Breast cancer specialists in Manchester, New Hampshire
We are devoted to your care, offering diagnostic, surgical and follow-up breast cancer services.
At Catholic Medical Center, our experienced breast surgeons understand how unsettling it can be to receive a breast cancer diagnosis. We use proven methods — including stereotactic breast biopsies, mammograms and breast ultrasounds — to give you the high-quality care you deserve.
Symptoms of breast cancer
Performing monthly self-evaluations is important for familiarizing yourself with your breast health. If you detect any noticeable changes, make an appointment with your doctor. Symptoms to watch out for include:
- Breast or nipple pain
- Dimpling or swelling of the skin
- Lumps
- Nipple changes
- Nipple discharge
- Swollen lymph nodes in your underarm
- Swollen lymph nodes on your collarbone
Breast cancer services we provide
We are committed to exceptional breast cancer care that lasts throughout your journey, including diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.
Diagnosing breast cancer
Family history can play a major role in developing breast cancer. We use breast cancer 1 (BRCA 1) and breast cancer 2 (BRCA 2) gene testing to help determine your potential likelihood for developing breast cancer and paint a clearer picture of your long-term health.
Breast cancer is potentially curable when diagnosed in its earliest stages, which is why early detection through advanced imaging is important. We offer the following testing options:
- Breast ultrasounds
- Mammograms
- Stereotactic breast biopsies
Self-breast exams should not be a replacement for mammograms. These imaging procedures have a better chance of identifying cancer than self-exams alone.
Surgical breast cancer treatment
Advances in medicine have made it possible for us to offer proven surgical procedures to treat breast cancer. These techniques are performed by our experienced and knowledgeable surgeons. They will work with you to determine the best option for your condition.
Recognition for our breast cancer program
We are proud to have earned several national recognitions and accreditations for our breast cancer program.
Breast Imaging Center of Excellence
Our hospital was recognized by the American College of Radiology (ACR) as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence (BICOE), demonstrating our commitment to improving women's health through excellence in ACR quality assurance programs. It also acknowledges that we are ACR accredited for the following breast imaging services:
- Breast ultrasound
- Mammography
- Stereotactic breast biopsy
National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC)
The NAPBC accreditation demonstrates our commitment to high quality breast cancer care, as determined by internal and external assessments of breast cancer services performance against nationally recognized standards. Earning this accreditation also verifies that our breast center's compliance standards meet or exceed national benchmarks.
Breast cancer survivorship program
We offer a specialized program designed to provide support for those who have completed their breast cancer treatment. This next phase is often referred to as survivorship.
Our survivorship program is designed to promote ongoing health and well-being, while helping breast cancer survivors transition from active treatment to long-term survivorship.
Features of the program include:
- Emotional and psychological support — Support groups, counseling and mental health services to manage stress, fear or anxiety
- Exercise and lifestyle guidance — Guidance on how to incorporate exercise into your daily routine
- Medical monitoring — Regular screenings and check-ups
- Nurse navigator services — Education on beneficial programs and lifestyle choices that can help decrease your risk of recurrence
- Nutritional counseling — Guidance from nutritional experts on maintaining a healthy diet and managing dietary challenges that may have arisen during treatment
- Peer support — Annual events and outings geared towards connecting with survivors with similar experiences
- Physical rehabilitation — Rehabilitation services to address any physical challenges or limitations you may have from surgery, radiation or chemotherapy
- Survivorship care plans — Individualized documents outlining treatment history, recommended follow-up care and lifestyle recommendations
- Transportation services — Access to transportation to and from appointments
FAQs
What are receptors and why is learning their status important?
Receptors are proteins on cells that attach to material in your blood. Some breast cancers attach to estrogen or progesterone, and in some cases, they attach to both. Breast cancer needs these hormones to grow.
Receptors fall into one of two categories:
- ER positive — Attached to estrogen hormones
- PR positive — Attached to progesterone hormones
Learning the receptor status tells us what treatment options are likely to work. We can then choose the treatments that prevent estrogen or progesterone from attaching to receptors, helping to stop or slow down the progression of breast cancer.
What is HER2 status?
Accounting for about 20% of tumors, "HER2" refers to a higher level of protein found in tumors, and it means the cancer grows quickly. Breast cancer with a HER2 negative status, on the other hand, typically responds better to medications that target the HER2 protein.