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Breast Cancer... Breast Cancer...

Breast Cancer –

Always Different,

Always Something New

BY LOIS THOMSON

Dr. Nuria Lawson is a breast surgeon
who focuses her practice on breast can-
cer, and you can hear the passion in her
voice as she talks about her work. One of
the reasons is because of the diversity
that can be found in the field.
She said, for example, that when a
patient has a finding and is referred to
her for follow up work, "We determine
whether the patient needs a biopsy or
further studies, and then take it from
there. There is a wide variation of can-
cers, and I always say, I can have 10 dif-
ferent patients and I will give all of those
patients a different game plan of how to
Please help Puerto Rico recover by donating: attend to their cancer. It's always differ-
ent." Dr. Nuria Lawson
However, Dr. Lawson said that along
with the differences, "There is always
something new coming out. This is why This targeting has also had an effect on
you really need somebody who is dedi- other forms of cancer. Dr. Lawson said
cated to breast cancer to provide the that because of the advances that have
most advanced care." been made, "We have now extrapolated
She credits the amount of money spent the treatment from breast cancer to other
on research as one of the reasons for the types of cancer. Breast cancer is at the
new findings, saying that breast cancer is cutting edge, and all the other cancers
where all the money is being poured, it's are playing catch-up in terms of discov-
where everybody wants to be doing eries. That's how innovative things are."
research. But because it is a very com- Additionally, Dr. Lawson mentioned
mon disease, it deserves to have that another development: "This is for
money funneled in its direction. patients who are newly diagnosed; we
According to Dr. Lawson, some of the can now treat them with new medication
findings from the research have shown, that will give them a much longer chance
"We are able to do less extensive proce- of survival, and even disease-free sur-
dures for a patient and get either the vival, even if they become metastatic."
same results or better results than in the She said the future is already pointing to
past." In recent decades, just about every turning breast cancer into a chronic dis-
woman who had breast cancer was given ease. "We may not cure it, but we will be
a mastectomy, but that is not necessary treating the patient chronically; like with
now in a vast majority of patients. "As diabetes or hypertension – you're always
going to be treated for it."
Specializing in Medically long as we do a lumpectomy, remove the For these reasons, the first thing she
cancer with a margin of healthy tissue
Complex Patients that shows we removed everything, and tells patients is, "Forget about the stories
everybody else has told you about what
give them a little bit of radiation, the
results are the same as if we had done a they went through. You have a unique
Kindred Hospitals are owned by Kindred mastectomy. The recurrence rate of the cancer, and we need to target our treat-
Healthcare, Inc., a national network of Long Term breast cancer is statistically the same. So ment to you."
Acute Care Hospitals (LTACH's). we can confidently tell a woman, you However, despite advancements, Dr.
Kindred Hospitals provide specialized, high quality don't need to lose your breast." Lawson warns that women cannot sit
back and get comfortable. "They can't
care for acutely ill patients. For more than a decade, Another advancement can be found in say, 'Oh I had a mammogram five years
we have fine-tuned the art of medically complex care. the genes. Dr. Lawson explained that just ago and things are going well, I'll just
as people have genes in their bodies that
Our services range from complex catastrophic determine whether they have blue eyes sort of coast.' No, no, no. The most com-
illnesses that require intensive care, post-surgical medical or brown, or whether they will be short mon, serious, type of cancer in women is
rehabilitation to patients suffering from chronic diseases requiring respiratory and or tall, the cancers within the cancer cell breast cancer, but it's the number two
rehabilitative therapies. Kindred Hospitals provide outcome-oriented have genes that tell whether the cancer is cause of cancer death. (Number one is
cost effective care for patients with a wide spectrum of going to be aggressive or not. "We can lung cancer.) The reason it's not the
medical conditions. test the cancers for those genes, and number one cause is because we're able
according to what genes the cancers to save more and more women; we do so
Admissions to Kindred Hospitals may be have, we are now developing medica- much research, we do a lot of screening,
recommended by physicians, acute-care hospitals, tions that shut down those genes. This is and we're trying to catch it at an earlier,
rehabilitation hospitals, managed care providers, case what we mean by targeted therapy. curable stage."
management companies or by the patient’s family. Instead of shooting at the cancer with a
In all cases family tours are encouraged. shotgun full of pellets of chemotherapy, For more information,
you give them the exact little magic bul- call (305) 823-5000
let that works for that cancer." or visit www.palmettogeneral.com.
Kindred Hospital Kindred Hospital Kindred Hospital Kindred Hospital
Fort Lauderdale Hollywood Coral Gables The Palm Beaches
1516 East Las Olas Blvd. 1859 Van Buren St. 5190 Southwest Eighth St. 5555 West Blue Heron Blvd
Ft. Lauderdale FL 33301 Hollywood, FL 33020 Coral Gables, FL 33134 Riviera Beach, FL 33418 Visit us on the web at
954-764-8900, ext. 5136 954-920-9000 305-448-1585 561-904-8451
www.southfloridahospitalnews.com
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www.khfortlauderdale.com www.khsfhollywood.com www.khcoralgables.com www.khthepalmbeaches.com

18 October 2017 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News