Ascension to launch new comprehensive center for breast care

More women than not seem to have a story about going for a mammogram, learning there may be a problem and then waiting excruciating weeks or even months for follow-up tests to determine what’s going on.

A new Ascension Via Christi Comprehensive Breast Center at Founders Circle aims to change that.

“So many of us have had a dream of this,” said Keisha Humphries, clinical service line director for oncology and pulmonary.

“This is our start.”

Though the almost 6,000-square-foot space near K-96 and East 21st Street will not initially be as grandiose as plans eventually call for, Humphries said, “Sometimes you just need to dive in and start.”

The center, where remodeling will start this summer and be finished by early next year, will be something of a hub for diagnostics. There will be mammography screening, including diagnostic mammography, ultrasound and MRI for further breast studies.

There also will be bone density scanning and services for cancer survivors such as lymphedema screening.

These are all services Ascension provides elsewhere and will continue to provide at other clinics, but the idea will be to grow the breast center over time as a focal point for that care through Ascension.

Nurse navigators will be on site to help patients — female and male — as some go through the journey of further tests on their ways to diagnoses. The navigators can travel to Ascension’s other clinics as well.

“That navigator would be their partner,” Humphries said. “I’m just thrilled that we’re having a navigator on site.”

She said the idea is to make sure the process is as smooth and quick as it can be in order to “take away the mental anguish of waiting.”

That doesn’t mean biopsies will be done on the same day as mammograms that spot problems, although that’s the eventual plan, Humphries said.

“We would like to be able to provide that if that’s what they would choose. That’s the goal.”

However, she said some patients prefer to wait until a friend or family member can be with them.

Within the new breast center, there will be a high-risk survivorship clinic as part of the breast wellness program that aims to help patients who have higher risk factors or density issues.

Instead of having patients in gowns all sit in one room while awaiting tests, Humphries said there will be smaller, more intimate areas.

Even the colors and overall atmosphere of the clinic will be different. Humphries said everything will be designed to feel less medical.

“I want it to be as welcoming as possible so women don’t fear getting mammograms,” she said. “Screening is a very important thing for women.”

Humphries called the breast center “a big initiative” with the goal of detecting and treating cancer in its early stages.

“We want to find it early . . . so that (patient) still has a great life.”

This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 2:50 PM.