Breast cancer care in Jacksonville

Ascension St. Vincent's Cancer Care takes a compassionate, personalized approach to breast cancer care – from early detection to comprehensive cancer treatment.

Breast cancer care in Jacksonville

Ascension St. Vincent's Cancer Care takes a compassionate, personalized approach to breast cancer care — from early detection to comprehensive cancer treatment.

  • CALL - 904-308-5856 — CANCER CARE NAVIGATOR
  • SCHEDULE A SCREENING

Experienced breast cancer specialists, close to home

At Ascension St. Vincent's in Jacksonville, our experienced breast cancer specialists are part of a national team of doctors, sharing best practices and advanced treatment options for breast cancer care — bringing the best of oncology to you, close to home. When you choose Ascension St. Vincent's, you get a multidisciplinary team of doctors that prioritize early personalized treatment, including board-certified, fellowship-trained breast surgeons, breast radiologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, a care navigator and a dedicated team of oncology nurses, dietitians and cancer specialists.

The Breast Cancer Care Program at Ascension St. Vincent's is recognized by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), delivering advanced diagnostic tests, high-quality treatments and follow-up care.

When you’re going through breast cancer, we’re by your side

Cancer is personal, and so is the way we care for you. At St. Vincent's, you’re never alone. You’ll have face-to-face visits with your doctor and an entire care team dedicated to your care — connecting the dots for you. Your doctor and care navigator will take the time to answer all your questions — big and small. By getting to know you and working together, you get a care plan customized to your needs. And with a plan, comes hope. Our goal is to help you recover faster so you can get back to your home, family and daily life.

A team approach that helps navigate tests and support services

Along the way, your care may require imaging, lab tests, pharmacy support, lymphedema physical therapy or other specialists. You do not have to navigate your care alone. Upon your cancer diagnosis, or when you come to us during your cancer care, you’re paired with a cancer care navigator. Your navigator will help you schedule appointments, connect with other services you need and support you along the way. When you have a concern or feel unsure, don’t hesitate to talk with your care team and ask questions.

Breast cancer conditions we treat

Your doctors and care team deliver a customized care plan for your cancer. We treat many types of breast cancer, including:

  • Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), noninvasive breast cancer in the milk ducts
  • Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), cancer of the milk ducts that has invaded breast tissue beyond the ducts
  • Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), rare, invasive cancer that blocks the lymph vessels in the breast skin 
  • Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), begins in milk glands
  • Male breast cancer, cancer that forms in the breast tissue of men
  • Metastatic breast cancer, also known as stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body

How we diagnose breast cancer

Cancer specialists who know you and your condition review your treatment and progress. Your care team focuses on identifying whether the tumor is noninvasive or invasive, understanding where the tumor began and whether or not it has spread. To diagnose breast cancer, your doctor may recommend testing, such as:

The latest imaging supports mammogram screening and diagnostic tests for advanced care, including 3D mammograms, breast ultrasound, abbreviated breast MRI, and magnetic seed and needle (wire) localization biopsy.

If you want to learn more about other possible cancer care options, talk to your doctor. You may want to ask whether cancer clinical trials are the right option for you.

Blood tests can give your doctor a lot of information. They can see if certain elements in your blood are in a normal range. But in many cases, blood tests are only part of the information your doctor needs to make a diagnosis of a health condition. The diagnostic blood test will confirm or rule out if you have a certain condition or type of cancer.

If you are high-risk or have a family history of cancer, your doctor may recommend cancer genetic screening, testing and counseling to help you and your doctor better understand your risk for developing cancer.

Breast biopsy tests are used to evaluate breast cells and help your doctor diagnose your condition and determine the stage of cancer.

How we treat breast cancer

Treatment for breast cancer may include medication, therapy or surgery.

Breast reconstruction is surgery to create a new breast shape in place of a breast that has been removed (mastectomy). It can be done with implants or with tissue from another part of your body. Sometimes both are used to rebuild a breast shape. The breast mound created comes as close as possible to the shape and look of a natural breast.

Surgery may be done to reconstruct either one breast (unilateral) or both breasts (bilateral). The goal of the unilateral reconstruction is to create a breast mound that matches the other breast. If both breasts have been removed, the goal of the surgery is to create both breast mounds about the size of your natural breasts.

Surgeons who specialize in breast-conserving lumpectomy use smaller, more precise incisions than traditional mastectomy surgery and can discuss options for immediate breast reconstruction, including consultation with a plastic surgeon.

Hormones are chemicals made by glands, like the thyroid, pancreas, adrenal glands, ovaries and testicles. Hormones help some types of cancer cells grow. Some cancers may be sensitive to hormones and be treated with hormone therapy, including breast, prostate, thyroid, endometrial and adrenal cancers. Hormone therapy can make the cancer cells grow more slowly or stop them from growing.

As a cancer treatment, hormone therapy may mean taking medicines that block the activity of the hormone, stop the body from making the hormone or change the hormone so it doesn't work like it should. Sometimes hormone therapy involves surgically removing the gland that's making the hormones.

During a mastectomy, your surgeon removes all or part of your breast or breasts to treat breast cancer. There are several types of mastectomy, including total mastectomy and partial mastectomy. Your breast surgeon will discuss your options with you.

Specially trained physical therapists deliver therapy to help manage lymphedema symptoms, such as swelling and pain.

Advanced radiation therapy is used to target and destroy cancer cells while avoiding the surrounding healthy tissue.

Your cancer care team provides support from nutrition education and counseling to breast cancer support groups and spiritual care. And, at Ascension St. Vincent's sites of care, our healing gardens and chapels are always open to patients and your loved ones. We offer supportive care and activities for the whole you.  For more information, please call 904-308-7546.

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that boosts your body’s immune system to help it recognize and attack cancer cells. It uses substances that are either made in the body or in a lab. These substances either boost the immune system overall or help it to better target cancer cells. These medicines can shrink some tumors or slow tumor growth.

Benefits of our approach to breast cancer care

Cancer specialists who know you and your condition review your treatment and progress. They work together to customize your overall care plan to support your physical well-being and mental and emotional health.

Ascension St. Vincent's Cancer Care offers comprehensive breast cancer care, including:

  • Breast radiology — We offer imaging locations close to home – from dedicated breast imaging centers to women’s health centers and our mobile mammogram program. The latest imaging supports mammogram screening and diagnostic tests for advanced care (3D mammograms, breast ultrasound, abbreviated breast MRI, and magnetic seed and needle (wire) localization biopsy.
  • Breast surgery — Surgeons specialize in breast-conserving lumpectomy using smaller, more precise incisions and mastectomy, and can discuss options for immediate breast reconstruction, including consultation with a plastic surgeon.
  • Medical oncology — Medical oncologists work with your gynecologist and breast surgeon to deliver advanced care (chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted immunotherapy) to help stop cancer spread.
  • Radiation oncology — Advanced radiation therapy is used to target and destroy cancer cells while avoiding the surrounding healthy tissue.
  • Clinical trials — If you want to learn more about other possible cancer care options, talk to your doctor. You may want to ask whether cancer clinical trials are the right option for you.
  • Genetic counseling and testing — If you are high-risk or have a family history of breast cancer, we deliver cancer genetic screening, testing and counseling to help you and your doctor better understand your risk for developing cancer.
  • Oncology rehabilitation with lymphedema therapy — Specially trained physical therapists deliver therapy to help manage lymphedema symptoms, such as swelling and pain.

Get a second opinion

Get the confidence and peace of mind that your doctor and care plan are right for you. It's easy to get a second opinion at Ascension St. Vincent's. We can review your medical records and healthcare history to answer your questions and discuss options.

When you’re facing a new breast cancer diagnosis or are deciding on a surgical or therapeutic treatment plan, there’s a lot to think about. Our breast cancer specialists can provide a second opinion, based on our experience and as part of a national team.

Before your appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records on your behalf, so they can be shared with your care team before your arrival.

GET A SECOND OPINION

This service requires a referral

Please call us at 904-308-3677 to learn how to get a referral. If you are a provider referring a patient, call 904-308-3677.

Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside Hospital
1 Shircliff Way
Jacksonville,  FL  32204

Ascension St. Vincent's Southside Hospital
4201 Belfort Rd
Jacksonville,  FL  32216

Ascension St. Vincent's Clay County Hospital
1670 St. Vincents Way
Middleburg,  FL  32068

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.

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