The Margie Petersen Breast Center / Breast Oncology
The Margie Petersen Breast Center at Providence Saint John’s Health Center brings you some of the finest breast cancer care in Southern California. We focus on caring for the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. Here, you can benefit from innovative and compassionate care along with an array of support services to support your emotional wellbeing to complement your medical treatment. Our unique partnership with the Saint John’s Cancer Institute offers an environment which combines clinical excellence with novel research, to provide all our patients exceptional care.




A One-Stop, Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Clinic
Breast Health Clinic
Breast Cancer Clinic
Latest News & Events
A New Way to Approach Breast Health
The Margie Petersen Breast Center wants to change the way women look at breast health. We have a complete diagnostic center to help immediately identify and treat breast issues. We take an integrated approach to breast health. Throughout their course of care, our patients are surrounded by a team of healthcare professionals who focus on the whole person. Our physicians provide tools to improve overall health, in a place women can trust.
Services Provided:
- Onsite advanced imaging, including 3-D mammography
- Innovative surgical and non-surgical treatments
- Genetic risk assessment and prevention, especially for BRCA1 and 2 gene mutations
- Access to the latest clinical trials and research
- Complementary therapies including nutrition, mindfulness, and yoga
- Breast cancer prevention and survivorship strategies
- Complete care teams including breast radiologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, genetic specialists, nurse navigators, and nurse practitioners
A Team of Experts on Your Side
We take into account your condition, medical history, lifestyle and personal preferences. Then our experts prepare a personalized plan, giving you the most effective, gentlest treatment options. Every breast cancer is different, and not all options are appropriate for everyone.
Once treatment is over, we help you transition back to normal life and keep a close watch on you. Together, our dedicated team helps you achieve the best outcomes possible. In addition to our experienced breast surgeons, our collaborative team includes:
- Breast radiologists
- Radiation oncologists
- Pathologists (specialist physicians who analyze tissue specimens)
- Breast health specialist nurse practitioners
- RNs who provide education and support
- Genetic specialists who focus on risk assessment and prevention
- Licensed clinical social workers who offer counseling and connect you to resources
Quick Appointments & Results
Finding a breast lump can be unsettling for both women and men, alike. Fortunately, most mammographic calcifications and painful breast lumps are not cancer, which is why we offer the peace of mind that comes with quickly securing an appointment.
Schedule an AppointmentThe Latest Clinical Trials and Research
Clinical trials help doctors and scientists find better ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease. Individuals who volunteer for clinical trials play an active role in their own health care and help others by advancing medicine. Our doctors make clinical trials a regular part of cancer care to increase overall cancer survival and expedite the development of a cure. At the Saint John’s Cancer Institute you can participate in studies led by internationally renowned researchers. If you are interested in a clinical trial, please speak with your provider.
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Our History
In the early 1990’s the leaders of the Saint John’s Cancer Institute raised the idea of creating a center dedicated to the treatment and research of breast cancer. An extraordinary gift from Joyce Eisenberg Keefer, a dedicated champion for cancer research and treatment, allowed them to bring their vision to fruition and, in 1993, they opened the multidisciplinary breast center at Saint John’s Health Center. Unfortunately, the building that housed the breast center was damaged beyond repair in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Once again a generous philanthropist, Margie Petersen, stepped in to provide the financial support necessary to rebuild the breast center.
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