About Dr. Lora Hebert

I believe all women facing the uncertainty of breast issues need quick and clear guidance. My goal is to be a resource where women can swiftly access the expertise of a breast specialist, ultimately reducing the time they remain in a state of uncertainty and anxiety. 

The current process of breast care for many women is not structured for the benefit of the patient but rather for the convenience of radiology facilities and doctors. Women often endure long waits from undergoing a screening mammogram to additional mammograms and, finally, to having a needle biopsy. This agonizing waiting period highlights the need for patient support for breast issues, and we providers must do everything we can to provide effective breast surgery guidance and shorten this waiting time.

I had been a practicing breast surgeon for over 20 years when my dear childhood friend received alarming news from an abnormal mammogram and was advised to undergo a breast biopsy. She went through the same traumatic ordeal many women experience, being told bluntly that she probably had breast cancer and needed a needle biopsy. However, due to the overwhelming demand at the breast center, the biopsy couldn't be scheduled for an agonizing two weeks.

Fortunately, since her best friend is a breast surgeon, I was able to take on the role of her personal navigator, ensuring the biopsy was completed within 24 hours. This quick action allowed my friend to receive results within just 2 days, significantly reducing her time spent in limbo, anxiously waiting to find out if she had breast cancer.

For years, I had been troubled by the cumbersome process patients endure when addressing breast issues at radiology facilities. I had witnessed thousands of patients facing the same frustrating experience: no definitive answers about cancer, extensive waiting periods between a screening mammogram and further imaging, and then more waiting between additional imaging and biopsy results. Finally, they would wait to see the breast surgeon—the only specialist who could piece everything together and provide the necessary breast surgery guidance.

My friend's situation made me realize that I could help improve the ingrained system. The disconnect in this process arises from several issues. First, when patients are evaluated for breast tissues, they typically receive advice from both a Radiologist and a Breast Surgeon. While Radiologists are skilled at interpreting mammograms and ultrasounds, they generally do not examine patients directly and are not extensively trained in managing different biopsy results or discussing the intricacies of treatment options. This lack of patient support for breast issues—including obtaining an accurate family history and weighing the pros and cons of a needle biopsy versus a surgical biopsy versus close mammographic follow-up—plays a crucial role in a patient’s decision-making process regarding whether to undergo a biopsy.

I grew up in the Los Angeles area, but after working for 5 years following my college graduation, I started a 4-year medical school training at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. I decided to train as a surgeon rather than pursue a medical field like Pediatrics or Family Medicine, and I was fortunate to be accepted into the General Surgery residency program at The University of Chapel Hill in North Carolina. After completing my 5-year General Surgery residency in 2002, I returned to California for advanced training under 4 pioneering women breast surgeons at The University of California, San Francisco.

At that time, this advanced training, known as a "Fellowship," for Breast-only surgery was relatively new, and I was only the 2nd Fellow at UCSF. I have always felt a strong connection to Women's Health; during medical school, I even considered becoming a Gynecologist. However, I ultimately chose to pursue General Surgery. When these innovative Breast-only fellowships became available, they seemed like the perfect intersection of surgery and women's health, ultimately providing breast care resources and enhancing breast surgery guidance for future patients.

I have been practicing in Arizona since 2010, but I have also practiced in San Francisco and Kauai. My  husband of 18 years, Dan, and I share a unique daughter named Bonnie. In my spare time, I enjoy staying physically active by jogging with my best dog friend Beasley and engaging in crafts with my hands, particularly sewing clothes and knitting. 

Before I see a patient, I will have reviewed all the available medical information, including: current and prior mammograms, ultrasounds, and/or MRIs; current and/or prior biopsy results; medical history; and family history of cancer. Next, I will speak with the patient and examine them, discussing the available options for their care. I practice in a style called Shared Decision Making, which means that during our conversation, we review the pros and cons of all the options, taking into consideration patient preferences and desires. This approach ensures that we arrive at a solution that is acceptable to the patient, providing them with the necessary breast care resources and guidance for breast surgery, while also facilitating patient support for breast issues.

All opinions expressed on my website are strictly mine and do not reflect, in any way, the opinions of anyone but me.  I strive to offer valuable breast care resources, breast surgery guidance, and patient support for breast issues based on my professional expertise.