Anjali Date, MD and Henry Mayo’s Sheila R. Veloz Breast Center

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital’s Sheila R. Veloz Breast Center is recognized as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology, and was created through generous philanthropy and the experiences of breast cancer survivors, patients and their families. “What makes the Sheila R. Veloz Breast Imaging Center so important is that it is a community center: we are founded by the community, funded by the community, staffed with members of our community and we serve the women in our community,” said Anjali Date, MD, Lead Interpreting Physician.

There are many options for breast care, but the Sheila R. Veloz Breast Center is unique in that it provides excellent care with a genuine kindness and compassion to ensure patients the best possible outcome. “Not only do we perform the most up to date, state of the art Breast Imaging available, but we also provide high risk genetic screening and counseling in conjunction with Ambry Genetics,” said Dr. Date. “This means we can help identify women who would benefit from additional methods of screening for breast cancer such as annual MRI, tailoring our approach to how best to serve each woman of Santa Clarita as individuals.”

Our Sheila R. Veloz Breast Center features the latest in digital mammography and ultrasound detection. The new software in our Hologic 3D quorum digital mammography machines provides higher resolution imaging that identifies cancer sooner and clearer. It also improves reading time which results in faster more accurate results. “With the aid of advanced technology, fewer false positives and improved cancer detection means that we can find cancer earlier which greatly improves overall survival,” said Dr. Date.

Later this year, our breast center will be acquiring the SCOUT Radar Localization system. The SCOUT system enables surgeons to precisely target the affected tissue to pinpoint its location within 1mm, which can mean more successful surgeries, optimized breast conservation strategies, and enhanced outcomes for women.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Dr. Date shared that it’s one of her favorite months in the Santa Clarita Valley. “Being part of the Sheila R. Veloz Breast Center, I have been given opportunities to speak and educate the women of our community on breast health, screening, and cancer prevention,” said Dr. Date. “With COVID shutting down our facilities for two months March and April of 2020, and the lingering hesitancy to get back to our routine health care appointments, we have seen a significant decrease in the number of screening mammograms, and subsequently and increase in the number of larger, later stage breast cancers. My drive and desire to help these women and the rest of our community resonates now more than ever: early detection is the best prevention.”

“I have immense pride in the work I do here, and I am reminded on a daily basis of how important it is for women to receive quality healthcare and annual screening for breast cancer,” said Dr. Date. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the team at Henry Mayo’s Sheila R. Veloz Breast Center would like to encourage the community to schedule annual mammogram screenings now because early detection is key to saving lives! For more information and to schedule an appointment, please call 661-200-1099. 

Thank you for the continued support that enables the Sheila R. Veloz Breast Center to provide state-of-the-art healthcare for the Santa Clarita Valley and surrounding communities. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we ask that you please consider a gift.