Breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. Early detection through regular mammograms, improved screening methods, clinical and self exams are saving thousands of lives every year. If a lump deep inside the breast shows up on a mammogram, your doctor can order a minimally invasive breast biopsy. 

When a lump is detected, many have thoughts of uncertainty. Prairie Lakes can help patients through this uncertain time and assist in keeping appointments close to home. A minimally invasive breast biopsy can provide a very early diagnosis before breast tumors have a chance to fully develop. Many times these procedures can be scheduled for the next day with no referral by calling the Prairie Lakes General Surgery Clinic at 605-882-6850.

Minimally invasive procedures leave little to no scarring and can be performed in less than an hour. The removed tissue is then analyzed in town at the Prairie Lakes Laboratory for quick results.

About Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsies

Minimally invasive procedures are much less invasive than surgical biopsies. Most importantly, they can provide a very early warning before breast tumors have a chance to fully develop.

• Stereotactic mammography pinpoints the exact location of a breast lesion by using a computer and images taken from two different angles. Using these computer coordinates, a needle is inserted through the skin and is advanced into the lesion. Tissue samples are removed with a vacuum assisted core biopsy device.
• In ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, ultrasound imaging is used to help guide the biopsy vacuum-assisted core biopsy device to the site of the abnormal growth

And it's important to remember that most women who have a biopsy are not diagnosed with cancer. More than 80 percent of all breast lesions identified for biopsy are diagnosed benign or noncancerous and present no health risk to the patient.

What is a Core Biopsy?

A Core Biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination to study the makeup of cells. The entire procedure usually takes about 30 minutes and is completed in five steps:

1. Imaging the breast to identify the biopsy area.
2. Numbing the breast with medicine.
3. Inserting the biopsy device in the breast to retrieve tissue samples
4. Performing the biopsy.
5. Marking the biopsy site for future reference. Depending on the imaging system used to help guide your biopsy, you may have your breast compressed similarly to the compression used during a mammogram, or a gel may be applied if ultrasound imaging is used.
   
   

Understanding Your Procedure

Before Your Procedure

You should inform your doctor of any medications you are currently taking whether prescription or over-the-counter. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen, blood thinners such as Coumadin, natural herbs, vitamin E and other vitamins. Some of these medications may need to be temporarily stopped several days prior to your biopsy. Also, list any allergies you may have. Let your doctor know if you are allergic to local anesthetics, tape, betadine or metal.

During Your Procedure

Note: If you are having an MRI-guided biopsy procedure, you will have an IV inserted into your arm so that a contrast agent can be used to see small details in the breast tissue.

After you have been properly positioned for your biopsy, your physician and a technologist will image the breast and locate the area to be biopsied. Your skin will be cleansed with antiseptic and the area to be biopsied will be numbed. Sometimes, a very small nick is made in the skin to help the biopsy device enter the breast with ease. You may feel some pressure as the device is positioned, but most women report feeling no pain.

The actual biopsy will take a very short time. Multiple samples will be taken. You may hear a "beep" or "click" as tissue samples are collected. The doctor may place a marker in the tissue at the biopsy site for future reference to identify the exact location of the biopsy. The marker is made of titanium and poses no health or safety risk. You will not feel or notice the marker after placement.

After your procedure

Pressure will be applied to the biopsy site to help prevent bruising. This usually takes only a few minutes. A small adhesive bandage or adhesive gel will be placed over the nick and you will be provided with a cold pack to apply over the biopsy site. In some instances, a compression wrap bandage may be placed around the chest to minimize chances of swelling or bruising. The collected tissue samples will be sent to the lab for analysis.

The doctor may prescribe a non-aspirin pain reliever to help alleviate any possible discomfort and detailed post-biopsy instructions will be provided. Most women can resume normal daily activities within 24 hours following their procedure. Your doctor will contact you after receiving your biopsy results and then instruct you on any followup care that may be necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much breast tissue will be removed? A: Only the necessary amount of tissue needed to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

Q: How long will the biopsy take? A: Biopsy time varies from case to case. The average biopsy procedure takes 30 - 45 minutes from the time you enter the exam room until the time you leave the hospital.

Q: Will I have a scar? A: Visible evidence of where the biopsy device was inserted into the breast is extremely small and fades to a natural skin tone over time.

Q: Will I experience any pain during the procedure? A: You might feel a slight sting or pinch when the numbing medication is being inserted into the breast. Numbing the breast prior to the biopsy causes the rest of the procedure to be relatively pain free, however you may feel some pressure or pinching during the actual biopsy.

Q: What possible side effects should I know about? A: Your breast may be slightly tender and you may experience some mild bruising at the biopsy site. You will be provided with post-biopsy care instructions.

Fact: Most women who have a biopsy are not diagnosed with cancer. More than 80% of all breast lesions identified for biopsy are diagnosed benign or noncancerous and present no health risk to the patient.

The American Cancer Society recommends those at average risk* for colorectal cancer to start regular screenings at age 45. A colonoscopy doesn’t take a lot of time, but this simple procedure offers a big payback: peace of mind. Colorectal cancer is deadly, but treatable if it’s caught early. The majority of colonoscopic exams turn up no lesions at all, and in many other cases polyps and other suspicious growths can be removed during the colonoscopy.

A colonoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the rectum, colon and part of the small intestine. A tiny camera on the end of a long flexible tube, lets the doctor perform a non-surgical, real-time examination of your colon.

The entire procedure takes little more than a couple of hours. The biggest challenge is the preparation beforehand, and it’s important to follow the prep directions carefully. Sedation or anesthesia ensures that the process is painless. You wake up a short time later, and you’re soon ready to go home.

*According to the American Cancer Society, people are considered to be at average risk if they do not have:

• A personal history of colorectal cancer or certain types of polyps
• A family history of colorectal cancer
• A personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)
• A confirmed or suspected hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer or HNPCC)
• A personal history of getting radiation to the abdomen (belly) or pelvic area to treat a prior cancer

Direct Access Colonoscopy

If you qualify, a Direct Access Colonoscopy can save you time and money since a separate consultation visit is not needed.

NOTE: This program is only available for colonoscopies in the Watertown, South Dakota service area.

Contact us to see if you qualify for a Direct Access Colonoscopy. Just fill out the form below or call the General Surgery Clinic at 605-882-6852 to talk to a nurse.

Note: Upon submission of this form, a nurse will contact you to discuss if you qualify for a Direct Access Colonoscopy.

It is natural to feel like staying in your home as you age and become more dependent on others. If you need just a little "extra help," our in-home personal care services are available. 

Home Connections is a private home care agency that operates in Codington, Clark, Deuel, Grant, Roberts, Day and Hamlin counties. Registered nurses and trained staff work together to help you in your home while providing a direct link to your physicians. 

Let us help with:

• Personal Care Services
  • Bathing
  • Meal planning
  • Nutritional support for special diets
• Companionship Services
• Housekeeping/Household Management Services
• Supportive Care
• Nursing
  • Toe nail trims
  • Medication Management
  • Screens like blood pressure reading
• Therapy
  • Home safety assessment
  • Fall risk assessment
  • Home exercise programs
  • Safety and activities of daily living plans/interventions
  • Incontinence interventions and exercise programs
  • Assistive device assessments and interventions

Prairie Lakes Home Connections does just that; keeps you connected to your home by providing an array of services that can allow you to remain safely independent in your home.  Let us help you stay connected, call 605-882-7841. In the Sisseton area, call 605-698-4413.

Care you need -- with the comforts of home

When recovering from joint-replacement surgery, a stroke, congestive heart failure, COPD or other condition, most patients would rather stay in the familiar surroundings of their homes. Research has shown that many patients actually recuperate faster at home. Prairie Lakes Home Therapy is is a service that gives you that option -- safely and effectively.

How it works
Working as a team, our therapists, nurses and aides design a home therapy plan suited to your specific needs. Then therapists come to your home to help you follow it. They train your family and caregivers on how to help. Nursing care is also available, and aides can handle personal care, linen changes and additional exercises.

Is this covered?
Medicare and most private insurances will cover in-home rehabilitative therapy. When you reach a certain recovery milestone, you continue your rehabilitation in the Rehab Department on the Prairie Lakes Healthcare System campus. Your inpatient social worker or therapist can help define your eligibility for home therapy.

What to expect

• Up to five visits per week by a physical or occupational therapist
• Occupational therapy training for daily living and postoperative home care
• Fall prevention training
• Home safety and family training
• Speech therapy for swallowing and speech issues
• Intermittent nursing visits for dressing changes, assessments, blood draws, etc.
• Pain management
• Daily assistance with personal and bathing needs as often as once per day
• Additional private pay options available

Home Health Therapy coinsides wtih other home care services. You will need to have a caregiver who can help with meals, housekeeping, support and help when the home care staff aren't present. See more Home Care Services or Home Connections personal care services.

For more information about in-home services, contact Prairie Lakes Home Health at 605-882-7745.

With your doctor's referral, Prairie Lakes can provide inpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy. Therapists help improve your strength, flexibility, pain, balance and activity tolerance. We bring this therapy right to your hospital room or work with you at the inpatient therapy gym on the hospital's second floor.

The goals are to improve your functional mobility, help you make a safe transition from hospital to home and to help coordinate the aftercare services and equipment you might need upon discharge.

Assess, train, educate

Our process begins with a thorough assessment by our therapy team. We show you and your caregivers how to use assistive devices. We show you how to modify your home. We show you how to prevent falls and conserve energy.

• Physical therapy improves mobility -- walking on level surfaces, climbing stairs and other daily functions. Therapist work with patients on balance, strength, range of motion and activity tolerance. Therapist may also be involved in pain control and fitting the patient for assistive devices.
• Occupational therapy focuses on training in Activities of Daily Living -- ADLs, for short. We also educate patients about use of adaptive equipment, activity strengthening, fine motor control, improving activity tolerance and managing the effects of lymphedema.
• Speech pathology involves treatment and evaluation of swallowing problems and cognitive issues as well as problems with speech expression and comprehension.

The medical condition known as vertigo is defined a sense of spinning -- you feel like you are spinning, or the room is spinning. It makes you dizzy, and you can't stop the sensation. Primary care physicians, audiologists, and ear-nose-throat physicians play an integral role in the diagnosis and treatment of vertigo.

Possible causes

• BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo)
• Inner ear infections or disorders
• Migraines
• Stroke
• Head injury
• Tumors, such as an acoustic neuroma
• Surgery that removes or injures the inner ear
• A hole in the inner ear

One of the most common forms of vertigo is Benign Paraoxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). This is a disorder of the inner ear that causes short periods of vertigo when the head is moved in a certain position. Physical therapists are the health care providers of choice in managing BPPV, and often the symptoms can be reduced or resolved in one or two visits.

Treatment options

Our physical therapists also can help patients with other forms of vertigo and dizziness. The treatment and exercise that a physical therapist recommends depends on the specific cause of the vertigo. Treatment might include:

• Exercises to improve balance
• Exercises to help the brain 'correct' differences between the inner ears
• Exercises to improve ability to focus your eyes and vision
• Strengthening
• Flexibility exercises

Keeping yourself in a good physical condition is an important part of competing in sports and enjoying recreational activities. Our highly skilled team of orthopedic surgeons, physical and occupational therapists, strength and conditioning coach, and athletic trainers work together to not only get you back in the game, but to prevent injuries and improve athletic performance.

Our team-based approach ensures expert diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of sports-related injuries. Our team provides services on and off the field, working with local athletes at high schools in and around Watertown, SD providing personalized care close to home.

Treatment can include prescribed fitness programs, surgical procedures, equipment recommendations, and sport-specific rehabilitation work to restore the body.

Certified Athletic Trainers

The Prairie Lakes Athletic Trainers provide service coverage for Watertown Arrow Athletics, Clark Athletics, Willow Lake Athletics, Hamlin Athletics, and Castlewood Athletics. Services include injury prevention, injury diagnosis, and immediate care of injuries. They work closely with Prairie Lakes Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Services. You can see these athletic trainers supporting athletes at local games and events.

• Sam Cappadora, Athletic Trainer
• Jodi DeVaal, Athletic Trainer
• Faith Tyler, Athletic Trainer

Strength & Conditioning

Prairie Lakes offers strength and conditioning to Watertown High School student-athletes. The program focuses on reducing the likelihood of athletic related injuries, improving athletic performance (speed, strength, agility), educating and improving nutritional understanding as it relates to athletic performance, and creating confidence and healthy habits. The strength and conditioning coach provides in-season and off-season programing for student-athletes to optimize sports performance and prevent injuries.

• Aaron Jung, Strength & Conditioning Coach

Physical Therapists

Prairie Lakes has physical therapists that are focused on sports rehab and are specialized to help patients and athletes develop and restore functional mobility, strength, and balance through a variety of therapies. 

• Stacey Thury, PT
• Jackie Lake, PT

Orthopedic Surgeons

Prairie Lakes has three board-certified orthopedic surgeons who provide personalized sugical and nonsurgical care for patients with a variety of conditions and injuries related to joints, bones, ligaments, nerves and tendons. The Orthopedics team works closely with the Athletic Trainers and Rehabilitation Services to not only get athletes back on the playing field, but to prevent injuries and improve performance. 

• Michael Vener, MD
• Gerald Rieber, MD
• Casey Johnston, MD 

Losing a child is a devastating tragedy. At Prairie Lakes, we take special care in helping parents who have suffered the loss of a child. Our Infant Loss Coordinator spends as much time as needed with parents who have lost a child and offers support, keepsakes, and other resources that might help during this difficult time. 

As heartbreaking as losing a child is, many parents find it comforting to remember their child with a photograph. Prairie Lakes can help coordinate with local photographers to capture these precious moments. 

For questions regarding infant loss, please contact the Prairie Lakes Maternal Child Health Department at 605-882-7735.

Newborn Safety Precautions in Place at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System

Prairie Lakes welcomes nealy 600 babies into the world each year. During their stay with us, we implement many safety measures that help ensure each and every baby's safety and well-being is at hand. 

• The baby will wear two ID bands that match the mother's wristband. Each time staff brings the baby to its mother, nurses and mothers should check to make sure the bands match.
• The father or partner of the mother receives a fourth matching ID, providing access to the OB Department at all hours.
• Parents should never allow anyone to take the baby from their room other than a known staff person with a hospital ID.

During Your Stay

• If the mother is alone in the room with the baby and wants to nap, she should close the door and keep the baby in the crib on the  side of the bed away from the door. This way she can hear whether someone approaches.
• If you are uncomfortable with anyone requesting to take your baby for a procedure, you or your support person have the right to accompany the infant.
• Question any unfamiliar person(s) entering your room or inquiring about your baby, even if the person is wearing hospital attire.

Checking for Proper Identification Badge

• All Prairie Lakes OB staff have a hospital badge with photo identification.

At Home Safety Reminders

• Carefully consider the publication of your baby’s birth through newspapers, radio, and social media.
• Do not allow anyone claiming to be affiliated with Prairie Lakes into your home, unless discussed prior to discharge.
• Make sure all home visitors are well-known and not recent acquaintances, especially if met through social media.
• When out in public, always keep your baby in your direct line of site and within arms reach.