Breast Health and Holistic Healing
Ease, comfort, expert staff and state-of-the-art capabilities - that's what a woman expects from the team helping her to manage her breast health. At Little Company of Mary (LCM), we take a holistic approach to the healing process. Here, a range of specialists, surgeons, radiation and medical oncologists, counselors and tools come together to create a single gateway for breast wellness.
Watch the short video on our Women's Center for Life and Health
Nationally Accredited Comprehensive Breast Health Center
LCM's Comprehensive Breast Health Center, was recently awarded a three-year/full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. Accreditation by the NAPBC is only given to a select few centers across the country that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance.
Full Range of Diagnostics and Care
Our continuum of care includes treatments for breast cancer as well as other conditions including nipple discharge, breast pain, abnormal mammograms, new or suspicious breast lumps and benign breast changes. Our diagnostic tools include breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and MRI-guided breast biopsy and digital mammography. And, with breast conserving advances like DynaCAD for more precise biopsies and Mammosite® for shorter, more accurate breast radiation treatment; procedures that once took months can now be done in just a few days.
Renowned Fellowship-Trained Female Breast Surgeon
Our staff includes a fellowship-trained female breast surgeon, Dr. Nancy Taft. Dr. Taft was inducted as a Fellow to the American College of Surgeons and is currently a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the Society of Surgical Oncology.
Dr. Taft grew up in Springfield and attended Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. She completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals and completed her fellowship at the Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center at Northwestern University. Additionally, she is a Major in the US Army Reserves and has served our country in Afghanistan.
The Comprehensive Breast Health Center also offers the professional guidance of Radiologist, Bennett Y. F. Lum, M.D., an expert mammographer and specialist in breast biopsies. In addition to top-notch doctors, the Center offers a warm private environment as well as valet parking and convenient appointment times including evenings and weekends. Committed to Little Company of Mary's tradition of excellence, experts at the Comprehensive Breast Health Center bring together top resources, specialists and equipment - all for your good health.
To make an appointment with Dr. Nancy Taft: Call 708.229.4050
To schedule your mammogram: Call 708.499.8550.
For extensive information about the Breast Health Center, click here.
To learn more about the Breast Health Physicians at Little Company of Mary, click here.
What should you know about Breast Cancer?
- The good news - when found early, it is almost always curable
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer
- The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 35, which is steadily declining
- Women have a 1 in 50 chance of getting breast cancer by age 50, a 1 in 24 chance by age 60, and a 1 in 8 lifetime risk for the disease
- Breast cancer incidence is higher for non-Hispanic white females than for females in other racial and ethnic groups
- Right now there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States
What are breast cancer risk factors?
- Being a woman
- Getting older
- Genetic risk factors
- Family history
- Personal history of breast cancer
- Race
- Abnormal breast biopsy
- Early onset of menstrual periods
- Earlier breast radiation
- Treatment with diethylstilbestrol (DES)
- Not having children or having them later in life
- Postmenopausal hormone therapy
- Alcohol consumption
- Being overweight or obese
- High bone density
What can I do?
- Visit our Breast Cancer Website
- Take our online breast cancer risk test by clicking here.
- Breast-feeding slightly lowers breast cancer risk, especially if the breast-feeding lasts 1 to 2 years
- Exercise 45 to 60 minutes 5 or more days a week
- Monthly self-breast exams
- Yearly clinical breast exams
- Mammograms for women 40+, every 1-2 years
- Limit alcohol consumption
For more information about breast cancer visit:
