Receiving Care for Breast Cancer

From diagnosis to treatment to recovery, at Northern Light Mercy Hospital, we know how to help you navigate breast cancer — a disease that can be frightening and overwhelming.

Our skilled and caring team of providers is dedicated to supporting our breast cancer patients in every stage of their illness. Starting with early detection using advanced breast imaging, our team works closely with each individual patient to diagnose, treat, and manage breast cancer. Our providers will walk you through every aspect of receiving care for breast cancer.

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Northern Light Mercy Breast Care

(207) 553-6800

The Mercy Breast Care Experience

Care in Your Community

No one wants to worry about traffic on top of their breast care. With Mercy, receive exceptional care in your own neighborhood.

Convenient Care

No matter where in your breast cancer journey you are, Mercy offers convenient care that’s easy to access. Our lab, imaging, and breast care services are all located in the same building.

Make Fewer Appointments

Our expert care team will ensure your plan works with your life. Your surgeon can even coordinate placing breast implants at the time of your mastectomy.

Need to schedule your annual screening mammogram?

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What to Expect at Northern Light Mercy Breast Care

An all-female surgical team specially trained in breast care
Nationally accredited breast care center
High-quality medical care combined with empathic emotional support
Conveniently located in the same building as imaging services
Care coordination for any specialties related to your breast cancer

Breast Cancer Screening

When breast cancer is found early, you have more treatment options and better outcomes. At Northern Light Mercy, we support our patients by utilizing the following breast cancer screening techniques:

Monthly breast self-exams: By routinely examining your breasts, you’ll have a greater chance of finding cancer when it’s a smaller size and less advanced. Each month, in the week after your menstrual cycle, perform a breast self-exam. If you find a lump or any other breast change (like nipple changes, redness, soreness), contact your healthcare provider.
Annual mammogram: Mammograms can detect breast cancer before it can be felt. Starting at age 40, you should get a mammogram each year. At Northern Light Mercy, we offer 3-D mammograms. By taking several low-dose X-ray images from different angles, this state-of-the-art technology can find more cancers and lead to fewer false positives (mammograms that look abnormal even though there is no cancer).
Further screening techniques: If you have a higher risk of breast cancer, such as if you have a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer, your provider may recommend more screening, such as using breast MRIs or starting screening at an earlier age.

If a lump or abnormality is found, your provider may perform a breast biopsy to take a small sample from the lump and test it for cancer.

Breast Cancer Diagnosis

A breast cancer diagnosis can be scary and overwhelming. At Northern Light Mercy, our providers are committed to ensuring you know everything about your diagnosis, including what type of breast cancer you have and what treatment options you have.

Our multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer management includes coordination among departments such:

Breast Cancer Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is one kind of treatment that can help manage your cancer. The word “chemo” might be scary, but at Northern Light Mercy, your care team will work to ensure you are comfortable, cared for, and confident in your treatment plan.

Chemotherapy is a word commonly associated with cancer care, and it refers to the different drugs you may receive to treat your cancer. Your treatment plan might include chemotherapy:

Before surgery
After surgery
If cancer has spread to other parts of your body
Through an IV
With drugs you take orally

If needed, we will work to develop a chemo plan that works for your individual cancer — that you can receive right at Northern Light Mercy Hospital.

Breast Cancer Surgery

Depending on your breast cancer management plan, you may require surgery. Our surgical team offers a variety of breast cancer surgery options:

Lumpectomy: Surgery to remove a breast cancer tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue
Mastectomy with or without reconstruction: Surgery to remove the entire breast, sometimes followed by reconstruction of the breast (using implants or tissue)
Nipple-sparing mastectomy: Surgery to remove breast tissue, leaving the nipple and areola in place
Sentinel lymph node biopsy: Surgery to remove a sentinel lymph node (a lymph node from which cancer cells are most likely to spread)
Axillary dissection: Surgery to remove lymph nodes from more than one level (or location in the pectoral muscle)
Accelerated partial breast irradiation: Radiation that’s given to just part of the breast
Intraoperative ultrasound: Using ultrasound during surgery to find and remove tumors

Northern Light Mercy Hospital

Northern Light Mercy Hospital

Women's Health

Receiving Care for Breast Cancer at Northern Light Mercy Hospital

Contact Us

The Mercy Breast Care Experience

Care in Your Community

Convenient Care

Make Fewer Appointments

Need to schedule your annual screening mammogram?

What to Expect at Northern Light Mercy Breast Care

Breast Cancer Screening

Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Breast Cancer Chemotherapy

Breast Cancer Surgery

Make an Appointment

Are You at Risk of Breast Cancer?

Understanding Your Breast Cancer Risk

Services & Locations

Birthing

Midwifery

Women’s Imaging

Breast Care

OB/GYN Care

Primary Care

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Northern Light Mercy Hospital

Receiving Care for Breast Cancer at Northern Light Mercy Hospital

Contact Us

The Mercy Breast Care Experience

Care in Your Community

Convenient Care

Make Fewer Appointments

Need to schedule your annual screening mammogram?

What to Expect at Northern Light Mercy Breast Care

Breast Cancer Screening

Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Breast Cancer Chemotherapy

Breast Cancer Surgery

Make an Appointment

Are You at Risk of Breast Cancer?

Understanding Your Breast Cancer Risk

Services & Locations

Make an Appointment

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