OCTOBER EDITION, VOLUME 2015, NO. 10
Capital Medical Society Celebrates National Breast Cancer Awareness Month PUT ON SOME PINK SOCKS! By Philip Sharp, M.D. I grew up watching Star Trek and believe that one day there will be no need for radiation in the treatment of breast cancer, or any cancer for that matter. Chemotherapy or surgery either. Maybe not in my lifetime, but one day a Dr. McCoy/Dr. Crusher look alike of some generation will walk in the exam room with a tricorder thingy, zip it around a patient’s body, diagnose breast cancer, and immediately administer a painless treatment. Maybe breast cancer will be eradicated then. Probably some 17 year old in a garage in Silicon Valley will make an app for that. Hopefully my daughter will be fortunate enough to have that app developed during her lifetime. For now, breast cancer affects 12% of females, or the often used phrase “one in eight”, if they live to age 90. 75% of those develop after the age of 50. We know a lot of risk factors
but age is the strongest predictor of developing breast cancer. And thanks to my diagnostic radiology colleagues, we are helping find it earlier when the likelihood of cure is greater. Mammograms are the only
screening modality that has been proven to decrease the likelihood of death from breast cancer. Way to go radiology! Now mammograms are digital not film, and 3D not 2D. Most importantly, death rates from breast
cancer are declining largely due to better treatment. The diagnostic workup and treatment options are numerous, but are likely overwhelming to the average patient and family. Tumor size, grade, type and stage. Hormone receptor status, HER2/neu status, lymph node status. Clinical trials, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapies, targeted therapies, mastectomy, reconstruction. Post-operative rehabilitation, wigs, special bras. Way too much information in a short period of time for a patient when many are still in shock from the diagnosis. But information and knowledge are power, perhaps stronger than pink socks on football players in October. We know far more about breast cancer than we used to. The microscopic appearance of a breast CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Capital Medical Society thanks the physicians and dentists in this community who provide care to breast cancer patients. CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY 2015 MEETINGS CALENDAR October 15, 2015 CMS Happy Hour 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Liberty Bar & Restaurant
October 20, 2015 November 10, 2015 CMS Membership & CME Meeting CMS Membership & CME Meeting “Prevention of Medical Errors” – 2 Hour CME “Advanced Cardiac Imaging – Cardiac MRI” Scott Sellinger, M.D. and Jesse Suber, Esq. Greg Hartlage, M.D. and Ernesto Umaña, M.D. 6:00 pm 6:00 pm Maguire Center for Lifelong Learning at Westminster Oaks Maguire Center for Lifelong Learning at Westminster Oaks
December 3, 2015 CMS Foundation Holiday Auction 6:30 pm University Center Club at FSU