Each October, we observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a time to raise awareness, celebrate survivors, honor those lost, and emphasize the importance of early detection and comprehensive care. At The Center for Breast Care at Brown Surgical Associates, our mission is to deliver compassionate, patient-centered care, guided by expertise, collaboration, and innovation.
Why This Month Matters
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Early detection saves lives. When breast cancer is found at earlier stages, treatment options are more effective and often less invasive.
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Awareness empowers action. Encouraging women (and men) to know their bodies, understand risk factors, and schedule screenings can lead to earlier diagnosis.
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Support networks make a difference. Fighting cancer isn’t just a medical journey — it’s emotional, psychological, and social. Awareness month gives us a chance to highlight community, resources, and hope.
What Makes the Center for Breast Care at Brown Surgical Associates Unique
At the Center for Breast Care, our goal is more than treating disease — it’s restoring quality of life, with dignity, support, and the latest techniques. Some key features of our program:
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Multidisciplinary, coordinated care. As part of the Brown University Health Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Center, our team includes radiologists, pathologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons, genetic counselors, and nurse coordinators — all working together to design the best plan for each patient.
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Compassionate navigation. Our multidisciplinary coordinators help patients through every step — from diagnosis through treatment, follow-up, and survivorship — making sure communication is seamless and no one falls through the cracks.
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Advanced surgical expertise. Our surgeons are nationally recognized, often teaching at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and utilize surgical advances to minimize invasiveness, preserve tissue, and maintain natural contour whenever possible.
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Comprehensive services offered. Beyond surgery, we provide genetic testing, risk assessment, reconstructive options, survivorship care, and support resources.
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Multiple convenient locations. We serve Rhode Island and surrounding regions through a network of 13 locations.
Key Messages for This Month: What You Can Do
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Know your risk and family history. Genetics plays a role for many patients. If you have a strong family history of breast, ovarian, or related cancers, ask about genetic counseling and testing.
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Keep up with recommended screenings. Don’t delay your mammogram or clinical breast exam. Early detection remains one of our best tools.
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Be breast aware. Understand what’s normal for your body — size, shape, texture — and report new changes (lumps, skin changes, nipple changes, swelling) to your provider promptly.
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Ask questions, be active. Engage with your health care team. Understand your options, risks, and outcomes. The more informed you are, the more empowered your decisions will be.
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Support community efforts. Participate in events, fundraisers, or awareness campaigns. Together, we amplify the message and resources. (For example, Paddle for Progress, founded by breast cancer survivors, raises funds for breast cancer research and care in Rhode Island)
A Call to Action
If it’s been a while since your last screening, contact us to schedule one. If you or a loved one faces a breast cancer diagnosis, know you don’t have to go it alone — the Center for Breast Care is here, with expertise, support, and a collaborative team to stand with you every step.
Together, this October and beyond, we can turn awareness into action, hope, and healing.
