Breast health at Northwest

Breast health services

The Breast Center at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest is proud to have earned our reputation for providing comprehensive breast care to our community. We are one of the only breast centers in Houston, and we are one of only three in Texas that are recognized as a Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence by the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers Program^™. Our breast center has also been designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.

We are committed to providing comprehensive breast care to the greater Houston area, we offer our patients:

• Complete Care. Our services include 3D digital screening mammography, digital diagnostic mammography, stereotactic biopsies, ultrasound guided core biopsies and breast magnetic resonance imaging. Bone density screenings are also available.
• Compassion. You will receive quality care with a personal touch. Every staff member will be sensitive to your individual needs, making certain you feel comfortable throughout your care.
• Commitment. From breast cancer detection to comprehensive care, you can feel confident knowing that you will receive compassionate, quality care.
• Support. Our support group provides help beyond diagnosis for survivors and their families when they are faced with many new and difficult challenges.

The Breast Center at HCA Houston Northwest is located on the first floor of the Women’s Atrium at our main hospital campus. Free parking is available in the guest parking garage.

The Breast Center hours:

Monday to Thursday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm

Friday from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm

Saturday 8:00 am to 12:00 pm

At our breast center, women over the age of 40 can schedule their own digital screening mammogram without a referral from their primary care physician, if they have seen a physician within a year.

Our self-initiated digital screening mammograms are intended to offer women an easy option for scheduling a screening mammogram to help detect breast cancer before symptoms appear.

To schedule your mammogram, please call 1 (855)-210-3569.

Breast health tests and screenings

Our breast care goes beyond our breast center. We offer a comprehensive range of tests and screenings to help with the early detection of breast cancer and other breast diseases.

At The Breast Center at HCA Houston Northwest, our focus is on the early detection of breast cancer; to achieve this we use advanced diagnostic equipment. Our mammographers, ultrasonographers, and nurses and are highly trained in breast imaging, and we all work together as a team with our doctors to offer a comprehensive diagnosis.

3D mammography

3D mammography is a procedure that uses multiple low-dose images to create a three-dimensional view of the breast. It allows the doctor to examine the breast layer by layer. Any abnormalities are more visible, since they are not hidden by the tissue above and below.

Biopsy

A biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue, which is then tested in a lab for signs of disease or infection. Doctors typically order a biopsy when another medical test suggests that a body tissue is not normal.

Breast MRI

Breast MRI is a diagnostic procedure that uses large magnets, radiofrequencies and a computer to produce a detailed image of the breast. This image is used to check for signs of cancer and other abnormalities.

Breast physical exam

Breast physical exams are performed in a doctor’s office and are frequently part of a woman’s annual physical exam. Breast exams are used to check for signs of cancer and nipple discharge. They may also be performed if a patient complains of breast pain.

Ductal lavage

Ductal lavage is a screening tool used to detect breast cancer in women who are at high risk for developing breast cancer. During the procedure, cells are collected from the milk ducts to screen for cancer cells.

FISH test

Fluorescence in situ hybridization is also referred to as a FISH test. For breast cancer, this test is performed on tissue removed from the breast to help determine the genetic makeup of the cells.

IHC test

An IHC test is crucial for planning the treatment of a breast cancer patient. This test helps to determine if a tumor is fueled by estrogen or progesterone.

MammaPrint test

A MammaPrint test is a genetic test that analyzes the activity of certain genes during the early stages of breast cancer. This test can be used for all forms of breast cancer and can play an important role in determining the course of treatment following surgery.

Mammostrat test

A mammostrat test is a genetic test used to determine a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer for a second time. This test can be beneficial in planning treatment and may even allow some women to forgo chemotherapy.

MarginProbe

MarginProbe delivers real-time cancer detection while a patient is in the operating room. This device allows doctors to preserve as much of the breast as possible while removing cancerous cells.

Molecular breast imaging

Molecular breast imaging is a nuclear medicine test used to detect breast cancer. This diagnostic procedure uses small-semiconductor cameras to produce high-resolution images of the breasts.

Oncotype DX test

This oncology test is used to help predict the chances of breast cancer recurring. It analyzes a group of genes to determine how likely it is for the cancer to return.

PET scans

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that uses a radioactive substance, called a tracer, to look for disease and/or cancer in the body. A PET scan shows how organs and tissues are functioning.

Prosigna breast cancer prognostic gene signature assay

Used in the early stages of breast cancer, Prosigna is a genetic test used to determine risk factors. This test looks at how likely the disease is to advance into advanced-stage cancer.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a non-invasive diagnostic test that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of various organs and structures throughout the body. When performed on the breast, it can be used to check the tissues for signs of cancer.

Blood marker tests

Blood marker tests are often used in patients with cancer or tumors to help determine cancer activity throughout the body. Cancers and tumors often produce a protein found in the blood that can serve as a marker for the cancer.

Breast disease treatment

We offer a range of treatment options for breast diseases, including:

• Biological therapy
• Breast cancer surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Herceptin
• Hormone therapy
• Radiation