At the Josephine Ford Cancer Center, the patient's care is in the hands of expert physicians who diagnose and treat thousands of cases of breast cancer every year. More than 48,000 breast procedures annually are performed at our facilities.
Screening and Early Diagnosis The key to beating breast cancer is early detection. At Henry Ford, our patients have access to some of the most sophisticated equipment in the world to help physicians detect and diagnose breast cancer in its earliest stages. A full line of diagnostic imaging capabilities are available, including:
X-ray
Computed Tomography (CT)
Combined PET/CT
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (the only clinical 3Tesla field strength magnet in Michigan)
Mammography
Nuclear Medicine
Stereotactic Biopsy
Ultrasound
In addition to offering the latest diagnostic tools, all of our mammography technologists have completed additional training in mammography. And our mammograms are read here in Detroit by board-certified radiologists.
Comprehensive Breast Clinic Coping with a new breast cancer diagnosis is stressful. New patients with this disease are suddenly, often unexpectedly, thrown into a swirling world of many doctors, nurses and ancillary staff. At the Josephine Ford Cancer Center, we’ve created a Comprehensive Breast Cancer Clinic, where the patient can see all the specialists in one visit. Patients and their families arrive at the breast clinic, are shown an educational videotape, and meet with coordinating nurses.
Physician specialists then meet with one another to discuss the patient's needs and map out a plan for treatment. Patients at Henry Ford aren't treated by one doctor. They are treated by a team of doctors, nurses, social workers and other health care providers. The decisions made by the team of doctors and others are then discussed with the patients.
The surgical oncologist, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist explain the role of their various disciplines in the patient’s management and answer questions. After meeting with the physicians and nurse coordinators, patients are introduced to a breast cancer survivor through the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program.
The goal is to have patient leave the appointment able to fully understand their treatment plan.
Surgery Breast surgery consists of care of both cancerous and non-cancerous breast diseases such as breast pain, nipple discharge, breast cysts and breast infections. This includes lumpectomy, mastectomy, incisional breast biopsy, sentinel node biopsy, complete axillary lymph node dissection and breast reconstruction.
At Henry Ford, our surgeons are pioneers in finding more effective surgical methods in treating these diseases and conditions. Thousands of breast surgeries are performed each year, making it one of the busiest and most effective programs in the state. We are committed to high quality surgery that is made possible by our vast experience. We aim to put each patients' clinical and emotional needs before any other consideration.
Henry Ford breast surgeons are involved in numerous clinical studies and laboratory research programs. This stimulates us to be on the cutting edge of the latest techniques. Our surgeons are among the world's pioneers in sentinel lymph node biopsy, a procedure where surgeons determine whether the breast tumor cells have spread to the first lymph nodes in the underarm. The procedure allows surgeons to preserve as many lymph nodes as possible, making recovery much easier.
Medical Oncology Josephine Ford Cancer Center offers medical oncology at four convenient locations; Detroit, West Bloomfield, Dearborn and Brownstown. Patients are offered a full scope of services including the opportunity to participate in national clinical trials, which is often not available to patients receiving treatment in private physician offices. A number of treatments are available to our patients because of our clinical trials program.
These therapies are not only for the treatment of cancer but to relieve symptoms of cancer and cancer therapy.
Radiation Oncology Radiation oncology services are available at five locations; Detroit, Brownstown, West Bloomfield, Clinton Township and Grosse Pointe. Our radiation oncology department brings together a team of nationally recognized clinicians, researchers and medical physicists. Our patients have access to treatments unavailable at other cancer centers. Being a part of such a unique team allows our physicians and researchers to offer patients the most advanced radiation therapies available such IMRT and stereotactic radiosurgery.
More women come to the Josephine Ford Cancer Center for breast cancer screenings, treatment and surgery than any other health care institution in Michigan. More than 60,000 women each year receive a mammogram and more than 500 breast cancer surgeries are performed.
Pinky Swear The Facebook page that encourages women to make a commitment to regular mammogram screenings and promote breast cancer awareness.
At the Josephine Ford Cancer Center, the patient's care is in the hands of expert physicians who diagnose and treat thousands of cases of breast cancer every year. More than 48,000 breast procedures annually are performed at our facilities.
