Patient Education

patient education

We believe the more our patients know, the more they can make informed decisions about their healthcare goals. Hill Medical has included supplemental information for your review.

The Hill Medical Corporation is a proud participant in the My-Radiologist.com national consumer awareness campaign.

My-Radiologist.com was created by a national consortium of independent, sub-specialized radiology practices, including The Hill Medical Corporation, that have aligned efforts to educate healthcare consumers regarding the scope of services provided by radiologists, as well as the importance of seeking out a sub-specialized radiology group. Through this unified voice, these radiology groups have created a platform to effectively educate consumers about the importance of connecting with the right radiologist for their healthcare needs. The campaign directs patients to talk to their physicians to get the most informed opinion in choosing the right imaging center and the right radiology group.

What exactly is a Radiologist? The answer may surprise you. Learn more about the role your radiologist plays in your healthcare at “What is a sub-specialty radiologist?”

Risk assessment services are available through the Hill Imaging Center in Glendora, and the Jim and Eleanor Randall Breast Center in Pasadena, which specifically benefit patients who are at risk for inherited breast cancer

Hill Medical strives to provide the most comprehensive breast care to our patients. For over 10 years, the Hill Medical Corporation has provided a lifetime breast cancer risk assessment (Tyrer-Cuzick) – now we’re proud to provide Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessments according to the NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) guidelines.

Depending on a patient’s risk factors, imaging reports may encourage a discussion between health care providers and patients regarding eligibility for genetic counseling, genetic testing, and/or breast MRI. Our goal is to work as a team with you and your health care provider with the objective of providing early detection and cancer prevention. You and your health care provider can discuss recommendations made by our Radiologists, and decide the best course of action.

All women are at risk for breast cancer, but some have a higher risk which could be due to a variety of factors, including:

  • Family history of breast or other types of cancer (on either side of the family)

Breast cancer risk data will be compiled during routine screening mammography. After breast imaging reports are completed and if the patient has one or more risk factors, we will encourage patients to schedule an appointment with their health care provider to discuss their risk factors and develop a personalized breast cancer screening plan, which may include genetic counseling and/or a breast MRI.

A genetic counselor can:
  1. Review your family history and risk factors for breast cancer in more detail.
  2. Provide a comprehensive assessment of your breast cancer risk.
  3. Discuss whether genetic testing for hereditary cancer is right for you.
  4. Discuss additional breast cancer screening options, such as breast MRI or screening breast ultrasound.

Patients may access findageneticcounselor.com, which provides patient resources and local genetic counselors to choose from.

Genetic counselors in the area include*:

Applebaum, Steve M.D. UCLA Oncologist (626) 396-2999
Black, Alexander M.D. UCLA Oncologist (626) 396-3000
Dreike, Sandra M.S., L.C.G.C. City of Hope Genetic Counselor (877) 998-7546
Erwin, Deanna M.S., LC.G.C. City of Hope Genetic Counselor (800) 826-4673
Frieder, Richard M.D. Intelegene  Medical Director (310) 582-7100
Gima, Lauren M.S., L.C.G.C. City of Hope Genetic Counselor (800) 826-4673
Kirimis, Evangelia M.D. UCLA Oncologist (626) 396-2999
Manookian, Rachelle M.S., L.C.G.C. City of Hope Genetic Counselor (800) 826-4673
Martel, Cynthia M.D. USC Oncologist (626) 568-1622
Mcnamara, Mark M.D USC Oncologist (626) 568-1622
Nehoray, Bita M.S., L.C.G.C. City of Hope Genetic Counselor (800) 826-4673
Shehayeb, Susan M.S., L.C.G.C. City of Hope Genetic Counselor (877) 998-7546
Shen, Jeannie M.D. UCLA Oncologist (626) 356-3167
 Solomon, Ilana Sc.M., M.A., L.C.G.C. City of Hope Genetic Counselor (800) 826-4673
Weitzel, Jeffrey M.D. City of Hope Genetic Specialist (626) 359-8111

*The Hill Medical Corporation does not promote, endorse or sponsor the listed physicians. This list consists of local specialized health care providers known to offer genetic counseling. This is not an exhausted list.

For questions regarding our risk assessment services, please contact Daina Nasir, Randall Breast Center Clinics Manager/Mammography Supervisor at 626-793-6141.
For physicians requiring a peer to peer discussion regarding a patient’s report, please contact Dr. Jon M. Foran, Radiologist at 626-793-6141.

Hill Medical understands the level of anxiety for some patients to undergo an imaging exam or procedure, especially if it’s the patient’s first time. To empower our patients with knowledge, we have teamed up with Strategic Radiology to develop educational modality videos. These videos were prepared to lessen the scan-xiety of patients and to increase awareness of how radiology machines work.

What You Need To Know About Lung Cancer

Download this National Cancer Institute complete resource “What You Need To Know About Lung Cancer”.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring a new class warning and other safety measures for all gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) concerning gadolinium remaining in patients’ bodies, including the brain, for months to years after receiving the contrast. Gadolinium retention has not been directly linked to adverse health effects in patients with normal kidney function, and the FDA has concluded that the benefit of all approved GBCAs continues to outweigh any potential risks. Hill Medical continues to encourage research to better understand its clinical significance. In the meantime, the risk-benefit equation in most situations favors continued use of gadolinium-containing contrast agents for indicated examinations according to ACR guidelines. The FDA approved gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) in 1988 and since then they have been used in more than 300 million patients worldwide to guide diagnosis and treatment, according to the American College of Radiology (ACR). ACR affirmed that gadolinium-based contrast agents “provide crucial, life-saving medical information.”

How to Prepare for your MRI Exam
Patient Forms to Review Prior to your Exam
Frequently Asked Questions regarding Gadolinium Contrast

Breast Density Law Takes Effect

A new California law has been passed that is designed to improve breast cancer detection and prevention by educating patients about dense breast tissue and how it could conceal possible abnormalities during mammographic procedures.

Starting April 1, 2013, The Jim & Eleanor Randall Breast Center and The Hill Imaging Center, Inc. are mandated by the State of California to notify patients via written form if on their screening mammography their breast density tissue was categorized either heterogeneously dense or extremely dense breasts. These categories are based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology.

Patients that are classified with either of these two categories of dense breasts can expect to receive the following written notice:

“Your mammogram shows that your breast tissue is dense. Dense breast tissue is common and is not abnormal. However, dense breast tissue can make it harder to evaluate the results of your mammogram and may also be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. This information about the results of your mammogram is given to you to raise your awareness and to inform your conversations with your doctor. Together, you can decide which screening options are right for you. A report of your results was sent to your physician.”

Dense breast tissue is common and is not abnormal. However, dense breast tissue can make it harder to evaluate the results of your mammogram and may also be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. However, it is important for The Jim & Eleanor Randall Breast Center and The Hill Imaging Center, Inc. patients to understand that dense tissue is not the only factor when labeling a woman at high risk of breast cancer.

In addition to the written report, the new law requires our physicians to inform women who have dense breast tissue that additional screening options are available, including breast ultrasound and breast MRI, both of which we offer at our facilities.

What is breast density?

Breasts are made up of a mixture of fibrous and glandular tissue and fatty tissue. Your breasts are considered dense if you have a lot of fibrous or glandular tissue but not much fat. Density may decrease with age, but there is little, if any, change in most women.

How do I know if I have dense breasts?

Breast density is determined by the radiologist who reads your mammogram. There are four categories of mammographic density. The radiologist assigns each mammogram to one of the categories. Your doctor should be able to tell you whether you have dense breasts
based on where you fall on the density scale.

Why is breast density important?

Having dense breast tissue may increase your risk of getting breast cancer. Dense breasts also make it more difficult for doctors to spot cancer on mammograms. Dense tissue appears white on a mammogram. Lumps, both benign and cancerous, may also appear white. So, mammograms can be less accurate in women with dense breasts.

If I have dense breasts, do I still need a mammogram?

Yes. A mammogram is the only medical imaging screening test proven to
reduce breast cancer deaths. Many cancers are seen on mammograms
even if you have dense breast tissue.

Are there any tests that are better than a mammogram for dense breasts?

In breasts that are dense, cancer can be hard to see on a mammogram.
Studies have shown that ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help find breast cancers that can’t be seen on a mammogram. However, both MRI and ultrasound, show more findings that are not cancer, which can result in added testing and unnecessary biopsies. Also, the cost of ultrasound and MRI may not be covered by insurance.

What should I do if I have dense breasts? What if I don’t?

If you have dense breasts, please talk to your doctor. Together, you can
decide which, if any, additional screening exams are right for you. However, it is important for The Jim & Eleanor Randall Breast Center and The Hill Imaging Center, Inc. patients to understand that dense tissue is not the only factor when labeling a woman at high risk of breast cancer.

If your breasts are not dense, other factors may still place you at increased risk for breast cancer — including a family history of the disease, previous chest radiation treatment for cancer and previous breast biopsies that show you are high risk. Talk to your doctor and discuss your history.

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our staff at The Jim & Eleanor Randall Breast Center at (626) 793-6141, or The Hill Imaging Center, Inc. at (626) 914-3384.