Every October, reminders to get regular mammograms are plastered all over billboards, magazines, social media, TV advertising, and more. Many women follow this guideline faithfully enjoy year after year of uneventful screenings.
But what about the women who don't have a trouble-free screening? What if their routine mammogram comes back with abnormal results? What happens next?
That's where Kami Robinson BSN, RN comes in. She's our Nurse Navigator in the Women's Diagnostic Center. A big part of her role is helping women to ease the fear of the unknown after they have recently discovered an abnormal mammogram.
Education is a major element in helping to ease that fear. "I educate patients on upcoming biopsies, diagnostic mammograms, and genetic testing. I'm with the patient during their biopsy and I make sure that they are notified of biopsy results from their doctor. I also communicate with the physician offices, assist them with orders for the procedures and make sure the patients are following up with their diagnostic mammograms. Nurse Navigators need to have compassion, strong communications skills, leadership skills, organization, and the ability to be able to prioritize and reprioritize quickly," Kami says.
Every day when Kami arrives at work, she looks at her schedule to see what procedures she has for both outpatients and inpatients. Working collaboratively with the Imaging department as FHN is a must, and during daily morning huddle, they map out their schedules for the day. Kami spends the most time with MRI, ultrasound, mammography, and CT.
"I usually spend most of the morning working with procedures such as breast biopsies, liver biopsies, prostate biopsies, lung biopsies, renal biopsies, thyroid biopsies, paracentesis, and thoracentesis. I spend most of the afternoon looking at which patients need to be called following their screening mammograms for diagnostic mammograms and ultrasounds. Throughout the day, I meet with patients and discuss genetic testing. I draw their labs and send them out the same day," Kami says.
The Women's Diagnostic Center provides screening mammograms, diagnostic mammograms, ultrasound guided breast biopsies, stereotactic breast biopsies, breast MRI's, bone density, and genetic testing. Most women should begin annual screenings at age 40. The Women's Diagnostic Center offers easy scheduling with one call to 815-599-6860, and on Wednesday afternoons, you can walk in for a screening mammogram from 1 – 4 p.m.
Screening mammograms and diagnostic mammograms differ in that screening mammograms are used to detect cancer in patients that are not having any problems. Diagnostic mammograms are used for patients that have a suspicion of cancer, whether it is an abnormal screening mammogram, a lump that is found, tenderness in the breast, or any kind of drainage from the breast. It's very common for a patient to get a phone call after their very first screening mammogram and need to return for a diagnostic mammogram. 90% of abnormal mammograms result in breast cancer not being found.
In addition to mammograms, self-breast exams should be done monthly. "Self-exams are best one week after menstruation. If you're no longer menstruating, you should pick the same date every month to perform the self-breast exam," Kami says.
Kami enjoys being a part of the Women's Diagnostic Center, and she began working at FHN in 2015. "FHN feels like home to me. It's small, and you know just about everyone you pass in the hallway. It's always a good feeling when you can see familiar faces and say hi to everyone. Our staff is so friendly and knowledgeable, and I love our participation with the community. Now that I've become a nurse navigator here at FHN, I'm very excited to become even more involved with the community," Kami says.
Listen to Kami talk about The Women's Diagnostic Center on the To the Point radio show.