On-line Community Health Newsletter New help for women with breast health concerns When a woman finds out from her doctor that she has a breast problem requiring additional testing, it can send shock waves. Dozens of questions race through her mind, giving rise to fears and doubts. She often feels totally alone. At Hoag Hospital, she most definitely is not. Gay Page, nurse practitioner, is the breast health educator at the Hoag Breast Care and Imaging Center, and one of her most important roles is to answer the questions and quell the fears of women whose worlds have shifted dramatically since they last entered their doctor's office.
Most women are very anxious.
They fear the worst. Many have already diagnosed themselves with breast disease, even though the overwhelming majority of cases are benign. I'm here as an educator, to help calm fears, to guide her through the maze of her treatment and diagnostic options. Gay's comforting services are available on a referral basis to Hoag patients whose doctors have detected a suspicious breast condition that warrants further examination. Gay helps explain the various diagnostic procedures that can help clarify the woman's condition.