It’s no secret…women are different.
Throughout your journey as a woman, you have special health needs. Lakeland is committed to offering exemplary care in each stage of life. Whether you are preparing for a birth, managing menopause symptoms, or diagnosing any number of disorders we are ready for you.
As a wife, partner, daughter, friend, mother, you make decisions every day about the care and well-being of those around you. By choosing women’s health at Spectrum Health Lakeland, you can be confident that you’ve made the right decision for you, so you can be at your best—for yourself and those who depend on you.
It’s your journey. And we’ll be right beside you with the skills and expertise you need to ensure you get the most advanced and thorough care possible.
We help with a variety of services and can provide care for:
Breast Care
Cancer
Depression
Gynecology
Heart and vascular care
Incontinence, bladder, and pelvic health
Miscarriage support
Osteoporosis
Pregnancy care
Routine well-woman exams, PAP smear and cervical cancer screenings
Weight management
We all have a story to share.
We provide personalized health care to ensure you have the best possible experience while in our care. Each individual treatment and care plan at Lakeland is just as unique as your are. We are your partners in your health care journey.
Women throughout Southwest Michigan and beyond share their health care experiences at Spectrum Health Lakeland in the stories below.
Do you have a story to share? Click on the "What's Your Story" button and complete the form.
May 21, 2018 Reporting from Niles, MI
Didn’t Miss a Beat - Judi Greene
https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/medical-services/womens-health-services/Detail/didn-t-miss-a-beat/?utm_source=Didn’t_Miss_a_Beat_&utm_medium=PatientStory_Landing&utm_campaign=InternalPages
May 21, 2018
May 21, 2018
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
For Stevensville resident, Judi Greene, her 75th birthday is one she won’t ever forget. During her yearly mammogram, which she had religiously on her birthday each year, her radiologist suggested they perform a biopsy on a small spot detected i
Didn’t Miss a Beat - Judi Greene
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
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Didn’t Miss a Beat - Judi Greene
May, 2018
Physicians: Benjamin Gielda, MD
For Stevensville resident, Judi Greene, her 75th birthday is one she won’t ever forget. During her yearly mammogram, which she had religiously on her birthday each year, her radiologist suggested they perform a biopsy on a small spot detected in her left breast.
“It never dawned on me that it might be cancer – it didn’t run in my family and all my mammograms came back clear in the past,” said Judi.
However, a few days later Judi learned the six millimeter spot was in fact Stage I breast cancer. Although the news came as a shock, she didn’t worry for long after meeting oncology nurse navigator, Shelley Wilkinson, RN, CBCN, at the Marie Yeager Cancer Center.
“The most important thing was having people around who understand what you’re going through and can explain what your options are,” said Judi. “Shelley really put me at ease and answered all my questions – it didn’t seem like I had anything to worry about.”
In the coming days Judi met with radiation oncologist, Benjamin Gielda, MD, who shared that she was a candidate for intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) – a new treatment for breast cancer that delivers radiation at the time of surgery, following tumor removal.
“Dr. Gielda explained my options to me and told me I could receive three weeks of radiation after surgery or have a single dose during surgery with IORT – it seemed like an ideal situation,” said Judi. “I did some research on my own and IORT just seemed so practical and efficient.”
A few weeks later her general surgeon performed lumpectomy surgery to remove the cancerous cells in Judi’s breast. While still in the operating room, Dr. Gielda delivered a dose of radiation directly to the tumor bed. Judi said she expected to be in pain after the procedure and was shocked at how little discomfort she felt.
“If it’s possible for cancer to be a positive experience, this was it,” she said. “I just keep saying I am one of the luckiest people – everything went so smoothly.”
Throughout the entire process Judi also had the support of her two daughters. One of whom lived in Chicago and, prior to the procedure, advised her mom to look into receiving care in a bigger city.
“I told her I felt really comfortable with my care team at the cancer center and I wanted to stay local,” said Judi. “After the surgery her mind was definitely changed and she told me she didn’t think I could have gotten better care anywhere else.”
Since the procedure Judi said her life hasn’t missed a beat. She continues to spend time with her daughters and enjoys walking their dogs near Lake Michigan.
“My biggest piece of advice for all women is to get a mammogram every year,” said Judi. “They’ve come so far with technology and the fact that they could discover and successfully treat a spot as small as mine is just amazing.”