Massachusetts General Hospital | Cancer Center

The Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Evaluation Center
and The Gillette Center for Breast Cancer

Locations:Avon - Wang Ambulatory Care Center, 2-240; Gillette - Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care, Suite 9A

Leadership: Kevin Hughes, MD, Director of the Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Evaluation Center; Barbara Smith, MD, PhD, Director, Gillette Center for Breast Cancer; John Erban, MD, Director, Clinical Programs and Co-Director, Gillette Center for Breast Cancer; Paul Goss, MD, PhD, Director, Breast Cancer Research; Alphonse Taghian, MD, PhD, Chief, Radiation Oncology Breast Services

ServicesThe Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Evaluation Center is the first stop for patients experiencing breast problems. Here, patients can take advantage of the most advanced breast imaging, surgical screening, and pathology services available. The advanced imaging and surgical practices allow patients to receive quick, precise diagnosis and staging of their cancer. Once diagnosed, staff will develop a treatment plan tailored to each patient.

Patients can then continue treatment at The Gillette Center for Breast Cancer, which features a team of specialists in surgical, medical and radiation oncology, imaging and cancer genetics. The Gillette Center offers advanced therapies to treat patients as minimally invasive and quickly as possible. These include advanced chemotherapy before and during surgery, hormone therapy, partial breast radiation and genetics counseling and assessment.

What makes these centers special?The coordinated care model allows for patients to receive the best, personalized care from a talented team of specialists in a timely manner. In addition, clinical trials at these centers are constantly conducted to develop better ways of detecting and treating cancer. Some of the innovative testing and research includes groundbreaking research on duration and effectiveness of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole, use of anti-HER2 therapies including the oral agent lapatinib, gene-expression profiling and ways to reduce arm lymphedema. The Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Evaluation Center is one of only a few locations evaluating digital tomography, an advanced 3-D imaging technique for detecting breast cancer.

For more information:Gillette Center for Breast Cancer
877-789-6100

The Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Evaluation Center
877-789-6100

Return to the Connections E-Newsletter