Getting diagnosed with breast cancer or even just getting tested for it is a scary process. One that can actually prevent women from getting help. Now a new facility at Spartanburg Regional aims to take the mystery out of the process and help all women. Thursday they enlisted the help of a world renowned journalist to help.
Cancer is a subject Paula Zahn is very familiar with. Four of her family members battled the disease at the same time.
The former CBS and CNN anchor says, "Unfortunately my family has been decimated by cancer. My parents were both diagnosed with cancer within three weeks of each other."
Her mother survived.
According to Zahn, "She had two separate battles thirteen years apart. Two mastectomies."
That's why Paula is here for the opening of the Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health. A facility that takes a new approach at detecting and treating breast cancer, no matter who you are.
Dr. Jay Bearden says, "Going to make it available to people of all incomes, no insurance, some insurance it doesn't cover."
The colors in the center are calming lavender and the environment is comfortable like a hotel.
Dr. Julian Josey says, "Helps patients get their mind off of the disease and realize there is a place for their emotional needs as well as for their physical needs."
They came up with idea after talking to patients.
Some of the ideas are women just getting checked will be separated from those already diagnosed so they don't go through undue stress.
Also there's an education center for families.
Zahn says, "To know there is a patient advocate on the same floor as the same place where you are going to get a diagnosis. You are going to have someone follow you through the whole treatment process."
Because this is a one stop shop for breast cancer patients, the doctors hope to reduce the 60 to 90 days it can take to get back a patients results.
Dr. Bearden says, “We can diminish that wait time from time of biopsy to diagnosis to implementation to less than a week."
Something people like Paula who have watched and worried about a loved one can be happy about.
The Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health will also offer state of the art MRI technology to patents. It opens September 8th.
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