According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 260,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.
The risk of developing the disease, which remains the second leading cancer among women, is increased by hereditary factors, such as having a first-degree relative with breast cancer or a predisposition for genetic mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 chromosomes.
However, a woman’s risk can be significantly impacted by day-to-day lifestyle decisions. Drinking more than four servings of alcohol per week, eating less than seven servings of fruits and vegetables per day, exercising less than three and a half hours per week, and maintaining a body mass index greater than 23 can all contribute to an elevated risk of breast cancer.
“For the most part, every woman has some chance of developing breast cancer,” says Pamela Johnson, MD, Breast Surgeon at Crittenton. “While we cannot choose our genetics, women are responsible for their own lifestyle choices.”
Preparing for the Unexpected
When women do face breast cancer diagnoses, the Crittenton Cancer Center offers advanced diagnostic technology in a community hospital setting. MammaPrint® is a test with the capacity to evaluate a tumor’s genetic makeup. Following surgery, a sample of a woman’s cancer is evaluated by a pathologist, who uses the test to obtain the clearest picture of how a woman’s cells have been altered by the cancer and to what degree the cancer is likely to spread to other areas of her body.
Based on this information, oncologists at Crittenton tailor postsurgical treatment plans that are best suited for patients based on the nature of their tumors. Crittenton participated in a trial for MammaPrint to measure the feasibility of employing the technology. The results demonstrated Crittenton’s accuracy and dedication to bringing the highest standard of breast cancer care to Rochester.
The Collaborative Advantage
In addition to advanced diagnostic technology, the Crittenton Cancer Center gives patients access to unparalleled treatment options. For example, Crittenton is the only hospital in Michigan performing intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), a procedure that allows women
The multidisciplinary group also meets regularly to help shape breast cancer care. Oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and surgeons make up the multidisciplinary team, which reviews patient cases together to arrange informed, coordinated care.to undergo radiation therapy during surgery. The single dose of radiation delivered through IORT can target cancer with the same success as 33 traditional radiation treatments after surgery.
“It is very beneficial to have each expert review his or her images and thought processes respective to our areas of expertise,” Dr. Johnson says. “The conference also helps us instantly evaluate and rework our communication and practices to be more accurate and best advise our patients.”
For more information about breast cancer care at Crittenton Hospital Medical Center, visit www.crittenton.com/breast-care-center
