The Breast Center at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen is focused on all aspects of breast cancer awareness, detection and care that provides community outreach programs.

If symptoms of cancer are found, we offer immediate access to timely diagnostic results and therapeutic recommendations, support in decision making, comfort, treatment, and sensitivity to the postoperative needs of the patient and her family.

For additional information, call (956) 389-6709; To make an appointment, please
call (956) 389-6700 or 389-1852.

Breast Center Objectives

Pre-and postoperative mastectomy education conducted by an experienced nursing staff. The goal of this education is to provide the patient and their family with information and skills to enhance recovery and to provide information on education resources, mastectomy products and support groups.

Our medical staff fully prepares patients to work as partners with their health care team in facilitating their physical and emotional recovery. Education consists of careful, complete explanations of all treatments, procedures and options for the patient.

Experienced nurses offer personalized guiding through all phases of treatment, recovery and follow-up services, and provide a network of constant communication between physicians and nurses, with one-on-one support and counseling for the patient and her family.

Guidelines

Mammography can be of special benefit to women as a part of regular cancer-related checkups. For women with no symptoms, the American Cancer Society advises certain guidelines for the earlier detection of breast cancer:

Women between the ages of 20-40 should perform breast self-examination (BSE) every month and have a breast examination by a physician every three years.

Begin mammography at age 40
40+ Yearly mammogram
Breast self examination (BSE) monthly
Breast examination by a physician yearly