Healthcare Directory

36 | 2019 Medical & Dental Directory WOMEN'S HEALTH When actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus announced earlier this year she had breast cancer, it stunned loyal fans and casual observers alike. One Disease, Various Paths to Recovery BY DONNIE BYERS experts warn that the comedic actress' treatment regimen is all her own. There is no universal blueprint to tackling breast cancer, only individualized treatment. Most treatments start with some kind of surgery to remove any cancerous tumors. Depending on the type and stage, the patient may also need chemotherapy, hormone therapy or radiation treatments to completely rid their body of cancer. The additional procedures might occur before surgery, after or both. "Everyone's case is different," said Elizabeth Sawyer, M.D. "The type of tumor, any risk factors and family history all come into play when we, as medical providers, take any approach toward treating cancer." Dr. Sawyer is an oncology breast surgeon with Village Surgical Associates. She has nearly 20 years of surgery experience, as does her operating room colleague, Juan Ortiz, M.D., with Triangle Plastic Surgery Center. Together, they offer breast cancer removal and reconstructive surgery to area breast cancer patients. The duo understands breast cancer surgery is a life-changing decision, so they go to great lengths to explain the surgery process and options to patients. In turn, patients can voice any concerns before making a final decision. "Our primary goal is to treat breast cancer," Dr. Sawyer said, "but we're also very mindful of a woman's cosmetic and overall satisfaction as a patient." Surgery There are two basic types of breast cancer surgery: lumpectomy and mastectomy. Lumpectomies are always preferred, if possible, because they remove just the tumor and a small healthy portion of nearby tissue. The remaining breast remains intact. Mastectomies essentially remove the entire breast, as well as the nipple and to that, the death rate rose 0.4 percent every year between 1974 and 1989. The marked decline in deaths is attributed to increased awareness about the disease, earlier detection through mammography, and better treatment. All three have helped save more than 320,000 lives during the past 30 years. The advancements in treatment are especially significant, considering surgery used to be the only option. But newer and lesser invasive treatments, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, have emerged as supplemental options. Louis-Dreyfus, 56, responded well to two rounds of chemotherapy following her diagnosis, giving hope to countless others battling the disease. But The "Veep" and "Seinfeld" actress used her Twitter account to simply say: "1 in 8 women get breast cancer. Today I'm the one." The 11-word revelation quickly shifted national attention back onto an issue that rarely strays too far from the spotlight. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among U.S. women. It's also the second deadliest behind lung cancer. This year, more than 250,000 new breast cancers will be diagnosed and more than 40,000 women are expected to die from the disease. As disconcerting as the numbers are, they used to be far worse. Death rates actually declined 40 percent between 1989 and 2015, according to a recent American Cancer Center study. Prior

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