Breast Cancer Treatment Clinic and Team

Scott & White's mission of providing personalized, comprehensive, high-quality cancer care is the foundation for the Breast Cancer Treatment Clinic. Women and men who have a new diagnosis of breast cancer benefit from a multi-disciplinary team of breast cancer specialists that provides individual, personalized care to each patient.

The Breast Cancer Team supports the Breast Cancer Treatment Clinic to ensure that each patient receives care that is tailored to her or his needs and allows each patient to meet one-on-one with the healthcare professionals involved in her or his treatment. The patient is one of the most important members of the Breast Cancer Team when it comes to the patient's own care. Together, the patient and the team determine the best treatment plan to meet the needs of the patient.

Our ultimate goal is to improve the survival of patients who are faced with breast cancer by providing them compassionate care that gives special attention to their quality of life.

How to Make Referrals

Referrals from Scott & White physicians, outside physicians and self-referrers can contact the team coordinator at 254-724-6296. Once the referred patient is registered into the Scott & White system, the team coordinator is notified for scheduling the patient in the Breast Cancer Treatment Clinic.

The team coordinator will work with both the patient and the referring physician to obtain the medical documents needed for complete review at the Scott & White Breast Cancer Team. Additional consults will be scheduled if needed. The Breast Cancer Team strives to involve the referring physician and primary care physician as integral members of the team.

How the Breast Cancer Treatment Clinic Works

• The Breast Cancer Treatment Clinic is a collaboration between the patient and the Breast Cancer Team to ensure that each patient receives individualized care. Breast Cancer Treatment Clinics are held on Tuesdays and Fridays each week. During each clinic day, the patient meets with the team members involved in their care, including the clinical oncology social worker, financial counselor, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist and surgeon.
• The patient meets with an experienced financial counselor, which allows the patient to ask questions regarding insurance and billing. This initial meeting can help put the patient's mind at ease as important decisions are made about their care. The counselor is knowledgeable about the financial aspects of cancer care and is a true resource for the patient.
• The patient visits with a clinical oncology social worker who talks about a range of issues including psychological, social and practical needs. The clinical oncology social worker assesses and provides for the diverse and often complex needs of the individual patient, their family, and supporters. Information on support, education, advocacy and problem solving is provided to the patient. A Scott & White chaplain is also available for consult if requested by the patient.
• The patient and her family are encouraged to visit the Center for Cancer Prevention and Care during the clinic day and to explore the resources available to them. The center partners with our cancer patients to help address the issues that may occur following a cancer diagnosis by providing resources to the patient. Educational pamphlets, books, videos, and tapes are available at the center, and designated computer stations allow patients to access the internet to search cancer information. A caring staff is available to answer questions and locate information for patients. Our educators also provide information on healthy lifestyles and general chemotherapy teaching.
• The patient continues the clinic with her physician appointments from the Breast Cancer Team. Her medical oncologist takes a thorough medical history and performs a physical examination. Test results from the laboratory, x-rays, mammograms and pathology reports are reviewed and discussed with the patient. The oncologist will also discuss surgical treatment options. If the patient has a family history of cancer, particularly breast cancer, the medical oncologist may refer the patient to a geneticist.
• A radiation oncologist evaluates the patient for breast conserving surgery. The role of radiation therapy, the expectations during and after radiation, and the possible side-effects are explained.
• After the consults are completed, the patient then returns to the general surgeon for a final decision on surgical treatment. The surgeon discusses with the patient what might be expected before, during and after the surgery. The patient also meets with a surgical nurse who explains pre- and post-operative care.
• About three to four weeks following surgery, the patient is scheduled to return to the medical oncologist. The pathology report is reviewed with the patient including the size of the tumor, lymph node involvement (if any), and the stage of the cancer. After considering all the prognostic factors, the medical oncologist estimates the likelihood of cancer recurrence and may recommend additional treatment - either chemotherapy or hormone therapy. The patient will also be referred for radiation therapy as appropriate to her treatment.

Breast Cancer Support Group - Temple

The Breast Cancer Support Group meets on the first and third Mondays of the month from 6:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. at the Ronald McDonald House located at 2415 South 47th Street in Temple, Texas. For more information please contact Kevin Francis at 254-724-5918 or 254-773-5840, or e-mail kdfrancis@swmail.sw.org

Significance of the Butterfly

Though none of us would like to think of ourselves as a fuzzy caterpillar, the caterpillar represents the way a person may see themselves before the diagnosis of cancer. The chrysalis is the diagnosis of cancer since it tends to bind a person for a time. During this time, your life may not seem to be in your control. But time passes and the cocoon opens and a beautiful butterfly emerges. The cycle is complete. Though no one would choose to have cancer, most agree that because they have been through this process they are a better person because of it.

Additional online information

• People Living With Cancer - Oncologist approved cancer information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology
• National Cancer Institute - Breast cancer information from U.S. National Institutes of Health
• OncoLink.com - The web's first cancer resource
• CancerRD.com  - Nutrition information for patients with breast cancer

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