Being diagnosed with breast cancer is a scary, confusing time that creates worry and questions. But imagine being able to have all of your initial appointments in one day, and then sit down with your doctors all together to ask questions for as long as you need. The UAB Interdisciplinary Breast Cancer Clinic (IDBC) provides this service to every patient, and alleviates some of the worry that accompanies a breast cancer diagnosis.

With the UAB IDBC, every physician involved with breast cancer diagnosis and treatment - medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation therapists, radiologists and pathologists - will be a part of the whole team in treating breast cancer patients. This means that all physicians will work together to create a treatment plan that best suits each individual patient.

When patients come to the IDBC, they are able to see most, if not all, of their specialists in the same day, avoiding having to make multiple trips to multiple doctors over many days or weeks. This eliminates some of the worry that springs from "downtime" between doctor appointments that occurs with the traditional method of diagnosing and treating cancer.

"The patient has all the support," says UAB Medical Oncologist Andres Forero, M.D., a member of the IDBC. "After their individual appointments, they are able to sit down at a table with all their doctors at one time and have a ‘roundtable' discussion about their disease. That's the beauty of the system - all the specialists are together, and each patient has plenty of time for discussion with doctors."

When a mammogram is performed and a lump or mass is found, physicians review each case before the patient arrives. This allows the patient to have a group discussion with all of her doctors to ask questions and determine the best course of action. Because all specialists are together, each patient gets a comprehensive look at every option going forward.

"Our patients leave happy, because they've gotten their questions answered and have options," Forero says.

Additionally, IDBC patients benefit from ongoing research trials at UAB that may not be available at other medical facilities. "The UAB IDBC participates in phase III research trials, which is the last phase before FDA approval," Forero says. "This means that many of our patients benefit from new, advanced treatment."

Forero sees the IDBC as the best possible method for diagnosing and treating breast cancer. "The three biggest benefits of the UAB IDBC are that patients see all of their specialists at the same time in the same room, doctors have ample time to answer questions and make the patient feel comfortable, and we have access to the latest research in breast cancer treatment," he says.

When it comes to breast cancer, early detection is key. Remember these three steps for early detection of breast cancer

• A monthly breast self exam (BSE) is your first step in detecting breast cancer. At the same time each month, feel your breast all over (the shower is a good place to do this) and try to detect any changes in the tissue. If something feels different from the previous month, contact your doctor.

• A physician or nurse exam allows a medical professional to exam your breast to check for lumps or any abnormalities. The American Cancer Society recommends that women between the ages of 20 and 39 should have a clinical breast examination by a health professional every three years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health professional every year.

• Mammograms are important to detect cancerous cells that may not be big enough to be felt. Women over 40 should receive a mammogram every year.

Learn more about the UAB IDBC.