Comprehensive Breast Care Comes to Glendale

On June 1, 2023, Adventist Health Glendale officially opened The Sam and Grace Carvajal Comprehensive Breast Center, a state-of-the-art treatment center offering more than 15 specialized breast health services.

Adventist Health Glendale leadership, donors, and local dignitaries celebrated the grand opening alongside breast cancer survivors and local patients. Benefactors Grace and Sam Carvajal thanked their fellow donors, shared heartfelt remarks, and cut the ceremonial ribbon to formally open the center.

The Sam and Grace Carvajal Comprehensive Breast Center fills the Southland's void for elevated, expedited, cutting-edge care.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in the U.S. and is the second leading cause of death from cancer among women. One in eight women will develop breast cancer.

For many women, accessing breast care – from screening and diagnosis to treatment – can be complex. Later-stage diagnosis and delays to care can lead to life-threatening complications.

The team of experts at Adventist Health Glendale’s new breast health center aim to change the national narrative by bridging care gaps and centralizing services at a single location.

Led by internationally renowned breast surgeon Dr. Dennis Holmes, the Center's expert surgeons, oncologists, radiologists and nurses tailor care to each patient’s needs.

Too often, Dr. Holmes has seen or heard of cases where delayed or complicated access to care resulted in dire consequences for patients. Recent studies indicate that every month of delayed treatment can raise mortality risk by an average of 10%.

“Our goal is to change how breast cancer care is managed today. Not just by practicing the standard of care, but by raising the standard of care locally, nationally and even globally, " stated Dr. Holmes, the Center's medical director.

Locally, the Center is the first in the Los Angeles metro area with dedicated medical staff for patients with benign care needs, including – a breast wellness clinic, survivorship clinic and a high-risk clinic for patients with elevated risk for breast cancer.

"From a national standpoint, we intend to raise the benchmark for expedited care. Whether someone is diagnosed here or elsewhere, our policy is to see all newly diagnosed breast cancer patients within one-to-two days. That is practice change that can help save lives. We believe this should be the new national standard," shared Dr. Holmes.

The Sam and Grace Carvajal Comprehensive Breast Center patients will benefit from the cutting-edge treatments, including targeted intraoperative partial breast radiotherapy and cryoablation.

Targeted Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) is a form of breast radiation administered as a single treatment during a lumpectomy to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

The Center is also pioneering clinical trials affecting cancer treatment globally. At the forefront, the Center is conducting a clinical trial utilizing cryoablation instead of surgery to treat stage 0 breast cancer. The groundbreaking cryoablation treatment, also referred to as tumor freezing, has been used for many years on skin and cervical cancers.

Offering comprehensive services includes taking care of patients well after they leave the exam or operating room. The Center also provides vital programs like survivorship planning, support groups, mental health counseling, and cosmetic and prosthesis services.

The Sam and Grace Carvajal Comprehensive Breast Center at Adventist Health Glendale is now open. To learn more or to make an appointment, call (818) 630-8680.