Sharing Our Stories

"At first I didn't want to tell anybody. And then I realized, to best take care of me, I needed to have other people take care of me. And that's where family and friends, physicians and the hospital, and everybody made a huge difference in how I was able to tolerate the surgery, the chemo, and all of the side effects that go along with that." —Martha Sharman

		Sandra Kienitz, RN, CBPN-C, is Southwest's nurse navigator for the Kearney Breast Center. When your loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may be tossed into a turmoil of feelings. You also may be wondering, "How can I help her?" Sandra offers some recommendations ("When Your Loved One Has Breast Cancer").
		Janet Bauer felt like she'd pulled the muscles in her armpit and pectoral area, and then she noticed a lump. Everything, including the mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy, happened in one day. Read about Janet's journey from breast cancer to reconstruction surgery and recovery ("I Found Out I Had Options").
		Mother Joseph, Southwest's founder, faced many challenges while traveling throughout the Northwest Territories of the late 1800s. Breast cancer was one of those challenges. Read about this amazing woman who created a hospital out of a cabin, which evolved into Southwest Washington Medical Center ("How a Laundry and Bakery Became a Hospital").
		Watch video stories about how breast cancer affected individuals in Clark County, resulting in the Kearney Breast Center at Southwest Washington Medical Center.
		Share your story about your breast cancer or mammogram experience with Southwest.

Contact Us

Kearney Breast Center
200 NE Mother Joseph Place, Suite 420
Vancouver, WA 98665

360.514.6161 (Breast Center main number)
360.514.6164 (Nurse Navigator)
360.891.2642 (Radiologists)
360.213.9955 or 503.808.9803 (Southwest Medical Group Surgical Specialists)
360.989.3494 (Southwest Medical Group Plastic Surgery)