Category: Sponsored

Taking on cancer daily through support

The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) – Washington Township’s Center for Hope and Healing offers a haven of comfort and care.

More than merely a treatment location, The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) – Washington Township offers extensive, complimentary programs to support hope and healing for patients, survivors, and their families.

An Epicenter for Hope and Healing

The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Washington Township offers exceptional, close-to-home care. Shown with a patient is the Chief of Cancer Services Ana María López, MD, MPH, MACP (left), and nurse Traci Loud, RN, OCN.

The Center for Hope and Healing offers a haven of comfort and care, where patients in treatment can share experiences with other survivors, speak with oncology professionals about their concerns and take time for individual reflection.

The center provides free, professionally facilitated educational activities and events highlighting all types of cancer and cancer-related topics, including prevention, detection and treatment. Along with yoga, Reiki, Tai Chi and art therapy classes, the goal is to enrich and enhance the lives of patients, their family members and caregivers.

Talented Nurse Guidance

A cancer diagnosis is overwhelming for patients and their loved ones. The Patient Navigation Program offers the services of dedicated oncology certified nurses to reduce barriers to cancer care, while providing needed support, guidance and education.

Nurse navigators assist patients in navigating the health care system. Serving as patient advocates, nurse navigators ensure that questions or concerns are addressed by the necessary medical professionals. As core members of the oncology team, nurse navigators serve as valuable resources to physicians, patients and care team members.

Counseling and More

The outpatient registered dietitians provide nutritional support and counseling to patients receiving cancer treatment. In addition, the Oncology Social Work Department provides psychosocial support services to patients, including mental health counseling, education, spiritual support and group support.

We’re Here for You

As an innovative leader within the community, the SKCC is one of the region’s most respected cancer treatment programs. The center brings an NCI-designated cancer center, sophisticated clinical trials, genetic counseling, financial assistance, fertility preservation, support and more to New Jersey.

More than just a treatment center, the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) – Washington Township offers extensive, complimentary programs to support hope and healing for patients, survivors and their families.

An Expert Cancer Care Team, Close to Home

The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Washington Township offers a full range of comprehensive services, right in your backyard. The center is proud to offer the following cancer programs and medical directors to help patients along their cancer journey:

  • Comprehensive Breast Center
    Kahyun Yoon-Flannery, DO, MPH, FACS
    A member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, Dr. Yoon-Flannery performs all aspects of breast surgery.
  • Gynecologic Oncology
    Robin Wilson-Smith, DO, FACOG, FACOOG
    Dr. Wilson-Smith, a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is board-certified in OB/GYN and Gynecologic Oncology.
  • Lung Program featuring the Lung Nodule Center
    Duane Monteith, MD, FACS
    Dr. Monteith, Medical Director of Thoracic Oncology, is board-certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
  • Medical Oncology
    Ana María López, MD, MPH, MACP
    A board-certified medical oncologist, Dr. López is the Immediate Past President of the American College of Physicians.
  • Radiation Oncology
    Tamara A. LaCouture, MD
    Board-certified in radiation oncology, Dr. LaCouture has been recognized as a “Top Doc” in her field by SJ MagazinePhiladelphia Magazine and Inside Jersey.

Delivering our community clinical excellence, compassionate cancer care

Conveniently located in the suburbs of southern New Jersey, the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Washington Township offers exceptional, team-based care.

More than merely a treatment center, the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) – Washington Township, part of Jefferson Health, provides several programs and services to support hope and healing for patients, survivors and their families. One of the region’s most respected cancer treatment centers, the center brings resources to the community, including advanced clinical trials and treatment programs.

Cutting-edge Treatment Close to Home

The SKCC offers comprehensive oncology services, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, iron infusions and therapeutic injections. Patients who have cancer, or are at-risk, can receive medical oncology services in the innovative Infusion Suite. Advanced technologies, such as stereotactic radiosurgery, 3D and 4D radiation, intensity modulated radiation therapy and high-dose rate brachytherapy, provide patients with powerful, effective treatment plans. Each patient receives personalized cancer care tailored to his or her specific diagnosis. The center brings advanced clinical trials to the South Jersey community. Access to such trials has been shown to improve cancer outcomes.

“We offer a full range of comprehensive services for cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, support and follow-up. Our patients benefit from the collaborative efforts of surgical experts, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, and pathologists.”

— Ana María López, MD, MPH, MACP
Vice Chair, Medical Oncology Chief of Cancer Services,
Jefferson Health, New Jersey

The SKCC also provides comprehensive gynecologic care for women diagnosed with malignant and premalignant conditions of the reproductive organs, including the cervix, ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, vagina and vulva. The approach delivers excellent coordination of care, from screening and diagnosis to treatment and follow-up care.

The center’s medical experts provide ongoing care for high-risk lung cancer patients with the assessment of nodules through a unique, comprehensive approach, which includes a full patient history and evaluation of medical imaging results. Smoking cessation counseling also is available with a certified tobacco treatment specialist.

Leading the Way in Women’s Health

The Comprehensive Breast Center, accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), offers innovative treatment for patients with breast cancer. Breast surgeons collaborate with patients and their physicians to accurately diagnose and treat breast diseases using a number of groundbreaking methods.

Traditional lumpectomy procedures involve inserting a wire into the breast, the same day of surgery. The SKCC is consistently pioneering state-of-the-art procedures, such as radar localization for Breast Cancer Surgery. This places a small reflector into the breast prior to the day of surgery, allowing surgeons to precisely target the affected tissue within 1 millimeter.

Clearer images using 3D mammography provide radiologists a more accurate screening tool for breast cancer detection, which reduces the rate of repeat mammograms. These screenings also give patients a faster, quieter and more comfortable experience, with less pain during compression. Using an Automated Breast Ultrasound System (ABUS) in women with dense breast tissue, there is a 35% higher chance of breast cancer detection.

Community Engagement

Providing patient-centered, comprehensive care is only part of the SKCC accomplishments. Each year the center participates in multiple community events, such as the American Cancer Society’s annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk and the Real Men Wear Pink campaign, as well as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The center also hosts an annual Cancer Survivors Day, inviting cancer survivors and their families for a free and festive afternoon of fun, food and entertainment.

We Are with You, Every Step of the Way

Patients have peace of mind knowing that wherever they are on their journey, the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center is with them. Speak with an oncology-certified nurse navigator today by calling (856) 218-5324 or visit jeffersonhealth.org/NJcancer.

New Inspira Health cancer center bringing technology, compassion to South Jersey

An early 2020 opening  is scheduled for the Leading-Edge Cancer Center at Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill.

Cancer is a journey, not a sprint. With that in mind, Inspira Health in 2020 will open the Leading-Edge Cancer Center at Mullica Hill Medical Center. The new facility, designed with patient comfort and convenience in mind, will feature state-of-the-art technology in the fight against cancer.

The new center’s purpose , according to Erev Tubb, M.D., F.A.C.P., who will be the center’s medical director, is to serve patients who need treatment with various support services in their community. “Patients want high-quality cancer care close to their home,” Dr. Tubb noted.

“We are providing patients access to the best cancer specialists while getting to know them as people, not numbers. In health care, knowledge is power, and we want to give everyone the best patient experience and outcome possible.”

— Erev Tubb, M.D., F.A.C.P.

The center will give patients access to comprehensive cancer services, including medical, radiation and surgical oncologists. Additional services, including support groups, nutrition counseling and genetic counseling, are built into a wide range of personalized programs that patients can access. Cancer navigators will be available to guide patients through treatments, “We are giving patients access to the best cancer specialists while getting to know them as people, not numbers,” Dr. Tubb said. “In health care, knowledge is power, and we want to give everyone the best patient experience and outcome possible.”

Research and Clinical Trials Benefit Patients

The Frank and Edith Scarpa Regional Cancer Pavilion at Inspira Medical Center Vineland

Under the Leading-Edge Cancer Center, patients will be able to participate in clinical trials of investigational drugs and therapies. From targeted therapy to the use of immunotherapy and gene therapy, physicians will use the latest developments to bring innovative treatment to the Inspira community.

Kush Sachdeva, M.D., oncologist and medical director of the Inspira Frank and Edith Scarpa Regional Cancer Pavilion, said that expanding clinical trials will benefit patients across all Inspira locations.

“Tomorrow’s treatments and cures are today’s clinical trials,” Dr. Sachdeva said. “Patients, especially those with a poor prognosis, can access new treatments earlier at no cost to them by participating in trials. They can receive cutting-edge, evidence-based care right in their community.”

Carl Minniti, Jr., M.D., chief of the oncology and hematology department and chairman of the Cancer Committee at Inspira Woodbury and Mullica Hill, said that major advances have been made in oncology drug development.

“Over the past decade, targeted therapies which attack genomic characteristics of certain cancer cells have allowed for more effective treatments with less side effects,” he said. “The availability of these new drugs has changed our treatment options quite a bit. We are truly witnessing a new field of cancer therapy.”

Dr. Minniti added that his practice has participated in hundreds of clinical trials over the years, and he looks forward to the research program’s continued success.

Improving the Patient Experience

Dr. Tubb noted something that will make cancer care at the new center stand out: a personal touch. “I want our patients to know us, and our staff to know our patients,” he said. “I plan to keep my door open to patients, families and referring physicians. No one should ever feel like just a number to be treated when they come to us.”

The Leading-Edge Cancer Center is set to provide cutting-edge treatment for many cancers, including bladder, breast, colorectal, gynecologic, leukemia, lung, lymphoma, prostate, skin, testicular and thyroid, among others.

To learn more about services or to make an appointment, visit www.inspirahealthnetwork.org/cancer or call (800) 467-7472.

Inspira Health program focusing on high-risk, hereditary cancers empowers women

Thanks to Inspira Health’s innovative High Risk Cancer Program, adults in the community can have their risk for a range of cancers assessed prior to potentially developing the disease.

Statistics show that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Thanks to Inspira Health’s innovative High Risk Cancer Program, adults in the community can have their risk for a range of cancers assessed before potentially developing the disease. Inspira Health’s specialized team uses Inspira Insight, an automated screening technology, along with a professional review process, to evaluate the cancer risk of everyone who receives a breast screening at an Inspira Imaging Center. Anyone scoring as high-risk is referred to the Inspira High Risk Cancer Program, which can provide further evaluation followed by genetic testing along with personalized prevention and screening plans as appropriate based on personal risk.

High risk patients can benefit from an individualized prevention and screening plan that typically includes a clinical breast exam every six months, breast imaging either annually or every six months, and, for some patients, genetic counseling and testing.

A Dedicated Program

The Inspira High Risk Cancer Program offers a broad range of diagnostic, preventative and coordination services. Nandini Kulkarni, M.D., F.A.C.S., Inspira Health’s medical director of surgical oncology, noted that programs such as this will transform the way cancer is treated.

“While Inspira’s high-risk breast cancer program utilizes various high-risk scales developed by the National Cancer Institute, our software and trained providers also evaluate the comprehensive picture,” Dr. Kulkarni said. “This includes a review of genetic results, personal history of high-risk breast lesions, and family history of breast cancer.”

“My hope is that breast cancers will be prevented before happening or diagnosed and treated before they cause significant harm.”

— Nandini Kulkarni, M.D., F.A.C.S., Inspira Health’s medical director of surgical oncology

Who Can Benefit?

High risk patients can benefit from an individualized prevention and screening plan that typically includes a clinical breast exam every six months, breast imaging either annually or every six months, and, for some patients, genetic counseling and testing. Imaging may alternate between high-quality 3D mammography and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The images are interpreted by fellowship trained specialists in breast radiology.

“My hope is that breast cancers will be prevented before happening or diagnosed and treated before they cause significant harm,” said Dr. Kulkarni.

To learn more about the High-Risk and Hereditary Cancer Program, visit inspirahealthnetwork.org/high-risk-cancer-program or call (856) 641-8670.

10 Reasons Why Inspira Health’s Cancer Treatment Is Innovative   

  1. A new cancer center:
    Opening in early 2020, the center is designed to support comfort and team collaboration, where patients are able to see multiple specialist in one visit.
  2. Care is delivered by a team:
    The team includes specialized physicians, social workers, dietitians, physical therapists and behavioral health specialists.
  3. A commitment to prevention and detection:
    Inspira Health provides education, high-risk assessments and over 15,000 screenings throughout the year. For those considered high-risk, Inspira Health offers genetic testing and prevention plans.
  4. State-of-the-art radiation suites:
    The suites offer high-precision, innovative radiation therapy.
  5. Fellowship-trained radiologists:
    Radiologists perform image-guided procedures and use advanced imaging technology, including 3D mammography.
  6. Operating rooms for cancer care:
    The suites offer technologies that include robotic assisted surgery and wireless breast tumor location.
  7. Expertise in immunotherapy:
    This includes targeted therapies, as well as oral and traditional chemotherapy.
  8. Support services:
    Services to meet emotional needs, including care coordination, counseling and support groups, begin before treatment.
  9. Physicians are involved in clinical trials:
    Patients have access to the latest treatments and clinical trials, making medical discoveries and advances available during cancer care.
  10. Care coordination:
    To ensure patients aren’t just a number during treatment, all services are coordinated through a care navigator.

Regional Cancer Care Associates focuses on helping patients fight cancer

Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), one of the nation’s largest networks of oncology specialists, is at the forefront of efforts to quickly translate research advances into cutting-edge patient care.

Regional Cancer Care Associates network focuses on personalized treatment, research

Individuals who may have cancer and those who have already been diagnosed have two questions: “Will I survive?” and “What next?”

The answer to the first question is simple: There is abundant reason for hope. Even though cancer is serious and sometimes incurable, advances in treatment are moving at an unprecedented pace.

The secrets to how cancers develop and spread based on genetic, environmental and other factors are being unlocked. Those discoveries are leading to earlier diagnosis, targeted treatments for specific cancers, and improved outcomes. In addition, individuals with cancer are living longer, with a higher quality of life.

Among the nation’s largest cancer care networks, Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), is at the forefront of these advances.

“We are rapidly learning how cancer starts, works and travels,” said Iuliana Shapira, MD, chief medical officer for RCCA. “New therapies are invented every day. Patients should be optimistic.”

Choosing Cancer Care

When it comes to the second question “What’s next?,” individuals should start by finding a care team that provides a patient-centric approach, evidence-based expertise, and the latest technology and treatments. Those attributes are hallmarks of RCCA, which has more than 30 locations in the New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland and Washington, DC area.

State-Of-The-Art Cancer Treatments. RCCA’s oncologists and hematologists have the skills and knowledge to treat any cancer. These physicians have access to the latest diagnostic and treatment modalities, and are experienced with the growing range of therapies, including targeted therapies used to treat specific genetically driven cancers, radiation/radiosurgery technologies that precisely target affected areas, chemotherapy and integrative care treatments that can minimize burdensome side effects, as well as stem cell transplantation and genetic testing.

RCCA benefits from expert researchers and physicians at the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center. Additionally, physicians across the RCCA network work with center investigators on clinical trials of investigational cancer screening methods and treatments.

Local Access to Cutting-Edge Care. RCCA patients are never far from the high-level care they need because the more than 30 RCCA care centers are all community-based.

Additionally, community-based treatment teams develop close relationships with their patients, providing individualized care and attention. This is possible because many local specialists are more than physicians and nurse practitioners. They also are neighbors and individuals who have much in common with their patients.

RCCA physicians make sure that the patient and his/her family are involved in treatment decisions every step of the way by meeting regularly to review plans and future options, creating a trusting relationship between care team and patient.

Care Team Collaboration. Some cancer patients also suffer from additional chronic health conditions, including diabetes, asthma or high blood pressure, which means they often see several specialists in addition to their primary care physician. Often, these conditions may interfere with cancer treatments.

Physicians at RCCA know that working closely with other physicians and providing overall continuity of care is important so that treatment is maximized and side effects are minimized.

State-of-the-art treatments, local access to cutting-edge care, and strong physician-patient relationships are just some of the benefits offered by Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA).

Clinical Trials: Another Treatment Option

RCCA participates in more than 300 clinical trials. These trials test investigational cancer treatments, procedures, and screening and diagnostic methods that could provide more options for the future.

The trials provide an additional treatment avenue to patients who have been diagnosed with challenging forms of cancer that have not responded to FDA-approved therapies.

RCCA: Quality Cancer Care Close to Your Home

With more than 125 cancer specialists and 800 staff members at care centers throughout New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut and Washington D.C., RCCA provides care to more than 24,500 new patients and 245,000 established patients each year. RCCA offers those patients immunotherapy, targeted treatment, cell-based therapy and other cutting-edge treatments and diagnostic modalities, as well as access to clinical trials.

To learn more about RCCA or to schedule an appointment, call (844) 474-6866 or visit www.RCCA.com.

Early-stage breast cancer patients at Trinitas benefit from AccuBoost image-guided radiation

 

The breast care team at Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer Center is led by, from left, Michelle Cholankeril, MD, medical hematologist/oncologist; Dipti Pandya, MD, lead mammographer; Adriana Suarez-Ligon, MD, breast surgical oncologist; and Clarissa Henson, MD, chair of radiation oncology.

AccuBoost helps doctors more accurately apply localized radiation therapy, and Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer Center (TCCC) is the first cancer treatment facility in New Jersey to offer it. The image-based technology helps take the guesswork out of radiation therapy and has the potential to improve the outcome of patients with early-stage breast cancer by sparing more healthy tissue.

Among the prime candidates for AccuBoost are patients with early-stage breast cancer who have had a lumpectomy. The technology is able to display a patient’s tumor bed and lumpectomy cavity as the breast is immobilized and compressed through mammography.

The procedure allows doctors to use the images as a guide while implanting a sealed radiation source within the tissue and close to the affected area, also known as brachytherapy. The technique allows vertical and horizontal radiation to be delivered more accurately.

Because AccuBoost shows doctors the site where cancer was removed and the surrounding breast tissue area, the extent of the cancer can be treated while physicians also target the affected areas and identify other spots where cancer could reoccur.

“This technology is far superior to the current standard-of-care treatment,” said Clarissa Henson, MD, chair of Radiation Oncology at Trinitas. “On average, only 51% of the treatment area receives 90% of the dose when using the current standard of care. With AccuBoost and image guidance, targeting is improved and a more effective dose of radiation is delivered to the tumor site.”

Because AccuBoost provides a simple, precise method for boost-dose targeting, the doctor can position the applicator in a way that delivers a therapeutic dose with limited radiation exposure to the skin, heart and lungs.

AccuBoost also is used at Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer Center to provide accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) — a powerful, non-invasive treatment for patients with early-stage breast cancer. The procedure allows doctors to deliver radiation to only a portion of the breast. APBI is delivered once or twice a day for one or two weeks. That means treatments can be arranged around the patient’s work or home schedule.

For information on either treatment option, call (908) 994-8000 or visit www.TrinitasCancerCenter.org/AccuBoost.

Connie Dwyer Breast Center @ Trinitas offers patients comprehensive, compassionate services regardless of financial status

Legendary pop singer Gloria Gaynor fittingly delivers her signature hit, ‘I Will Survive,’ during the dedication of the Connie Dwyer Breast Center at Trinitas Regional Medical Center as Connie Dwyer, right, keeps time.

One patient’s determination and a medical center’s commitment to excellence have united to bring quality breast cancer care to underprivileged women in central and eastern Union County.

The fruit of a partnership between Trinitas Regional Medical Center and the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation, the Connie Dwyer Breast Center at Trinitas is focused on bringing a highly empathic approach to state-of-the-art breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, community outreach and education to all women, no matter their financial status.

“From the moment a woman enters our breast center, she will encounter a totally different experience,” said foundation Founder Connie Dwyer. “Our aim is not only detection and healing, but the whole experience of caring for the patient.”

Opened in October 2018, the $3.4 million facility offers comprehensive yet compassionate breast cancer services from an expert staff, with an environment that exudes comfort and well-being. The center epitomizes Dwyer’s commitment to making top-notch, personalized breast cancer prevention and treatment services available to all women, whether they’re rich or poor.

Connie’s Story

To know how the Connie Dwyer Breast Center came to fruition, one needs to understand Dwyer’s story of survival.

In 1999, Dwyer, a Summit resident, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. During treatment, she met other women with breast cancer who were taking buses to and from treatment while balancing multiple jobs to support their families. Many of these women from low-income families were either underinsured or had no insurance, and had little to no access to critical care.

The experience exposed a serious public health issue: Far too many women in the greater Elizabeth community go without proper preventive or acute breast cancer care, despite the fact that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society.

Dwyer realized how lucky she was to receive lifesaving breast cancer treatment, and she became motivated to help provide access to critical care to the less fortunate. The Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation was born after Dwyer and a dedicated group of friends joined forces in a tireless grassroots effort to create awareness and raise funds. Those efforts led to the opening of the first Connie Dwyer Breast Center at Saint Michael’s Medical Center in Newark in 2005. The Center provides comprehensive breast cancer prevention, diagnostic and treatment services regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. The foundation’s partnership with Trinitas has led to a new Connie Dwyer Breast Center to benefit and support the women of Greater Elizabeth.

“The Connie Dwyer Breast Center at Trinitas is the newest and most advanced breast center in New Jersey,” said Gary S. Horan, FACHE, Trinitas president and CEO. “The center is high-tech, but is also high-touch. We have first-rate physicians and staff members, equipment and an atmosphere that is second to none. Everything has been taken into consideration for the patient with the intricate support and involvement of Connie Dwyer.”

Staffed with board-certified bilingual specialists, the Breast Center offers the most up-to-date equipment and services available on the market, including 3D imaging, which allows radiologists to view breast tissue in several layers. This groundbreaking technology can detect a staggering 41% more invasive breast cancers and can reduce false positive results by up to 40%.

This advanced level of care is delivered with a healthy dose of empathy. A dedicated breast navigator is available to help guide women through the treatment process should a suspicious finding be discovered on a diagnostic breast exam.

Continuing The Fight

In December 2017, Dwyer was re-diagnosed at Trinitas with metastasized breast cancer, but she continues to fight to survive, and she is undeterred from her mission to provide underserved women with access to treatment. She expressed her enthusiasm for working with Trinitas on developing the new Breast Center.

“Trinitas’ presence validates its understanding of just how important this center is to women of the greater Elizabeth community,” she said. “Thanks to the dedication of my board members and our donors, we embarked on the partnership with Trinitas to build a breast center that would provide access to the best science has to offer by way of breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment.”

To make an appointment or for information, call the Connie Dwyer Breast Center at (908) 994-5984.

Marlton woman feels positive and whole, thanks to Virtua Health team

At ease after meeting her surgeon, a nurse navigator was her lifeline 

“When I tell this story, I feel like I’m talking about someone else. It’s been two years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer, but the time has gone by in a blur,” said Roanne Silver.

Marlton resident Roanne Silver recalls, ‘I thought breast cancer surgery would make me feel like half a woman. But, waking up with breasts — I never felt more whole.’

In fall 2017, Silver’s radiologist saw something suspicious in her mammogram and referred her for a breast MRI with a biopsy. “When the radiologist told me ‘you have breast cancer,’ I was panicked,” Silver said. “I never expected to hear those words, and I immediately feared the worst.”

After researching breast surgeons online, Silver found Virtua Health Breast Surgeon James Crawford, MD. “I was so scared, but I immediately felt at ease with Dr. Crawford,” she said. Explaining a cancer diagnosis and treatment can be complex, but Silver liked that Dr. Crawford spoke to her with warmth and compassion, without medical jargon.

Silver had clinical stage-2a breast cancer, which meant it was growing, but contained in the breast and nearby lymph nodes. A lumpectomy — the surgical removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue — wasn’t an option because she had disease in multiple areas of her breast and the amount was too extensive for the approach. She needed a total mastectomy — surgery that removes the entire breast (tissue, ducts, lobules, fatty tissue and nipple).

Breast reconstruction also was part of their discussion. Silver recalled, “Dr. Crawford said I could do nothing. I could have a saline or silicone implant. Or, I could choose a procedure where the breast is rebuilt using my own muscle and tissue.”

Silver determined breast reconstruction using her own tissues was the ideal approach: “I didn’t want anything foreign in my body,” she said.

Oncology Nurse Navigation: A Caring Resource, Starting at Diagnosis

With lots of appointments, tests and surgery preparation in the weeks and months ahead, Silver was introduced to Virtua oncology nurse navigator Randi Solden, RN, BS, OCN. “Randi was my go-to through my whole experience and my lifeline to my whole medical team,” Silver acknowledged. “I felt like we were lifelong friends.”

Virtua’s oncology nurse navigators contact patients within 48 hours after they receive a breast cancer diagnosis, aiming to provide support and education. Nurse navigators also streamline communication with doctors, coordinate appointments and help patients access any clinical and supportive care services such as physical therapy, nutrition therapy and help with hair loss, as well as emotional support for families.

Solden helped Silver connect with Alexander Au, MD, a Penn Medicine | Virtua Cancer Program microvascular and plastic surgeon, who specializes in breast reconstruction.

Knowing she didn’t want breast reconstruction with an implant, he described every aspect of DIEP flap breast reconstruction, a procedure that uses skin, fat and blood vessels from the lower abdomen to rebuild the breast. She recalled, “There was no sugarcoating it — he told me I would have an end-to-end scar across my belly, but that I would wake up with a breast.”

With great humor in the face of cancer, Silver notes: “I was happy, at least, that I’d get a bit of a tummy tuck out of it, too.”

She Prepared for Tough Days After Surgery, But Experienced Something Better

In the weeks before her surgery, Silver met with her nurse navigator Solden to go over surgery details . “Randi showed me the drains I would have after surgery, what to look for in them and how to empty them,” Silver said. “She explained every detail of what would happen in the hospital, right down to when I would be transferred to the ICU after surgery.”

The best part? “I thought breast cancer surgery would make me feel like half a woman. But, waking up with breasts — I never felt more whole,” she said.

Virtua is Here to Get You There

Connect with a Virtua breast surgeon or learn more about Virtua’s breast cancer services by visiting virtua.org/BreastCare. You can also talk to a Virtua navigator about scheduling a consultation by calling (844) 616-8773.

Your partner in breast cancer care: Virtua Health

 

To connect with a Virtua breast surgeon or learn more about breast cancer services, visit virtua.org/BreastCare or call (844) 616-8773.

The Penn Medicine | Virtua Cancer Program combines the resources of two renowned health care leaders to provide advanced treatment options here in South Jersey:

  • If you have a highly suspicious finding such as a positive breast biopsy or highly suspicious mammogram, Virtua connects you with a breast surgeon within 48 hours
  • Access to one of the nation’s top breast reconstructive programs
  • Advanced treatment techniques include MarginProbe technology to ensure clear margins, hidden-scar and nipple-sparing procedures, and DIEP flap breast reconstruction
  • Advanced radiation therapy at three convenient locations
  • Certified oncology nurse navigators provide education, guidance and support throughout each patient’s treatment
  • Survivorship programs include a free hair boutique, physical therapy and support groups
  • Access to national clinical trials
  • Virtua’s program is recognized by the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers for meeting exceptional quality and safety standards

All of these services and more can be found at three state-of-the-art Cancer Centers.

To connect with a Virtua breast surgeon or learn more about breast cancer services, visit virtua.org/BreastCare or call (844) 616-8773.

Penn Medicine | Virtua Cancer Program

Moorestown, Voorhees, Washington Township

Advanced Techniques and Procedures – Performed with a Personal Touch

Get to know a few members from the Penn Medicine | Virtua Cancer team:

“Breast cancer is very personal. Patients can have a difficult time with the aftereffects of cancer treatment. That’s why we take a comprehensive approach and include cosmetic options such as hidden-scar techniques and nipple-sparing procedures to make the reminders of cancer as minimal as possible.”

– Elizabeth Revesz, MD, Breast Surgeon

“Personalized care means that we work with our patients and their families to find a treatment approach that’s right for them. It’s important that patients are comfortable with their choices.”

– Lori Timmerman, DO, Breast Surgeon

“Treating breast cancer is about much more than just removing the cancer. We focus on treating each person with the highest compassion and understanding.”

– William Holaday, MD, Breast Surgeon

“Advanced technology and techniques are important, but you also want to make sure there is a team effort. Collaboration between specialists and good communication with patients means the surgeons and the patients are happier and ultimately have better results.”

– Alexander Au, MD, Microvascular Plastic Surgeon

“Our philosophy is not to only treat the patient’s disease, but also to treat the patient as a whole. We genuinely strive to care for each patient as if they were a family member.”

– Michelle Shen, MD, Breast Surgeon

“Our patients are dealing with one of the most stressful experiences of their lives. It’s our goal to help put them at ease and minimize the side effects of cancer treatment as much as possible.”

– Alexis Harvey, MD, Radiation Oncologist

“Leading-edge technology and techniques are important elements of our program that enable us to provide high-level care to help our patients feel whole.”

– Eric Jablonka, MD, Microvascular Plastic Surgeon

“I remind my patients that you are not in this alone. You have a team of experts at Virtua working for you, and with you.”

– James Crawford, MD, Breast Surgeon

 

Signs of cancer in kids: What symptoms you should look for

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

As a parent, having a sick child is never easy. From the daily life disruptions of taking your child to the doctor or urgent care center, to the emotional toll of seeing your child in pain, having a sick child can be a frustrating and scary time. While most of the time your child will get better with medicine and rest, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms of more serious sicknesses. “There are a number of symptoms that could indicate cancer in children,” said Alfred Gillio, M.D., a pediatric hematology/oncology specialist at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital.

Cancer in children is very rare, making up only about 1% of all cancers diagnosed in a given year, according to the American Cancer Society. Still, it helps to know the early warning signs, as the earlier a child receives treatment for cancer, the more likely it is to be curable. Cancers caught at early stages generally have better outcomes than late-stage cancers.

“Many of these symptoms are also indicative of other health problems, so being aware of them is good for your child’s well-being in general,” said Jessica Scerbo, M.D., section chief of pediatric hematology/oncology at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital.

Common Symptoms of Pediatric Cancer

Alfred Gillion, M.D. Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.

Jessica Scerbo, M.D., Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.

  • Paleness or easy bruising. A change in skin tone, particularly to a paler shade, can be a sign of cancer. Other unexplained markings on the skin, such as bruises or even marks that look like moles, can also be indicative of cancer.
  • Unexplained persistent fever. A prolonged fever could indicate cancer. Leukemia, which affects blood and bone marrow, is one type of cancer that may cause a persistent fever.
  • Loss of energy or fatigue. Cancers, including lymphoma and Ewing sarcoma, can cause fatigue in children. “Lacking the energy to make it through a day is a symptom of cancer, but it can also be a symptom of many other health problems,” said Dr. Gillio. “If your child is fatigued, talk to your doctor right away.”
  • Unusual swelling or lumps. This is one of the symptoms most commonly associated with cancer. Most lumps are benign, but it is important to get them checked. Cancer-causing tumors can appear almost anywhere in the body.
  • Persistent headaches, with or without vomiting. Frequent headaches, often occurring in the morning, could be a sign of a cancerous tumor. Nausea and vomiting can be another sign, and sometimes go hand in hand with headaches.

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What to Do

Remember that all of these symptoms can also be indicators of other issues that aren’t cancer. In fact, it’s more likely that these issues are caused by a health problem that isn’t cancer. However, regardless of the cause, it’s important to take your child to the doctor if he/she is experiencing any of these symptoms.

“We’re equipped to diagnose your child whether that’s through an examination, imaging tests, or even biopsy if it gets to that point,” said Dr. Scerbo. “The most important thing for parents to do is take action as soon as they recognize a problem. If a child does have cancer, catching it early makes treating it successfully more likely.”

To learn more about pediatric cancer services at Hackensack Meridian Health, visit: hackensackmeridianhealth.org/pediatriccancer.

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