Your Breast Care Team

• A radiologist, who views diagnostic images, diagnoses and classifies breast conditions, consults with surgeons and other medical professionals; and performs breast treatment procedures. The St. John's Mercy Breast Center has on-site physicians who specialize in screening, diagnosing and treating breast diseases such as breast cancer. Our radiologists work together with our staff to make important diagnostic and treatment decisions.
• A surgeon, who plays a role not only in treatment of breast cancer, but also in diagnosis.  If the mammogram or ultrasound shows an abnormality or if the patient or her physician detect a lump, the patient would then be referred to a surgeon. If the surgeon also identifies an abnormality, a biopsy is done. There are several methods of biopsy, including Stereotactic, ultrasound guided, fine needle aspiration and surgical biopsy. The surgeon and the radiologist decide which type of biopsy is appropriate in each case. Sometimes the surgeon may decide that no biopsy is indicated (no obvious lump or mammographically stable lump).  When the results of the biopsy are available the surgeon communicates these to the patient. A consultation is then scheduled if the lump is contains cancer. 
• A breast care navigator, who is a registered nurse with expertise in breast cancer detection and care. The Breast Care Navigator is available to all breast care patients and serves as a coordinator throughout every step of detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.
• A mammographer, who assists the radiologist with the breast treatment procedures and performs any necessary breast imaging.

About our Staff
As an American College of Radiology (ACR) accredited facility, we are proud to offer a staff of highly skilled medical professionals. All of our technologists are certified in mammography and are licensed by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).