Like many people, you are concerned, you are concerned about your breast health, and how your wellness affects your family, loved ones and friends. We share your concern, that´s why Hunterdon Regional Breast Care Program (HRBCP) combines a comfortable, supportive environment with first–rate, comprehensive diagnostic and treatment resources… all conveniently close to home. The HRBCP is accredited by the American College of Radiology as a nationally-approved Mammography and Ultrasound Center. We are a member of the National Consortium of Breast Centers.More recently The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), the only national accreditation program specifically for breast disease, awarded Hunterdon Medical Center’s Hunterdon Regional Breast Care Program Three-Year Full Accreditation.  The NAPBC is a consortium of national and professional organizations dedicated to quality of care and the improvement of outcomes for patients with diseases of the breast.  

National Recognition for Breast Care

At HRBCP, we take a coordinated approach to breast care, for both well care and cancer care. A highly skilled team of breast specialists from different medical disciplines provides diagnostic testing, treatment, surgery, psychosocial support, education and rehabilitation. This team also collaborates with family practice physicians, gynecologists, radiologists, oncology specialists, plastic surgeons, pathologists and counselors to ensure that the care you receive is the most comprehensive it can be.

For anyone diagnosed with breast cancer,  Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center is a full-time care partner, providing surgery, reconstruction alternatives, radiation and chemotherapy, support and counseling every step of the way.

The moment anyone enters the HRBCP – whether for education, screenings, diagnosis or treatment – they are under the care of experienced and qualified breast health professionals. What sets us apart? We combine this level of professional excellence with a true compassion for the patients we serve. HRBCP cares for all of you! A dedicated nurse coordinator experienced in breast health is your direct connection to the many services you may use; she will coordinate your appointments and keep you apprised of your progress.

Here is a list of the services available to our patients:

• Screening and diagnostic mammography
• Breast ultrasound
• Stereotactic and ultrasound-guided biopsy
• Sentinel Node Biopsy
• Prone Breast Irradiation 
• Consultations and second opinions
• A breast information center
• Prevention research 
• The Family Risk Assessment Program  
  

We´re here to help! Call us to find out more about Hunterdon Regional Breast Cancer Program. (908) 237-2362.

Request a brochure about Hunterdon Regional Breast Care Program

Services specifically designed for women diagnosed with breast cancer include:

• Surgery including sentinel lymph node dissection
• Reconstructive surgery
• Outpatient chemotherapy suite
• Outpatient radiation treatment services
• Psychosocial counseling and rehabilitative services
• Clinical research
• Breast cancer support groups
• Lymphedema program
• Dietary consultation

If you require surgery

Care is coordinated with one of the board-certified surgical specialists at the Medical Center. With early detection, most women are candidates for a lumpectomy, where the surgeon removes only the lump and a margin of tissue around it, sparing the breast.

Dedicated Nurse Coordinator

A full-time, dedicated Nurse Coordinator experienced in breast health issues remains in contact with you, keeping you informed about test results. She serves as liaison if further treatment and evaluation are necessary coordinating appointments in an expeditious manner. She is there to hold your hand every step of the way.

Digital Mammography Services

A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray of the breast. It can detect a breast lump nearly two years before it can be felt. A routine mammogram is the main reason most women visit the Hunterdon Regional Breast Care Program. Screening mammograms evaluate breast health in women with no symptoms, and are used for those who seek routine breast evaluation. Diagnostic mammograms are used to diagnose breast disease in women with symptoms of a breast problem: dimpling, or a change in texture of the skin of the breast, a lump, or discharge from the nipple. 

Ultrasound

The majority of lumps and abnormalities turn out to be benign, not cancerous. A way to determine if a lump is a benign cyst is to perform another imaging procedure called an ultrasound. Ultrasound works by sending high frequency sound waves into the breast. These sound waves produce a pattern of echoes that are changed into an image of the inside of the breast. Ultrasound is painless and can distinguish between tumors that are solid and those that are filled with fluid (cysts). It can also help radiologists evaluate lumps that can be felt but cannot be easily seen on a mammogram.

Stereotactic Biopsy

In this procedure, a computer-guided needle pinpoints a lump precisely, allowing removal of only the tissue needed for examination. A stereotactic biopsy is performed under local anesthesia, and usually takes between 30 minutes and one hour. Results of the relatively simple outpatient procedure are generally available within one working day.

Sentinel node biopsy

A procedure performed at the Hunterdon Regional Breast Care Program that determines whether any cancer cells are present in axillary (underarm area) lymph nodes is the sentinel node biopsy. The aim of the sentinel node biopsy is to identify the node that receives lymph drainage directly from the cancer area in the breast. This "node on watch" is identified when a tracer substance is injected into the area around the breast cancer, and the lymph flow carries it to the sentinel node. A small biopsy is then done on that node using local anesthesia. Only if the sentinel node is positive is more surgery required to remove that node and other lymph nodes tested.

For Your Breast Health

Become familiar with your breasts by routinely checking them for signs and symptoms of disease. The Hunterdon Regional Breast Care Program follows these guidelines recommended by the American Cancer Society:

Monthly breast self-exams: All women should perform monthly breast self-exams starting at age 20. It should be done a few days after the last day of your period. If you don't have periods any more, do your exam on the same day each month. Look for lumps, thickenings, nipple discharges, skin changes or any other signs of change.

Clinical breast exams: You should have a physician examine your breasts every three years if you are between the ages of 20 and 40, and every year after you are 40.

Mammograms: All women 40 and older should have a mammogram every year for the rest of their life. If there is a history of breast cancer in your immediate family (such as a mother, aunt, or sister), you may begin having mammograms as early as 35. If you feel you are at increased risk for breast cancer, talk to your physician about when you should begin having mammograms.

For questions concerning the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast disease - or to schedule an appointment - call Hunterdon Regional Breast Care Program at (908) 237-2362.