Breast Cancer Special Section 2021 from Tyler Morning Telegraph

PRESENTS

SECTION B | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021 © 2021, M. Roberts Media

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Friday, October 1, 2021

Regular

mammograms key in detecting, surviving breast cancer

By Courtney Stern cstern@news-journal.com

Amanda Mettler stands with her family for a photograph on Mother’s Day at their church, Longview First Assembly. Shown from left to right starting at the top: Jason Mettler, Amanda Mettler, Joseph Mettler, Jacob Mettler, Brenna Mettler and Nathan Mettler.

Courtesy Photo

Get a mammogram. That is the top tip from survivors and health care professionals alike when it comes to breast cancer awareness.

Early detection made all the difference for Amanda Mettler, 45, whose routine mammogram at Christus Good Shepherd in early 2021 led to the detection of an aggressive form of breast cancer.

“I think one of the biggest things about my story is that I just went in for a regular scheduled mammogram that I had every year, Feb. 10,” she said. “Normally, they come back just fine but then I got my results back in the mail and it said that they wanted some further testing so, of course, that made me really nervous.”

By March 4, she’d had an ultrasound and a biopsy at the Christus Good Shepherd Breast Center.

“When I got my results back, it was an aggressive cancer,” said Mettler, who owns Village Cleaners and Office Pride Commercial Cleaning in Longview with her family.

Mettler is among thousands of women diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

According to the American Cancer Society, about one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In 2021, the American Cancer Society estimates 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed and about 43,600 women will die from the disease.

Amy Dorsey, team leader for the Christus Good Shepherd Breast Center, said her department performs about 13,000 studies each year.

“I know last year, with COVID, a lot of people did put off their screening mammogram but they have come back in full force this year and so we have kind of caught up,” Dorsey said.

She encourages women to perform regular self breast exams to look for a lump, or something hard and fixed, that does not move and gets bigger over time.

“Breast cancer doesn’t come and go,” Dorsey said. “It’s going to be there and it’s going to slowly get bigger over time.”

If women notice something that needs to be checked out further, Christus offers advanced breast imaging at both Good Shepherd and Trinity Mother Frances. The Christus staff aims to support patients with their physical, emotional and educational needs throughout the process, Dorsey said.

For Mettler, the personal attention from the staff at Christus Good Shepherd was important as she faced her breast cancer diagnosis.

Mettler’s biopsy confirmed she had breast cancer and surgery was scheduled to remove the tumor in her left breast. During the lumpectomy, the surgical team also removed a lymph node.

“Everything was great with surgery,” she said.

Mettler then went to oncology to receive further preventative treatment. She spoke with her doctor in oncology about preventative options, such as chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy. Mettler chose radiation and hormone therapy.

Her radiation treatment lasted everyday for four weeks. She made sure to take a picture after the final treatment in the office.

“I wanted to make sure I had a picture and video for my kids because they walked the journey with me,” she said.

Mettler now has hormone therapy infusions every three weeks for the next five years.

“I still feel at peace with my decision,” she said. “I feel like it’s a personal decision for everybody. This is my body, my journey.”

Mettler said one of the biggest things the experience has led to is encouraging other women in her family to get breast exams.

Put yourself at the top of your To-Do List. Schedule a mammogram.

You’re busy and probably just getting busier. It feels like the last thing you have time for is yourself, but there’s only one you. So you should be at the top of your list.

Call 903.315.2130 to celebrate October Breast Cancer Awareness Month by

scheduling your mammogram today.

Find out your breast cancer risk by

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

taking a FREE and easy online quiz at CHRISTUShealth.org/Breast Risk

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The Christus Good Shepherd Breast Center offers screening mammograms, diagnostic mammograms, breast MRI, breast biopsy, stereotactic biopsy, MR-Guided biopsy, 3-D mammography and digital mammography, among other services.

“Our Breast Center is a complete comprehensive breast center,” Dorsey said. “We pretty much do everything.”

To help make the process easier for patients, Christus also has registered nurse navigators to help. Registered Nurse Navigator Tamarra Barigian said she helps women navigate their treatment process and the Christus system.

“Anything that the patient may need,” Barigian said. “We make sure that resources are available, appointments and referrals. Just to be a support system.”

Barigian said the Breast Center usually can make appointments for a surgeon or oncologist within the week.

Amy Dorsey, team leader CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Breast Center

Tamarra Barigian Registered Nurse Navigator CHRISTUS Health System

“A regular routine breast exam is so important, because if we wouldn’t have found this in February I would be such a different story. It was an aggressive cancer so it could have grown,” she said. “It actually was a fairly small spot and so for the ladies at the Breast Center to find it, to really be aggressive about looking at it and moving forward, it really saved my life.”

The American Cancer Society recommends women between the ages of 20 and 40 perform a monthly self breast exam and have a breast exam by a healthcare provider at least once every three years. At 40 and older, women should have an annual breast exam and mammogram by a healthcare provider in addition to a monthly self breast exam.

Warning signs of possible cancer can include a lump in the breast, nipple discharge, rash or other skin changes. Christus offers a risk assessment survey on its website.

Christus Good Shepherd offers screening mammograms, diagnostic mammograms, breast MRI, breast biopsy, stereotactic biopsy, MR-Guided biopsy, 3-D mammography and digital mammography.

of board certified radiologists and certified breast radiologists. The center offers imaging services, mobile imaging services and MammoSite Radiation Therapy System. Genetic testing is also available.

“We love October, we love Breast Cancer Awareness Month because it is such a good time to increase awareness of the disease and support the people that have been affected by breast cancer,” Dorsey said.

For Mettler, though the doctor visits are frequent, she chooses joy each day. Faith also is part of her journey.

“I had so many people praying for me,” she said.

“If I didn’t have my family, my church members, praying for me, they were very tough times.”

“Our Breast Center is a complete comprehensive breast center . . .

We pretty much do everything.”

Amy Dorsey “We want to make the women feel comfortable and know that we’re here for them not just for the chemo and the biopsy, but even afterward to make sure that they’re okay,” Dorsey said.

Both the Breast Center at Christus Good Shepherd in Longview and the Ross Breast Center at Christus Trinity Mother Frances in Tyler provide technology and resources for early cancer detection, educational materials, guidance and advanced screening technologies.

The Ross Breast Center in the Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes a team

On Mother’s Day, Mettler and her family took a group photo, surrounded by pink balloons at Longview First Assembly.

“It really meant a lot to me that we took a picture this year more than any other year in the past,” she said in light of her diagnosis. “These are the reasons why I think it is so important to take care of your health.”

For more information on the Christus Good Shepherd Breast Center and the Christus Trinity Mother Frances Ross Breast Center, visit www. christushealth.org/services-treatments/breast-care.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

Nothing will keep us from making your breast health a priority, whether you need a mammogram, help choosing the right physician or treatment plan, from chemotherapy to radiation to surgery.

We provide safe, high-quality care for every step of your journey, with a dedicated nurse navigator to walk each step alongside you.

with a health risk assessment that can be found by visiting CHRISTUShealth.org/BreastRisk, or schedule an appointment for your 3D mammogram today by calling 903.606.5433.

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Friday, October 1, 2021

UT Health Tyler offers 3D mammography, other services to detect

Kimberly Kennedy, owner of A Woman’s Touch in Tyler.

Staff Photos by Michael Cavazos

Kennedy provides

A‘ Woman’s Touch’ for cancer patients

By Anntoinette Moore Contributing Writer An offer to volunteer with the American Cancer Society in Tyler led Kimberly Kennedy to a lifelong career that she loves.

Kennedy is the owner of A Woman’s Touch, a Tyler store that provides clothing, headwear, breast prostheses, wigs and other necessities for women with cancer.

“Some women come in here and they never think they will look like themselves (again). We can show them they can,” she said.

Kennedy opened the store in June 1999 after leaving her job at the American Cancer Society.

During Kennedy’s tenure at the cancer society, her maternal grandmother developed breast cancer.

She realized the only local resources for women with cancer were wig shops. There wasn’t a place for women with cancer to go for wigs, bras, prostheses (artificial breasts) and headwear, such as turbans and scarves, she said.

Today, A Woman’s Touch offers those services and more.

During the two decades of running her store, business and insurance regulations have increased and become more complex. Reaching people by phone to resolve problems can take hours, Kennedy said, adding that she still answers her store’s phone.

“When you’re in business, you don’t need that type of aggravation. There is always a new something you have to do now. That is challenging,” she said.

Additionally, today, clothing and headwear for women with cancer is lighter weight and more stylish than it was in 1999. There are camisoles made of bamboo with an inside pocket for the bulb that collects drainage after breast surgeries.

Women wear these and similar clothing until they heal and can be fitted with permanent prostheses, she said. Bras designed for women with mastectomies now come in a range of colors, not just white, black and tan.

Synthetic hair used in wigs is more lifelike, and wigs are lighter.

“A lot of my customers … they are just our friends.

We like being with people,” said Kennedy, referring to herself and longtime employee Karen Davis.

While there are difficult days and heartbreaking stories Kennedy has encountered, she still enjoys coming to work each day.

“Even as long as I’ve done this, I enjoy being here,” she said. “This is like part of our home.”

For more information about A Woman’s Touch, visit www.awomanstouchtyler.com.

Breast

Cancer

“The primary goal for us is to find the cancer before it is noticed by the patient or noticed by a physician.”

Dr. Brandon Ashton Diagnostic Radiology UT Health Tyler

Fighting Breast Cancer

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OCTO O OBER IS BREAST CAANCER R H AWARENESS MONTH

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UT Health Tyler is equipped with technology that allows the hospital to provide top notch breast care services to patients in East Texas.

By Maleri McHam mmcham@tylerpaper.com UT Health Tyler is equipped with technology that allows the hospital to provide top notch breast care services to patients in East Texas.

“Essentially, we have all of the technology as any other top breast center in the world right here in Tyler,” said Dr. Brandon Ashton, diagnostic radiologist with UT Health Tyler.

Some of that technology includes digital breast tomosynthesis, commonly referred to as 3D mammography. This technology helps doctors identify cancers of smaller size and makes them stand out rather than remain hidden in breast tissue.

Along with making cancer easier to detect, Ashton said it also helps identify things that are not cancerous and that do not need to be worried about.

“We call people back less for things that don’t matter and we see things that do matter at a smaller size,” he said.

At the breast imaging center there are in general two categories of service that UT Health Tyler provides, Ashton said. These include

screening services and diagnostic services.

Screening services include mammograms and ultrasounds for those who are asymptomatic and are not having any current problems. Ultrasounds are more commonly used on those who have dense breast tissue, which can limit a mammogram’s ability to detect cancer.

For those at high-risk for breast cancer a screening MRI is performed.

Diagnostic services still use mammograms, ultrasounds and MRIs, but with this doctors are looking for a specific problem, Ashton said.

If the patient is feeling pain, has a lump, is experiencing discharge or a screening exam showed something abnormal, then they will be scheduled for diagnostic services.

After diagnostic services are performed, patients will be informed if something cancerous was found or if there is nothing to worry about.

If a potential cancer is found, a biopsy will be performed.

“The primary goal for us is to find the cancer before it is noticed by the patient or noticed by a physician,” Ashton said. “That typically

means that it’s small, and small cancers that are identified are not fatal.”

Ashton recommends the average person begin coming in for yearly mammograms around the age of 40. If there are factors that put someone at higher risk for breast cancer then the breast care center will alternate between mammograms and ultrasounds or MRIs, he said.

There are some signs women can watch out for themselves, he said. Women should be alert for any new lumps, which are typically hard, uncommon discharge and changes in the skin, such as it being pulled in.

Annual check-ins are vital to detecting cancer at an early stage, he noted.

“The real success stories come through screening and not knowing anything is there and us finding something that’s so small that it could be treated and cured,” he said.

To schedule a mammogram, call 1-800-6488141 or (903) 596-DOCS. For more information regarding breast cancer and services provided at UT Health Tyler visit uthealthtylerhospital. com/services/breast-care.

Think Pink.

Pink.

Think HOPE. One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Early detection is key. The UT Health East Texas HOPE Cancer Center offers breast care services across East Texas, including a traveling mammography unit to make getting the care you need easy and convenient.

Services include: • Digital and 3-D Mammography

• Stereotactic Breast Biopsy

• Genetic Testing

• 3-D Mobile Mammography

• Breast Ultrasound

• Bone Density Tests

• R2 ImageChecker® Computer Aided Detection System

• Breast MRI

To schedule an appointment, call 866-333-3862. For more information about services, locations, mobile mammography schedule, providers and more, visit UTHealthEastTexas.com/Mammogram.

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Friday, October 1, 2021

Longview Regional Medical Center

Offers Advanced Technology to detect Breast Cancer

By Christina Cavazos ccavazos@mrobertsmedia.com

The Center for Breast Care of Longview Regional Medical Center strives to serve its patients by offering the latest medical technology, including advanced imaging that can detect breast cancer at small sizes.

The Center for Breast Care of Longview Regional Medical Center is an American College of Radiology accredited facility that offers comprehensive breast health services using the latest medical technology offering advanced medical imaging and diagnostic services.

Services include 3D mammography (tomosynthesis breast imaging), breast ultrasound, ultrasound-guided breast biopsies, Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS), bone density, computer-aided detection (CAD), needle localizations, ductograms as well as general and vascular ultrasound. The breast center team includes technologists, radiologists and breast surgeons.

“At The Center for Breast Care of Longview Regional Medical Center we strive to make each appointment convenient for our patients by integrating many of our breast services into one appointment at one location,” said Christin Charlton, director of the Center for Breast Care of LRMC. “These services include mammography and breast imaging, diagnostic procedures, biopsies and treatment consultation. In addition to our imaging services, in 2019 we began offering high-risk patients genetic counseling and testing to ensure each patient understands their options for personalized care.”

Within the last year, the breast center has diagnosed 54 patients with breast cancer, Charlton said.

According to Dr. Christine MouldsMerritt, medical director of the Center for Breast Care at LRMC, the most common sign of breast cancer is a lump that patients can often feel themselves.

“Often a lump is detected

underneath the armpit. Additional skin changes including bloody nipple discharge or changes in shape or texture of the nipple or breast, all can be a sign of breast cancer,” she said.

“The best way to find an early breast cancer is by having a mammogram performed annually when the patient might not have any symptoms of an early cancer.”

In addition to traditional mammography, LRMC offers Automated Breast Ultra Sound (ABUS) to patients with dense breast tissue. ABUS was developed to help doctors find cancers hidden in dense breast tissue, which may be missed by traditional mammography.

Almost 40% of women have dense breasts, which means they have more glandular tissue than fat, according to information from LRMC. Dense breasts are more likely to hide lumps or masses when screened with a standard mammogram. Additionally, women with dense breasts are four to

TECHNOLOGY >> PAGE 9C

“The best way to find an early breast cancer is by having a mammogram performed annually when the patient might not have any symptoms of an early cancer.”

Dr. Christine Moulds-Merritt medical director of the Center for Breast Care at LRMC

Carla Gibson Breast Cancer Survivor

As Carla will tell you, early detection is a beautiful thing.

When her 3D mammogram detected something suspicious, Carla had a biopsy that revealed breast cancer. “Longview Regional Medical Center found it early,” said Carla. “It was an aggressive cancer, and they worked together to create a treatment plan that included surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. This form of cancer would have been difficult to detect by self-exams, X-rays or sonograms. I’m really fortunate that the specialists at Longview Regional were able to help me.” She added, “My advice to you? Do not put off mammograms. Early detection can save your life.”

Contact the Center for Breast Care of Longview Regional Medical Center at 903-329-3761 for information or to schedule your 3D mammogram.*

For American College of Radiology recommendations, visit www.acr.org. *Check with your insurance provider to confirm coverage for a screening mammogram. • Appointments are on a first-come, first-served basis. An order from a physician or qualified healthcare provider is not required, but the patient must provide a physician/provider name when an appointment is made. If the patient does not have a physician/provider and would like help finding one, the hospital may be able to provide assistance. All mammogram reports will be sent to the physician/provider, and the patient is responsible for follow-up.

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Friday, October 1, 2021

Women Helping Women Longview boutique provides

Hope&Products for cancer patients

By Jo Lee Ferguson jferguson@news-journal.com

The story of the Women’s Health Boutique in Longview is a story of women helping women.

Vicki Dortch Jones and her sister, Seleta Dortch Lovell, inherited their mother’s medical supply business, Etex Medical Supplies, after Billie Dortch’s death in 1988 from a rare cancer.

Jones’ mother lost her hair during cancer treatment. Etex Medical didn’t provide wigs.

“There wasn’t even a place in Longview that sold wigs,” Jones said, and her mother returned home from M.D. Anderson with a wig she didn’t like.

Later, after they had sold Etex Medical Supplies and started the Women’s Health Boutique in 1992, their mother’s experience was at the top of their minds.

“That was one of our goals – that no woman would have to do without the things she needed,” Jones said.

Today, Jones is the owner of five Women’s Health Boutique locations in Texas and an online store. Other now independent locations are located around the country, from a time when Jones franchised her business concept. One of her daughters, Crystal Jones Tipton, has joined the business as regional manager

for the Dallas-area Women’s Health Boutiques.

The business has grown, changed and adapted over the years, but Jones said her mission is still helping ensure women don’t do without the things they need.

“It amazes me the women who will come into my boutique today, this year, in 2021, who don’t know Medicare would pay for a breast prosthesis,” Jones said. Perhaps a woman had breast surgery years ago and has been stuffing her bra since that time. “It’s just become a way of life for her.”

“This is not just here in Longview.

This is all across the country,” she continued. “Women don’t know unless somebody tells them. That’s been our mission for the last 33 years of Women’s Health Boutique, to make sure women don’t have to do without because they didn’t know (a product) existed or that insurance would pay for it.”

Today the store carries maternity and nursing accessories, such as breast pumps and maternity support belts, wigs, custom breast prosthesis, bras and other products for women who have had breast surgery because of cancer, for instance, and lymphedema/compression products for men, women and children.

For more information about Women’s Health Boutique, visit www. mywhb.com.

. . . r e v o c s i D

Vicki Jones, owner of Women’s Health Boutique in Longview.

Staff Photo by Michael Cavazos

The business has grown, changed and adapted over the years, but Jones said her mission is still helping ensure women don’t do without the things they need.

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TECHNOLOGY FROM PAGE 6C

six times more likely to develop breast cancer than women who do not have dense breasts, according to LRMC. The ABUS uses sonic waves to create a 3D photo of the breasts. This is much different from a screening mammogram, which uses radiation to look for abnormalities.

While ABUS does not replace traditional mammography, it can be used in conjunction with it to better diagnose breast cancer in women with dense breasts.

The exam takes 30 minutes and gives doctors clear 3D images that they review in addition to the mammogram results.

A radiologist will review the ABUS screening along with the mammogram.

For patients who do receive a diagnosis of breast cancer, LRMC offers a range of options, such as lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy as well as mastectomy with and without reconstruction, said Moulds-Merritt.

“We also offer nipple-sparing and skin-sparing mastectomies and reconstruction surgeries that can be performed for cancers as well as for those patients who are at high-risk due to genetic mutations,” she said.

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, women should not put off their annual screening mammograms, Moulds-Merritt said.

“We know that breast cancer is more survivable when diagnosed and treated early.

Screening mammograms find breast cancer at its earliest stage when it is more treatable,” she said. “I would encourage

everyone to try to come to the Breast Center on their usual schedule screening date and not skip a year.”

Charlton also noted the LRMC has taken many precautions to ensure patient safety. Those include screening everyone for COVID-19 symptoms upcoming entering LRMC, mandatory use of face masks and encouraging social distancing in waiting areas.

In addition to encouraging patients to receive a mammogram any time, LRMC is placing special focus on mammography this month.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

LRMC is participating in National Breast Cancer Awareness Month by partnering with MDsave to offer low-cost mammograms and ABUS screenings to all women who purchase the MDsave voucher.

The voucher can be used at the Center for Breast Care of LRMC; the voucher is valid for six months from the purchase date. All digital mammograms are reviewed and interpreted by board-certified radiologists.

“We would encourage our East Texas community to make plans to schedule their annual screening exams,” Charlton said. “It is our hope that the discounted prices will serve our community well in promoting self-care and well-being, while allowing anyone regardless of health insurance or not, to make an appointment.”

To schedule a discounted mammogram or ABUS screening, contact the Center for Breast Care of Longview Regional Medical Center at (903) 232-8596.

The Automated Breast Ultrasound machine at Longview Regional Medical Center.

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