Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Breast Center

The thought of having breast cancer can be devastating. Preventive care is the best way to keep you and your breasts healthy. Although detecting breast cancer at its earliest stages is the main goal of routine breast care, finding a lump is not always an indication you have cancer.

Many benign breast conditions can also cause lumps, but when a lump is detected, knowing the cause as soon as possible is our goal. The Aspirus Women’s Health Breast Center can accomplish this with the most up-to-date and evidence-based practices.

The Aspirus Woman’s Health Breast Center is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). In order to achieve this distinction, our program met or exceeded a number of stringent standards that ensure patients receive the best care possible.

Detection to Diagnoses program

If you or your physician finds a lump or radiological abnormality, it can be very distressing and you want answers quickly. At the Aspirus Women's Breast Center, we can provide most patients with a definitive answer soon after first discovering the lump through our Detection to Diagnoses program.

With most patients, this is the typical schedule that would be followed from detection to diagnosis:

Step One

You discover a lump or breast abnormality

If you discover a lump or abnormality through self-examination, first consult your physician. Once your physician confirms your suspicion or if your physician discovers a lump as part of an exam, a diagnostic procedure is typically recommended. At the Aspirus Women's Health Breast Center we will work with you and your physician to schedule a diagnostic mammogram immediately.

Steps Two and Three

Diagnostic Mammogram and/or ultrasound is performed

Your diagnostic mammogram is performed and the results provided back to you and your physician the same day. The Aspirus Women's Health Breast Center Navigator helps guide you through your care, ease your anxiety and address your personal questions and concerns. If a biopsy is needed, your surgical consult and biopsy are scheduled the same day.

Step Four

If needed radiological and/or surgical biopsy is performed

The biopsy may be performed by an ultra-sound, stereotactic procedure or surgery. Once the biopsy has been completed, the sample is sent to the pathology lab to determine whether the lump is benign or malignant.

Step Five

Post-Biopsy

Our Aspirus Women's Health Breast Center Navigator and a radiologist or surgeon provides you and your physician the results within 24 hours of the biopsy. If needed, the Aspirus Women's Health Breast Center Navigator will discuss further treatment options, provide educational material and arrange for you to consult with other physician specialists, such as an oncologist and plastic surgeon.

Our Aspirus Women's Health Breast Center Navigator is here for you throughout your treatment, for educational or emotional support. So, if at any time you need someone to talk to about your situation, you can be assured that help is only a phone call away.

In addition to the Detection to Diagnosis program, the Aspirus Womens' Health Breast Center is offers a comprehensive array of breast health services, including education, diagnostic testing, treatment options and support. For more information, look through the related resources located to the right.