CANCER UPDATE
Special Focus on Breast Cancer : Diagnosis , Treatment , Technology and Survival Stories
When it is caught in its earliest stage , 98 percent of women with the disease are alive five years later .
Compiled by John Joseph Parker Contributing Editor
Breast cancer affects one in eight women
during their lives and kills more women in the United States than any other cancer — except lung cancer . But more women are surviving than ever before — in fact , more than two million women are breast cancer survivors . COMMERCE asked New Jersey ’ s top hospitals to share some survival stories in this special section , as October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month .
Atlantic Health System , Morristown Medical Center By Shilpi Gupta , M . D ., Breast Oncology
Cancer is a devastating diagnosis . But there is hope and happiness at the end of the cancer journey for a lot of our patients and their families . I still remember this very special lady who I had the privilege to care for during her battle with breast cancer . On her annual screening
There are several ways to treat breast cancer , but all treatments work best when the disease is found early .
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mammogram , she was found to have an area of calcifications . She underwent a biopsy and was noted to have precancerous cells . In her case , the management was surgery and close monitoring with mammograms and breast MRIs . After surgery , the final pathology report showed invasive breast cancer which was hormone receptor negative and HER-2 positive . This diagnosis changed the entire treatment plan . She would now receive almost five months of chemotherapy , one year of HER-2 directed therapy and radiation for this cancer . She was distraught and had a difficult time reconciling with the diagnosis , but she completed the required treatments with tremendous support from her family and the entire breast oncology team . And seven years later , she remains cancer free .
AtlantiCare Cancer Care Institute , a Fox Chase Cancer Center Partner By Neha Chawla , M . D ., Medical Director , Hematology and Medical Oncology
As physicians we often have those patients who particularly inspire us — some because of the cancer itself or the outcomes , others for how they decide to address the disease . One of my patients sought care after having a cauliflower-shaped growth coming out of her breast . By the time she came to us , she had advanced Stage III cancer . She had surgery , radiation , and oral chemotherapy and has been cancer free for three years . She ’ s used her experience to become an advocate for the importance of addressing the risks and symptoms immediately . She urges friends and family to have age-appropriate screenings , know the risk factors , be aware of their own bodies and address health concerns / changes without delay . Her mantra that no one should let fear stand in the way of seeking care and / or a diagnosis is a testament to her survival story . It will be key to many others getting life-saving early diagnoses . I am inspired by how she accepted her diagnosis and embraced her treatment . I am grateful for the difference I know she is making for so many who are at risk for breast cancer and other cancers .
CentraState Healthcare System By Jae Y . Lee , M . D ., Ph . D .
After a biopsy confirmed breast cancer , Karen Cohen of Manalapan opted to have a lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed , followed by radiation treatments to prevent the spread of cancer cells . Because Karen ’ s cancer was in her left breast — and close to her heart , we used an innovative new technology called deep inspiration breath hold ( DIBH ), which decreases radiation to the heart by using breathing to move it away from the breast and out of the radiation field . Limiting radiation exposure to normal tissue around the heart and lungs is becoming an increasingly important goal for breast cancer treatment given the long survival of most patients with breast cancer . Using DIBH , Karen learned how to hold her breath for 20 to 30 seconds , which allowed her lungs to serve as a cushion between her breast and heart . Wearing special goggles to see how long she needed to hold her breath , Karen was able to control the radiation equipment , like she was playing a video game . Karen ’ s last imaging test found no cancer . “ I ’ m one of the lucky ones because my cancer was caught early ,” she said . “ I never felt a lump , so yearly mammograms are so important .”
Englewood Health By Violet Merle McIntosh , M . D ., Chief of Breast Surgery
When undergoing cancer treatment , having a support system is key in the physical , mental and emotional well-being of the patient . In recent years at Englewood Health we treated two sisters who supported each other through breast cancer diagnosis , treatment and recovery . The older sister was referred to me after noticing a nipple discharge . Upon further screening , we determined the patient had breast cancer , and she had a mastectomy with reconstruction , followed by chemotherapy . For her , the hardest part of cancer treatment was losing
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