By: Dr. Lisa Chapa
DHR Health Breast Surgical Oncologist
1100 E. Dove Avenue, Suite 400, McAllen 78504
To schedule an appointment or consultation, call: (956) 362-8170
No one wants to hear the words, “you have breast cancer,” but for one in eight women, this will be their reality. With a breast cancer diagnosis comes a difficult journey, and individuals want to ensure they are receiving treatment at a place that offers the highest quality of care. This is why it is important to understand what a Breast Center of Excellence is and where to find one.
The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) is a program that provides guidance to help breast centers function and maintain the highest standards of breast cancer care. Not all places that treat breast cancer are Breast Centers of Excellence, so it is crucial to recognize the distinction and what it means for breast health. The title “Breast Center of Excellence” is given only to centers that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest quality of breast cancer care. These centers follow a specific model that structures the organization in a way that allows them to provide comprehensive and multidisciplinary breast cancer services. In order to be accredited, these centers undergo an initial rigorous evaluation of their performance across multiple medical services including breast surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, breast radiology, and oncology nursing. Each year, they are required to enroll a minimum number of patients in clinical research trials and perform annual quality improvement projects. Afterwards, the centers undergo an onsite review every three years to ensure that they are continuing to provide the highest quality of care.
In the Rio Grande Valley, DHR Health offers the only NAPBC-accredited Breast Center of Excellence south of San Antonio. Here, a complete spectrum of services is provided, from the initial breast screening to breast cancer treatment. Understanding that each patient is unique, personalized treatment plans are developed for each individual, and collaboration with all oncologists ensures the best possible outcome.
For those diagnosed with breast cancer, finding comfort in knowing that the highest quality of care is available without having to leave the Rio Grande Valley is reassuring.
ABOUT DR. LISA CHAPA
Dr. Lisa Chapa, a McAllen native, is a board-certified general surgeon at DHR Health General Surgery Institute, specializing in breast cancer care and benign breast conditions requiring surgery. She also evaluates patients at high risk for breast cancer due to genetic mutations or biopsy results. Dr. Chapa follows evidence-based medicine, performing oncoplastic breast-conserving surgeries, skin- and nipple-sparing mastectomies, and sentinel lymph node biopsies.
She completed her medical degree at Texas A&M, her General Surgery Residency at Baylor Scott & White, and a Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Mount Sinai in New York.
