Breast Care Program

There’s no better place for breast imaging than Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC). We offer all-encompassing breast care through our comprehensive Breast Care Program, a fully integrated system that ensures every patient receives the highest level of care and attention.

Note: Although breast disease most commonly affects women, it can affect men as well. Our program offers the best care available for each patient, regardless of gender.

Treatments and services

The clinicians at Dartmouth Cancer Center Bennington are here for you. Through clinical trials, tumor boards, and genetic counseling, they have direct access to all of the research and physicians at Dartmouth Cancer Center, one of only three National Cancer Center Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in New England.

  • Prevention: Although some patients begin their relationship with the Breast Care Program with education or an evaluation of family history, most patients begin in our Breast Health and Imaging Center. There we offer routine breast mammograms, follow up mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and breast magnetic resourcing imaging (MRI) scans. SVMC Imaging is accredited in breast mammography and ultrasound by the American College of Radiology (ACR).
  • Detection: Abnormalities in breast tissue are very common. Whether you notice a breast abnormality at home, during a clinical breast exam, or during a regularly scheduled mammogram, we will work with you to ensure that you are getting the best care. After the detection of an abnormality, patients usually receive advanced imaging. From there a board-certified radiologist will interpret your results.
  • Breast biopsy: If recommended, we will guide you through a biopsy. Our imaging department offers ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, stereotactic core breast biopsy and, when indicated, MRI-guided breast biopsy. We do it so well that we are ACR accredited for both ultrasound and stereotactic biopsies.
  • Pathology: Most often—in nearly 75 percent of cases—biopsies reveal no need to worry. Only five women in 1,000 are diagnosed with breast cancer. Our pathologists are board certified with special certifications in breast pathology. They work with your care team to get you results in a timely manner.
  • Support: If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, we offer lots of support. A Breast Health Navigator will guide you through the diagnostic process—reviewing test results with you, answering questions, providing resources, facilitating communication between you and your doctors, and doing all that can be done to support you and your family. Your navigator will stay with you through imaging and, if needed, surgery, oncology, and into survivorship.
  • Breast surgery: Should you need a surgical consult for management of benign breast disease or management of high risk lesions, or if you choose surgery as part of your breast cancer treatment, it can be accomplished right here with the board-certified surgeons at SVMC General Surgery. In addition, your physician can connect you with plastic and reconstructive surgeries if you choose.

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Patient support

Through valuable partnerships, we offer many different ways to get patients the support they need. In addition to the caring and professional doctors and nurses on our team, we offer the following support services:

  • The Cancer Center Community Crusaders' Fund is for patients who need help with the financial strain related to treatment. Please let your provider, nurse, or Jean Huntington, Cancer Center Practice Manager, know you’d like to discuss this fund.
  • EduCare Patient Resources
  • Nutritional counseling. Your provider can refer you to a registered dietitian.
  • Palliative Care program at SVMC
  • Physical therapy, which can help with lymphedema, fatigue, and other symptom management. Your provider can make a referral for you.
  • Reiki is free for patients at the Cancer Center, when Reiki volunteers are available.
  • Support groups
  • Survivorship classes, including Be Beautiful, Qi Gong, yoga, and more.
  • Tobacco cessation counseling via My Healthy Vermont
  • Transportation to and from cancer-related medical appointments is available via the American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery® program.

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Contact, hours, and location

Find our address and phone information in the "Contact us" section at the top of this page.

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Resources

Related professional organizations