. Our communities care and they show up. They show up at football games and 5K races dressed in pink. They show up financially to support cancer care and research through the Sanford Health Foundation. They show up with a hotdish and a gift card for groceries. As a part of serving communities across the region, Edith Sanford Breast Center brings high-quality cancer screening and preventive care outside the clinic walls. With newly updated 3D scanning technology on mobile mammography trucks and the ability to connect with patients remotely for diagnostic scans, the team offers advanced breast cancer screening options everywhere they go. “Whether you’re in Chamberlain, Aberdeen, Brookings or Sheldon, you’re getting the same care you would get if you came to Sioux Falls,” says Wagemann. Cancer isn’t on your mind until it has to be, but Sanford Health is proud to have teams of passionate specialists who commit their energy and talents to thinking about it and the many people affected by it every day.
Mammogram FAQs with Jamie Williams, MD How often should I get a mammogram? Detecting breast cancer early improves outcomes. All women ages 40 and older should get screened at least once a year. Although some women at a higher risk should start earlier. How long do mammograms take? Mammogram appointments are quick. Your appointment will typically take less than 25 minutes. Are mammograms free? Federal law requires most health insurance companies to pay for screening mammograms for women ages 40 and older. What types of mammograms are available? Sanford Health offers 3D mammography
“It’s okay to not feel normal for a while.
It takes time to recover. But we can help patients figure
out what their new normal is.”
at most locations, either in a clinic or during a visit from the mobile
mammography truck. 3D mammography is an advanced form of breast screening
Allison Watson, MD, PhD
and is the most effective tool for detecting breast cancer early.
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