When it comes to breast care, women in northern Palm Beach County are fortunate to have the best of both worlds at the Margaret W. Niedland Breast Center: cutting-edge diagnostics and highly-skilled physicians, nurses and technicians – all in a calming atmosphere and convenient location.
The Margaret W. Niedland Breast Center, originally opened as The Women’s Diagnostic Center at Jupiter Medical Center in 1997, was re-named in May 2011 to honor the memory of Niedland, who lost her battle with breast cancer that same year. Niedland’s creed was: "Reach out a hand to help those in need." Her legacy lives on today in the Breast Center and her passion to create a better place provides women with access to the latest diagnostic technology, education and support.The Niedland Breast Center was the first facility in northern Palm Beach County to offer Tomosynthesis – the latest advancement in digital breast imaging – which provides 3D imaging of the breast to ensure diagnostic accuracy to find breast cancer at an earlier stage. Approved by the FDA in 2011, this breakthrough technology is especially useful for women with dense breast tissue. Tomosynthesis is proven to provide an eight percent increase in breast cancer detection, with a 25 percent decrease in callback rates to find those cancers.
The Breast Center provides a full continuum of care to women with services including:
• Tomosynthesis Screening & Diagnostic Mammography
• Positron Emission Mammography (PEM)
• Breast Ultrasound with Elastography
• High-Field Wide Bore Breast MRI
• Dedicated Breast Imaging Table
• Minimally-Invasive Breast Biopsy with upright capabilities
• Bone Densitometry with total body fat composition analysis
• Genetic Risk Assessment Program
Accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), the Niedland Breast Center successfully meets or exceeds 27 program standards. The Center is also accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and has been designated as an ACR Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. Their dedicated team of experts includes fellowship-trained radiologists and certified breast health specialists.
Because getting a mammogram can be a very stressful experience, the Niedland Breast Center offers women a unique opportunity to have their annual mammogram done in a spa-like atmosphere on Wednesday evenings during "Spa Nights." In addition to important breast health educational materials, women receive a complimentary chair massage, plush robe and light appetizers – all while screening for a mammogram.
"Our team is dedicated to providing world-class, patient-centered care," said Sherri Lewman, director of imaging services at Jupiter Medical Center. "Spa Nights is just one example of the high quality care we provide."
The Genetic Testing and Risk Assessment Program provides a full risk and genetics assessment on every patient to screen for risk factors for breast and ovarian cancer. According to Conni Murphy, ARNP, cancer risk assessment and genetics nurse practitioner, genetic testing can determine whether a woman has a mutation to either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer gene, significantly increasing her risk of breast and ovarian cancer when compared with the cancer risk of a woman without a BRCA gene mutation.
"With our navigation team, our patients are guided through the Center, whether they’re coming in for a mammogram, biopsy or a genetic screening," said Murphy. "Patients who have biopsies receive a consultation with a radiologist to answer any questions they may have. Nurses then follow up, providing support and education."
Part of the patient-centered care model at the Breast Center is providing patients with results of their diagnostic workups before they leave the Center. Additionally, newly diagnosed patients have a seamless transition of care due to close collaboration with the Ella Milbank Foshay Cancer Center at Jupiter Medical Center.
"We read more than 23,000 studies each year using state-of-the-art technology such as Tomosynthesis, Breast PET and Breast MRI to provide the highest quality patient care possible," said Robert Stickle, M.D., supervising radiologist at the Niedland Breast Center. "Our comprehensive breast program is unsurpassed in this area."
