Patient Information

Breast Cancer Clinic
What Can I Expect?
Psychosocial Support
Contact Us

Breast Cancer Clinic
Breast cancer patient care at the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at UM/Sylvester is under the direction of Stefan Glück, M.D. The clinic setting has been reorganized to meet the needs of our significantly expanding patient population. Today, expert nurses and a multidisciplinary team of breast cancer specialists provide patient consultations at one location. Specially trained patient care coordinators work to navigate and facilitate everything from referrals to clinical trials so that our patients and their families can focus their energies on getting well.

The Breast Cancer Clinic Offers

• Outstanding clinical diagnosis and treatment services for patients with a variety of breast problems and diagnosed breast cancer.
• A wide range of diagnostic technologies, including mammography, ultrasound, fine needle aspiration, ultrasound-guided biopsy, and MRI imaging and biopsies.
• Access to breast MRI for diagnostic evaluation and screening for high-risk patients, as appropriate.
• Access to expertise, the most advanced therapies, newest cancer drugs, and a wide range of promising new therapies offered in the most advanced clinical trials.
• Counseling, guidance, and education about inherited cancer risk and appropriate risk management, including genetic testing, through the Center for Cancer Prevention and Genetics. For more information about this service or to schedule an appointment, call Talia Donenberg, M.S., CGC, genetic counselor at
  305-243-3627.

Today, the Braman clinical faculty includes surgical oncologists, medical oncologists (including M.D. scientists in our research labs), and breast radiation oncologists who are specialized in breast cancer care. In addition, breast radiologists and dedicated breast pathologists assist in diagnosing new breast cancers and in the care of our patients. For more information about our clinical specialists, including their clinical interests click here.

Support personnel are vital to our team. These professionals include: a breast cancer clinic manager, advanced practice registered nurses (nurse practitioners), breast cancer nurses, nurses assistants, and clerical staff.

The clinic is located on the second floor of the UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

For an appointment with a medical oncologist, please call:

• Breast Cancer Nurse Coordinator at 305 243-6645
  
• Patient Care Coordinator at 305 243-9569
  
  

For an appointment with a surgical oncologist, please call (305) 243-5757. For an appointment with a radiation oncologist, please call (305) 243-4200.

For further assistance with appointments, please call our Information Center at 305-243-1000 or 1-800-545-2292. For directions to UM/Sylvester and the Breast Cancer Clinic, please click here.

What Can I Expect?
The purpose of your initial visit to the Breast Cancer Clinic is to establish yourself as a patient. You will meet with a physician to review and discuss your treatment protocol and overall care, as well as schedule any necessary testing or procedures. Below are steps involved in establishing this relationship. Please note your first visit may vary and may take several hours, depending on necessary consultations, testing, and/or procedures. A full evaluation may require at least five working days to complete, not including any treatments.

• In order to best plan your treatment, please request to have your microscope (pathology) slides and tissue blocks sent to our facility at least two weeks in advance of your appointment, so they may be reviewed by our pathologist. We can help arrange this if you need assistance.
• Medical oncology appointments require patients to send their records ahead of time to be reviewed by the breast cancer nurse coordinator. Please allow 1-3 days for our review of those records. Please note that no medical oncology appointments are given until records are reviewed and slides are received.
• On the day of your visit, please bring all your medical records, including reports, laboratory test results, X-rays (mammograms, ultrasounds, MRI films), and a list of all your current medications.
• Please arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment and check in at Patient Registration on the first floor of UM/Sylvester. Be sure to provide a local address and telephone number. If you need to reschedule an appointment, please call 24 hours in advance.
• From registration, you will be directed to the Braman Family Breast Cancer Clinic on the second floor of UM/Sylvester.
• At the Breast Cancer Clinic, please check in at Reception A. In the waiting area you will complete the health questionnaires including the dose and strength of all current medications, including aspirin products.
• Your medical information will be reviewed by your health care team (doctor, advanced care nurse practitioner, and clinic nurse).
• A health care team member will direct you to the exam room where you will receive a thorough medical examination by your physician.
• The doctor will talk with you about the reports, records, and laboratory tests you provided, as well as discuss your recommended treatment options and any need for further testing.
• After your visit, please proceed to the nurses’ station for checkout.

Follow-up visits
Please schedule follow-up visits with the staff associate at the time of discharge. 

• Please arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment and check in at Patient Registration on the first floor of UM/Sylvester. If you need to reschedule an appointment, please call 24 hours in advance.
• From Patient Registration, you will be directed to the Braman Family Breast Cancer Clinic on the second floor. Be sure to provide any updates to your local address, number, or insurance information.
• At the Breast Cancer Clinic, please check in at Reception A. A health care team member will call you to direct you to the exam room.
• Please advise your nurse about any recently completed tests, such as an X-ray, CT scan, MRI, MGM, or lab work, to make sure this information is included in your chart.
• Your physician will perform a thorough medical examination.
• After your follow-up visit, please proceed to the nurses’ station for check out. If changes were made in your treatment plan, it will take some time to process the doctor's orders. Please be seated in the waiting area.
• If more tests are ordered, the advanced care nurse practitioner on your team will advise you on how soon the tests should be completed and the receptionist will schedule the tests before you leave. If prior authorization is required, we will notify you of that and the nurse coordinator or patient care coordinator will help you obtain it.

Psychosocial Support
As part of our commitment to patient care, the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute offers psychosocial services to patients and their families through the Courtelis Center for Psychosocial Oncology at UM/Sylvester. We understand breast cancer poses many challenges, and we believe in offering all possible resources to help maximize the chance of recovery and improve quality of life for every patient with a breast cancer diagnosis. 

At the Courtelis Center, we focus on helping patients maintain their psychological health and promote thriving.  People who have been diagnosed with cancer often need psychosocial support as an outlet for their feelings, thoughts, and concerns, as well as a way to learn about how to manage their stress.

Our treatment approaches are tailored to each patient’s specific needs, and may include individual, family, or group sessions. Treatment is often short-term, focuses on solving problems and adapting to life’s new demands. We aim to help you enhance the skills you already have and to learn new adaptive ones.

Our mind-body approach to health and healing is tailored to meet individual needs. Using empirically-validated therapeutic techniques, we provide assistance with:

• Managing stress
• Coping with illness and emotions
• Adhering to the physician-prescribed treatment regimen
• Improving communications among the patient, physician, and health care team

Our approach is research-driven and skills-based. We use cognitive-behavioral and supportive/expressive techniques to guide you toward optimal health. Sessions are conducted in a warm, supportive environment in which you have the opportunity to grow, learn about yourself, and relax.

In addition, the Courtelis Center offers acupuncture services, pastoral care counseling and nutritional counseling, and, in the near future, we plan to coordinate support groups and stress management groups.

Our staff includes: psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, psychiatrists, an Oriental medicine doctor, and acupuncturist, as well as a pastoral care counselor.

For an appointment for any of these services, please call the Courtelis Center at 305-243-4129 or our Information Center at 305-243-1000 or 1-800-545-2292.

Contact Us
The Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at UM/Sylvester is located at:

Physical Address
UM/Sylvester, 2nd floor
1475 N.W. 12th Avenue
Miami, Florida 33136

Office Address
Batchelor Bldg
1580 N.W. 10th Avenue
Room 425
Miami, Florida 33136

Main Telephone Numbers
305-243-7265
305-243-1000
1-800-545-2292

Have a question, comment, or concern? We welcome your feedback. Send us your comments online by filling out the online contact form.