Lisa Bash, MD, Medical Director of The Breast Center (bottom) and Margaret Sacco, MD, Medical Director of Breast Surgery (top)
at Atlantic Health System’s Chilton Medical Center reviewing a mammogram.
lungs to expand and pushes the heart away
from the chest and radiation field,” says
Dr. Zhung. “Increasing the distance by
even one centimeter can reduce the dose
of radiation [to the heart] by more than
50 percent.” This technique is just one of
the many ways we are capable of protect-
ing critical structures, such as the heart
in breast cancer, at the Chilton Medical
Cancer Center.
PRECISION THERAPY
Perhaps most consequential is the
emergence of precision therapy, based on
the understanding that all breast cancers are
not the same. Genetic profiling and other
advanced tests, now available at Chilton,
provide valuable information for preven-
tive care and targeted treatment.
As part of a formidable offense, Chilton
launched a High Risk Breast Screening
Program to identify patients at high risk for
breast cancer. Diligent monitoring, imag-
ing and targeted interventions, such as oral
therapy, empower participants to remain
one step ahead of the disease.
Furthermore, treatments are guided by
tumor biology. “We can individualize medi-
cal therapies based on the receptor status
of the cancer,” says Andrew Bernstein,
MD, medical director of oncology at
Chilton Medical Center. “The receptor
is like a TV antenna that sits on top of
the cancer cell. If it doesn’t get the signal
it needs, the cancer cannot grow,” he
explains. Targeted therapies act as a shield.
For example, endocrine therapy blocks
enzymes that strengthen hormone-sensitive
cancers, while other therapies target aggres-
sive cancers fueled by the HER2 protein.
Immunotherapy, which harnesses
the immune system to kill cancer cells, is
among the newest developments. Though
not yet a standard of care for breast cancer,
studies have yielded promising results for
patients with metastatic disease.
A HOPEFUL FUTURE
Thanks to these breakthroughs and
more, Chilton is fighting breast cancer on
every front. “Our multidisciplinary team
fosters innovative, personalized medicine
that continues to improve diagnosis, treat-
ment and survivorship,” asserts Dr. Sacco.
“For many women, there is less fear about
a breast cancer diagnosis.”
And more hope.
Visit atlantichealth.org to learn more about breast care services
available at Chilton Medical Center.
CHILTON MAGAZINE SPRING 2019