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■ Healthcare
HER2 / neu low . In this group of patients , the response rates were very good , offering yet another alternative and allowing these patients to live longer with good quality of life .
Memorial Sloan Kettering ( MSK ) Bergen Anita Mamtani , MD , FACS Breast Surgeon
Many cancer therapies available today were developed over the past decade by physician-scientists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ( MSK ). Together , we ’ ve been recognized internationally as leaders in pioneering new and effective treatments , which have resulted in optimal outcomes for thousands of people who entrust us with their care every year .
Our deep expertise in treating rare cancers means our patients continue to have access to the latest treatments , including innovative clinical trials . This year , MSK launched a new program for people diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer , or ILC , a rare cancer that affects between 10 and 15 people ( out of 100 diagnoses ). Unlike other breast cancers , ILC tends to grow in a straight line and invades in a sheet-like manner , rather than form a lump , which can make it difficult to self-palpate and detect on a mammogram . Therefore , it ’ s often diagnosed at later stages and does not always respond well to chemotherapy . We created this program because we ’ re experts in diagnosing and treating ILC . As physician-scientists , we ’ re also deeply engaged in clinical research to better understand how ILC behaves , and we ’ re developing clinical trials to study new treatment approaches which we hope will lead to tomorrow ’ s cures .
RWJBarnabas Health M . Michele Blackwood , MD , FACS Director of Breast Surgery , RWJBarnabas Health Director of Women ’ s Oncologic Health , RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute Head of Breast Surgery , Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
lumpectomy and perform a breast lift or mastopexy to maintain the breasts ’ shape and appearance . After these surgeries , women emerge cancer-free with their breasts intact .
Every woman ’ s breast cancer journey is unique – from their age to when a mammogram first detects their cancer to the treatment plan recommended by their oncologist . This isn ’ t your grandmother ’ s mammogram or mastectomy anymore . Mammograms are 3D instead of 2D now , which can detect abnormalities even in dense breasts , which 50 % of New Jersey women have . According to state law , women must be informed about this so additional screenings can be performed .
Saint Peter ’ s University Hospital Henry K . Tsai , MD Board certified radiation oncologist with Astera Cancer Care , who treats patients at Saint Peter ’ s University Hospital
Saint Peter ’ s University Hospital offers effective radiation therapy to breast cancer patients , while safeguarding their overall health . While radiation therapy is a powerful tool in the fight against breast cancer , it carries risks , particularly when healthy tissue and organs such as the heart and lungs are inadvertently exposed to unnecessary radiation . These risks can lead to possible side effects , including long-term damage to vital organs and an increased risk of secondary cancers .
Prone breast positioning is an innovative approach that has been developed to mitigate these risks . In this technique , patients lie face down on a specially designed treatment table , allowing the breast to hang away from the body . This positioning naturally increases the distance between the breast and critical organs , such as the heart and lungs , thereby reducing their exposure to radiation . By minimizing radiation exposure
to these healthy tissues , prone breast positioning significantly lowers the risk of side effects such as cardiac complications or lung damage . Under the guidance of a radiation oncologist , prone breast positioning is an effective way to treat breast cancer while prioritizing patient safety .
Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care Laura Klein , MD Director , Breast Center
As part of our commitment to improving patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes , the Breast Center team at Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care strives to introduce new treatment technologies and clinical offerings .
Our team adopted the SmartCurve™ Breast Stabilization System , which has been clinically proven to deliver a more comfortable mammogram . The System features a curved surface that mirrors the shape of a woman ’ s breast to reduce pinching and better distribute force over the breast .
Chemotherapy may be recommended as part of treatment . Our team understands that for some chemotherapy patients , hair loss can be a traumatic side effect . That is why we offer the Paxman Scalp Cooling System , designed to help prevent hair loss , to a subset of patients . Scalp cooling is a simple , noninvasive process to reduce the temperature of the scalp to minimize the chemotherapeutic agents ’ effect on hair follicles .
Once active treatment is complete , patients will receive ongoing surveillance and survivorship support . Our team launched the Survivorship and Health Interventions in Nutrition and Exercise ( SHINE ) Program . Focusing on nutrition , exercise , and community , the program provides education and referrals to related subspecialists to improve health outcomes and decrease cancer risk .
Women are finding out at a younger age – well below the recommended mammogram age of 40 in some cases – that they have breast cancer .
At RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute , New Jersey ’ s only National Cancer Institute ( NCI ) -Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center , nipple-sparing mastectomies are becoming more common to treat breast cancer . Granted , women who have tumors too close to their areolas or nipples would not be good candidates .
Mastectomies are just one kind of surgery women with breast cancer receive , however . Oncoplastic surgery is also performed , which involves a breast surgeon and plastic surgeon working together to remove the tumor via a
Women are finding breast cancer at a younger age , says M . Michele Blackwood , MD , FACS .
Photo : Getty Images / iStockphoto / Anchiy
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