Providers in our clinic focus only on breast cancer patients.

Our providers’ expertise assures that you’re getting the most advanced care customized for you. By bringing together breast cancer specialists from different fields of medicine, we can offer patients the best care possible. 

​You are at the center of our process.

If you have been recently diagnosed, found a lump in a breast, or need help understanding an irregular mammogram, the best place to start is with our nurse navigator. The nurse will review your records and make arrangements for you to see a breast surgeon and any other specialists based on your particular needs.

The nurse navigator will be your primary contact, helping you understand your diagnosis, connecting you with different members of the medical team, and helping you find additional services, such as support groups and survivor programs.

Although same-day appointments are possible, most patients are seen within three to five days, giving us time to receive and review all your records and coordinate any additional appointments.

After being evaluated, your case will be discussed during a team meeting where the care team will suggest the best course of treatment. Our dedicated breast pathologist is present at our team meetings. If you had tests done outside of University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, we review those studies to confirm the diagnosis. Both you and your doctor will work together to make the final decision. Treatments typically start within one to three weeks after the first visit.

You'll have advanced breast imaging options.

An essential part of ensuring we are giving you the best treatment possible involves the Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. The imaging team will check your diagnosis using tools such as 2D and 3D mammography, ultrasounds, MRI, and image-guided biopsies. 

Our treatment is tailored to your cancer.

It is important to remember that no two cancers are the same. Yours is an individual case to be reviewed by our team of specialists as the unique case it is.

In some cases, we use intraoperative radiation therapy, a combination of both surgery and radiation treatments. If your case allows it, you'll appreciate the benefits of beginning radiation therapy at the time of surgery.

Patients who require surgery as the first line of treatment can usually expect to be scheduled within two to three weeks, depending on whether they need to have a plastic surgeon present to perform reconstruction. Chemotherapy, if necessary, can be expected to start within one to two weeks of consultation.