Collin County Living Well Magazine September/October 2017 | Page 25

The Future of Cancer Care
Close to Home
Courtesy Texas Hematology Oncology Centers
J
ust a decade ago cancers
that would have been rap-
idly fatal are now being
controlled for years while the
patients conduct near-normal
lives. Cancer used to be considered
a death sentence; however, centers
like Texas Hematology/Oncology
(THOC) are changing that perception
and providing patients with hope.
They offer a unique team approach to
cancer care. Their broad geographic
reach brings world-class cancer di-
agnosis and treatment closer to the
community. The THOC Network is
an independent group of medical
oncologists with a certified patient
navigator and a 40--year legacy of
serving cancer patients from North
Texas and beyond.
women. There are about 200 differ-
ent types of cancer. They can start
in any type of body tissue. What
affects one body tissue may not af-
fect another. For example, tobacco
smoke that you breathe in may help
to cause lung cancer. Overexposing
your skin to the sun could cause a
melanoma on your leg. But the sun
won’t give you lung cancer and
smoking won’t give you melanoma.
Apart from infectious diseases,
most illnesses are ‘multifactorial.’
Cancer is no exception. Multifacto-
rial means that there are many fac-
tors involved. In other words, there
is no single cause for any one type
of cancer.
Patient Rosalyn S., a 12-year, Stage 4 breast cancer
survivor, hugging Dr. Dennis Birenbaum
Each year thousands of North Texas
residents travel hundreds of miles away to M.D. Anderson and
other cancer treatment facilities to receive care, when they have
M.D. Anderson trained physicians right here in North Texas at
the Texas Hematology/Oncology Centers. The M.D. Anderson
trained, Founder and Medical Director, Dr. Dennis B irenbaum,
along with Dr. Eugene Wyszynski, says, “We offer the most ad-
vanced cancer care technology in the region. THOC’s ongoing
commitment is to bring the services you need where you need
them––close to home.” Sixty percent of all THOC’s referrals come
from other patients. “This is due to our cutting edge treatment,
helpful support programs and a healthy dose of good ole fashion
concern,” says Dr. Birenbaum. THOC is dedicated to the person-
alized treatment and care of each cancer patient, seeing over
1,500 new ones each year.
What Causes Cancer?
Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells that often times interferes
with normal cell behavior. Lung cancer is the most common form of
cancer followed by prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in
What are Cancer
Risk Factors?
Cancer-causing substances (carcinogens) are something that can
help to cause cancer. Tobacco smoke is a powerful carcinogen. So
there must be other factors at work as well as carcinogens. Texans
need to know the major risk factors for specific cancers so they
can be proactive in their health care. Risk factors can be identified
as increasing an individual’s chance of getting a disease. Some
cancer risk factors are age, genetic make up, the immune system,
bodyweight, diet and physical activity, day-to-day environment,
viruses and bacterial infection, just to name a few.
Cancer Family Syndrome
With Cancer,
History Does Repeat Itself
Family history plays a strong role in predicting your overall
risk for getting cancer. It’s important to know if you’re in a high
risk group so you can be more diligent about getting screenings
and changing lifestyle behaviors that impact changeable risk
factors, if needed.
Dennis Birenbaum, MD is a M.D. Anderson trained hematologist/oncologist and former faculty associate with Texas Hematology/
Oncology Centers. He may be reached at any of the following locations in North Texas.
Texas Hematology/Oncology Centers locations:
DALLAS: 10 Medical Parkway
Plaza III, Ste. 106
Dallas, Tx 75234
PLANO: 5948 W. Parker Road
Plano, Tx 75093
MCKINNEY: 4541 Medical Center Drive
McKinney, Tx 75069
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