St. Mary's Breast Health Center

At St. Mary’s Breast Health Center, our goal is to treat every patient with compassionate, comprehensive care using the latest technologies available. We strive to provide outstanding care in a warm and welcoming environment. 

We know our patients expect and deserve top-quality care. That’s why we have voluntarily sought and received certification from the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers^TM Program and accreditation by the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. These accomplishments and recognitions make our center the only dual-certified breast center in our region.

St. Mary’s Breast Health Center offers

• Prevention counseling
• Routine screening
• Diagnostic imaging
• High-risk counseling
• Genetic counseling and testing
• Medical, radiographic, and surgical treatment

We want patients to understand that breast disease, including breast cancer, is treatable – and in many cases associated with long-term survival. We aim to be on the cutting edge of technology throughout each patient’s journey while providing a compassionate and seamless experience. It is our goal to make sure the patient feels educated and takes an active part in their treatment plan.

What Is a High-Risk Breast Clinic?

It’s a service dedicated to women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer. We perform a risk assessment on all patients who come to us for care. This pain-free assessment helps us measure the risk that a patient might have a genetic abnormality. Women found to be at high risk can then receive genetic testing to confirm or rule out abnormalities that could lead to breast disease. Other breast cancer risk assessment tools will be used as well, which would prompt recommendations for increased imaging surveillance handled through the high-risk clinic.

Eligibility for genetic testing is based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines. We handle this testing process, which is performed in our office, as well as result reporting and genetic counseling.

Videos & Testimonials    

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Ellen Walker's Testimonial

Understanding Cancer Episode 4:
Breast Cancer (part 1)

Understanding Cancer Episode 5:
Breast Cancer (part 2)

Frequently Asked Questions    

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Why Choose St. Mary's Breast Health Center?

St. Mary's Breast Health Center will provide pre and post-operative patient consultations at St. Mary's Breast Health Center, located at 1230 Baxter St. Athens, Georgia. Dr. Jeffery is now accepting patient appointments. A referral from a primary care physician may be required under some insurance plans. As part of St. Mary's Medical Group, St. Mary's Breast Health Center accepts most major insurance plans and Medicare. Please contact your insurance provider for more information regarding your specific plan requirements for a specialist referral.

Services Offered

All patients treated at St. Mary’s Breast Health Center will have access to a multidisciplinary team of experts in surgery, genetics, high-risk screening, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology radiology, as well as reconstructive plastic surgery.

Can I get my mammogram at St. Mary's?

Yes. We offer state-of-the-art 3D mammography, including annual screenings, at all four of our breast health centers in Athens, Oconee County, Lavonia, and Greensboro. To schedule a mammogram, talk to your doctor or complete our scheduling request form. 

If I need a follow-up study, can St. Mary's help?

When a mammogram shows a suspicious finding, we take it very seriously. One of our breast health navigators will contact you to help you quickly schedule any additional testing you may need. We offer a full spectrum of follow-up testing, including 3D diagnostic mammography, ultrasound studies, breast MRI, and several forms of breast biopsy. Many of these services are available at St. Mary's Breast Health Center in Resource Medical Park off Oglethorpe Avenue in Athens, as well as at Good
Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro and St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, as well as St. Mary's Hospital in Athens.

When should I see a breast surgeon?

Anytime a patient feels or sees something abnormal in their breast, nipple, or armpit, they should see a breast surgeon. Abnormalities found in a mammogram, ultrasound,d or MRI would also be cause for seeing a breast surgeon. Lastly, if there is a family history of certain cancers, visiting our
high-risk clinic would be appropriate.

What is non-cancerous breast disease?

Many benign (non-cancerous) diseases occur in the breast and may need to be evaluated by a breast surgeon. These can be benign tumors, discharge from the nipple, and dermatologic conditions of the breast as well as many others. It is important to make sure someone has differentiated these from a cancerous diagnosis.

How is genetic testing performed?

In many cases, genetic testing can be as simple as providing a spit sample. Occasionally, but not often, blood will need to be drawn. Testing is performed directly in the Breast Health Center.

Why did I get breast cancer?

For many patients, there is no clear reason why they develop breast cancer, and nothing they have done that might have caused it. There are hormonal factors that play into the development, as well as changes in a person's DNA during their lifetime. A smaller percentage are related to family history with a genetic mutation that is passed down through family members.

What are the stages of breast cancer?

Breast cancer stages are typically expressed as numbers 0-IV — 0 being non-invasive cancer that is still confined to the milk ducts and stage IV being more advanced cancer that may have spread to other parts of the body.

How will my breast cancer be treated?

The highest standard of care is to provide a multidisciplinary approach to the care of breast disease. This approach frequently involves a combination of surgery, medication, and possibly radiation therapy. St. Mary’s Breast Health Center works to make each patient’s treatment happen in the most seamless, cohesive way possible.

We hold tumor boards regularly throughout the month where our multidisciplinary team meets to discuss patients recently diagnosed with breast cancer.