Every day, thousands of American women find out they have breast cancer. The news will affect their whole lives as they struggle to understand their diagnosis and treatment options, how it will affect their jobs, and, most of all, how they will tell their family and friends.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the odds that any woman will die from breast cancer is about 1 in 40, about 2.5 percent. The good news, though, is survival rates from breast cancer have been improving steadily for more than 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“That improvement can be attributed to advances in early detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as better treatments,” said HCA Florida surgical oncologist and general surgeon Hank C. Hill, MD, FSSO and Chair of the Accredited Integrated Network Cancer Program by the Commission on Cancer at HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital. “In recent years, scientists have been harnessing genetics, immunotherapy, and other innovative treatments so that we can more precisely diagnose and successfully target the disease,” he said.
HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital is dedicated to constantly refining its cancer services by bringing together patients, healthcare professionals and social care organizations to work in partnership. Its women’s care services have earned accreditation in excellence and lead the way in women’s care with the full spectrum of breast health services, including digital mammography and breast biopsies.
“Our breast imaging services are accredited by the American College of Radiology, which has earned us the distinction of a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. This designation reflects the commitment we have by providing high-quality breast cancer screening and diagnostic services,” said Dr. Hill. “We are proud of our accreditations, rewards and recognitions and work hard in order to maintain our status of excellence in care,” he added.
Oak Hill Hospital partners with many important accredited organizations dedicated to delivering high-quality cancer care, including the Commission on Cancer and the American College of Surgeons.
“Our partnerships enable us to participate in weekly multidisciplinary tumor board conferences, so we are able to get input from other specialists in many disciplines and reach a consensus on what’s the best way to manage our breast cancer patients’ needs,” he said.
Being a newly diagnosed patient can be bewildering. You may feel stressed and disjointed as you try and figure out what lies ahead. But over the years, Oak Hill Hospital experts have been developing strategies to bring the many diverse elements of cancer care together in one place and to put the patient at the center of care. Oak Hill Hospital has put these principles into practice using a patient-centric breast cancer survivorship program.
“The program starts right from the time of diagnosis,” said Dr. Hill. “This is when the patient learns not only about the pathology of the tumor they have but also recommendations for follow-up care and managing their lives after treatment. We are committed to providing you with high-quality, personalized treatment no matter the type of care required and Oak Hill professionals will be by your side throughout your journey.”
“And it’s not just the patient that is impacted by the survivorship experience,” Dr. Hill added. “Family members, friends, and caregivers are also impacted, so we fully embrace the opportunity to work with the whole group as it allows full and frank views of where and how we can improve care before, during and after treatment.”
Dr. Hill went on to say the program offers all the services a patient might need from diagnosis through survivorship, including genetic and genomic testing. “Our hospital offers a comprehensive oncology program with advanced treatments and a collaborative team of oncologists, and breast cancer specialists like Dr. Alene J. Wright and other professionals,” he added.
Dr. Wright is Board Certified in General Surgery and performs a variety of surgical procedures specializing in breast cancer and breast disease and other general surgical conditions at both HCA Oak Hill and Trinity hospitals.
“Advances in genetic testing, immunotherapy, and other areas are transforming the way doctors treat breast cancer,” said Dr. Wright. “Genetic testing is a type of testing used to look for inherited gene markers that might put a person at higher risk of getting certain kinds of cancer,” she said.
“Genetic testing may be recommended for people who have had certain cancers or certain patterns of cancer in their family,” added Dr. Hill. “It can uncover rare diseases in patients, reveal new ones and can help physicians diagnose treatable diseases.
“There are so many approaches that can be taken for the treatment of breast cancer and those options will vary based on stage and tumor characteristics,” said Dr. Wright. “Time is a precious resource for patients living metastatic breast cancer. They are dealing with an incurable disease but there are effective treatments available. Treating the tumor biology is really what dictates survivability in breast cancer,” she added.
“I try to tell patients not to focus on what stage their cancer is,” Dr. Wright said. “Depending on the tumor biology, you can live for many, many years with metastatic breast cancer. So I think that just is one of the things that shows us that not all breast cancers are treated alike, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, and you have to individualize treatment. Some women do very, very well for a very long time on treatment with metastatic breast cancer,” she said.
“I think we’re very fortunate to have the strong support of the leadership at Oak Hill Hospital for our oncology endeavors, of which breast care is a very large part,” Dr. Wright said. “Oak Hill has a lot of firsts in terms of oncology in Hernando County, including the first 3D mammogram machine in the county and the first stereotactic breast biopsy machine.”
“Here at Oak Hill Hospital, we’re very well supported in terms of our breast cancer endeavors,” she said. “I’ve been coming to the hospital for more than 15 years to take care of patients and it’s been wonderful to see that being maintained for the community and to be able to care for our patients locally.”
In conclusion, Dr. Hill reminds us that breast cancer can occur at any age. You can be young, middle-aged, or a senior so it’s important for physicians and care providers to understand the importance of listening to the patients if they have any concerns, however minor. Don’t ignore symptoms just because you’re young.
Remember to conduct regular self-exams. This is when you might notice something suspicious, like changes in your breast tissue, lumps or nipple discharge and if there is anything suspicious, talk to your physician immediately. It’s important to pay attention to your body whatever age you may be. Get regular mammograms or get a referral to a breast specialist.
Early detection is key. State-of-the-art mammography means tumors can be detected at a very early stage, so the smaller the tumor, the greater the chance for survival.
Editor’s Note: HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital, a 350-bed facility, has been providing quality healthcare to Hernando and Citrus counties since 1984. Oak Hill Hospital is located at 11375 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34613. Telephone: 352-596-6632.
LECTURE: Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer
HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital will be hosting a talk on: Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024 in the Nature Coast Pavilion Conference Room located at 11371 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville.
The presentation will be led by surgical oncologist Dr. Hank C. Hill and breast surgeon Dr. Alene J. Wright. They will be joined by a hospital employee who will share her own personal breast cancer experience. The community is invited.
R.S.V.P. to Denise Rader at [email protected] or by telephone at 352-597-3090 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. EST.
