The Breast Health Program at Swedish Covenant Hospital is a comprehensive program that focuses on all aspects of breast health, from screening to diagnosis. The program's uniqueness derives from taking care of the whole person, not just the illness.
- Designed to focus on a complete breast health journey, the program:
- Assists women on the emotional and physical journey through a breast cancer diagnosis
- Encourages and helps women complete breast cancer screenings
- Addresses concerns from the moment a woman has an abnormal mammogram
- Educates the community about breast health, screenings and early detection
- Provides resources to uniquely healing services-like nutrition, massage therapy, healing touch, exercise and laughter yoga
- Reduces the time from screening to diagnosis
- Provides personal care in a compassionate and timely matter
Michelle Peters, RN, BA, coordinates the program. Specifically trained to address patients' medical, psychological and social needs, she personally navigates them through each step of diagnosis and treatment. Michelle is a registered nurse with a strong clinical background, with a special interest in women's health.
To learn more information about the Breast Health Program, contact Michelle Peters at (773) 989-3999, or mpeters@schosp.org.
3-D Mammography
At Swedish Covenant Hospital, we understand that countless women in Chicago are diligently protecting themselves and the people they love by getting regular mammograms. These women are doing their part in the fight against breast cancer; and we are doing ours by providing the very best diagnostic tools available.
Swedish Covenant Hospital is now equipped with 3-D mammogram capabilities through breast tomosynthesis. This innovative mammogram technology provides physicians with higher quality, more detailed images and scan results, which means more accurate diagnoses for our patients.
The 3-D and 2-D imaging capabilities particularly benefit younger women and those with particularly dense breasts by locating and identifying abnormalities or suspicious lumps which may have been overlooked in the past.
Swedish Covenant Hospital is only hospital in Chicago offering this technology.
Patient Benefits
In contrast to traditional imaging, breast tomosynthesis technology imaging leads to:
• Earlier breast cancer detection
• Less anxiety and faster diagnoses
• Fewer false alarms because of unclear images
• More accurate images in young, dense or fatty breasts
Unlike other leading hospitals where appointments can take months, we adjust our schedules to allow patients to be seen in a timely manner - whether you need a mammogram or one of the many other advanced diagnostic tests we offer.
To schedule your mammogram, call (773) 878-6888. If your primary care physician is not affiliated with Swedish Covenant Hospital, you can still schedule your mammogram with us. Your results will be faxed to your physician.
View 2012-2013 Mammography pricing>
Breast Health Screenings
Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago offers several minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and treat breast cancer in its earliest stages. These highly accurate techniques can be done on an outpatient basis with minimal pain and scarring.
Ultrasound-guided breast biopsy
If a cyst is found during a mammogram or a clinical exam, ultrasound is an important tool in distinguishing between a simple cyst — which requires no treatment — and a complex cyst or solid lesion, which requires further treatment. An ultrasound-guided breast biopsy allows your physician to guide fine needles to the suspicious spots in the breast and make a precise biopsy, avoiding a more invasive procedure.
"The beauty of ultrasound is there is no radiation, just sound waves," says Bruce Silver, MD, board-certified radiologist at Swedish Covenant Hospital.
Stereotactic biopsy
Mammograms often detect microcalcifications — calcium deposits that cannot be felt on clinical exam or detected by ultrasound. In these cases, Swedish Covenant Hospital offers an advanced stereotactic biopsy technique. In this outpatient procedure, the patient rests on a table while two separate mammograms are taken at angles to each other. A computer uses two images to calculate the exact position of the breast lesion, and a fine needle is used to take a precise biopsy.
For more information, talk to your physician. To find a Swedish Covenant Hospital physician, call Physician Referral at (773) 878-6888.
Swedish Covenant Hospital is also participating in a collaboration with Dr. Sandy Goldberg's A Silver Lining Foundation to provide free breast imaging to women in need. Learn more >
