Denton County Living Well Magazine September/October 2017

The Future of Cancer Care Close to Home 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. Courtesy Texas Hematology Oncology Centers 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. 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 Birenbaum, 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 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. 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 DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 13

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