Texoma Living Well Magazine November/December 2017 | Page 47
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.
can start in any type of body tissue.
What affects one body tissue may
not affect 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 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
900 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 women. There are about 200 different types of cancer. They
What are Cancer Risk
Factors?
Cancer-causing substances (car-
cinogens) 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 physi-
cal 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. THOC does heredity and genetic testing as well as
pharmacogenetic drug testing.
Dennis Birenbaum, MD and Dr. Wyszynski, MD, DO are M.D. Anderson trained hematologists/oncologists. Dr. Wysznski, MD, DO
also trained at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA. They may be reached at the following locations in North Texas.
Texas Hematology/Oncology locations:
DALLAS: 10 Medical Parkway
Plaza III, Ste. 106
Dallas, Tx 75234
469-453-5500
DALLAS:
10425 N. Central Expy.
Dallas, TX 75231
TEXOMA AREA Living Well Magazine | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017
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