April 15, 2003
COMPREHENSIVE SCREENING AND DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES, RESEARCH, AND ADVANCED TREATMENT OPTIONS USED TO FIGHT BREAST CANCER AT HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
Comprehensive breast care services that encompass all aspects of diagnosis, treatment, research, and prevention are changing the way breast cancer is treated in the 21st century at Hackensack University Medical Center. 

“Over the past decade, there has been a significant reduction in the number of breast cancer deaths each year thanks to the increased use of mammography to detect cancers early on when they are more treatable, as well as more effective chemotherapy and hormonal therapies to treat the disease, “ says Stanley E. Waintraub, M.D., chief of the Breast Oncology Division at The Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center. He is joined by Richard Davies, M.D., chairman of the medical center’s Department of Surgery. 

“Research has led to new and improved ways to treat breast cancer, both medically and surgically,” says Dr. Waintraub. “At The Cancer Center, women have options when it comes to breast cancer treatment.” 

For years, the standard treatment for breast cancer was a radical mastectomy, which consisted of surgical removal of the breast, lymph nodes, and chest muscle. Within the past decade, research has shown that a lumpectomy — which involves the removal of only the tumor and sometimes a few lymph nodes — when combined with radiation therapy is as effective as a modified radical mastectomy in treating early- stage breast cancer.

“We have also been able to use more effective chemotherapy that is needed to treat breast cancer, and thus can reduce the toxicity and side effects associated with this type of cancer treatment,” says Dr. Waintraub.

Hackensack University Medical Center’s Betty Torricelli Institute for Breast Care and its Cancer Center provide a seamless continuum of breast care services for women of all ages. Every type of breast care service available today can be accessed at the medical center — from a routine screening mammogram to same-day biopsies to the most advanced breast cancer treatments. 

Women who visit The Betty Torricelli Institute for Breast Care – where there are five full-time female radiologists who specialize in diseases of the breast-- have the option of a same-day biopsy if their mammograms show something suspicious. These radiologists, along with surgeons and pathologists who work on site at the institute, interpret and diagnose results within 24 to 48 hours.

Patients who are diagnosed with breast cancer are cared for by the Division of Breast Oncology’s specialized breast cancer team. Dr. Davies — a surgeon with significant expertise in treating and researching breast cancer — and Dr. Waintraub lead a team of medical, research, nursing, and supportive staff with specialized experience in breast cancer. A key member of this team is Dr. Donna Catell, a radiotherapist with significant experience in this treatment area. 

Clinical research has played an important role in the development of new treatment strategies over the past decade. Among other findings, scientists have learned that women who take tamoxifen pills regularly after breast cancer treatment are less likely to have a recurrence of the cancer.

The Cancer Center is currently participating in a number of clinical trials to assess new treatments and preventive measures for breast cancer. These include the nationwide Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) trial to study how the drug raloxifene compares with tamoxifen in reducing the incidence of breast cancer in women at increased risk of developing the disease. 

Another major treatment technique that has been researched and refined at Hackensack University Medical Center is sentinel lymph node mapping. This procedure — which takes place prior to breast cancer surgery — uses a radioactive dye placed in the breast to locate the sentinel lymph node, the node where breast cancer would first spread. If the sentinel node is negative for cancer cells, then no more lymph nodes need to be removed during breast cancer surgery. In many cases, sentinel lymph node mapping reduces the extensiveness of breast cancer surgery and spares the patient the discomfort and possible complications of having many lymph nodes removed. Patients with breast cancer can also choose to use a number of support and aftercare services available at the medical center. The Betty Torricelli Institute for Breast Care, in conjunction with the Cancer Center, offers a comprehensive pre- and post-operative program to help patients understand and manage all aspects of their breast diagnosis. Other services include a support group specifically for breast cancer patients; breast reconstruction surgery performed at the time of cancer surgery or at a later date; The Ellen H. Lazar Shoppe on Fifth, a store specializing in clothing and products for people living with cancer; a rehabilitation program to reduce the discomforts of lymphedema, an accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the surgical area; social services; nutrition counseling; spiritual support; and home care. 

The Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center is home to New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive cancer program. Each year, more patients from the metropolitan area and the state come here for cancer care than to any other facility in New Jersey.

The Cancer Center’s mission is to provide the highest quality cancer care, preventive services, and educational initiatives by integrating all of the components of cancer care: diagnostic services, treatment, research, management, screenings, and prevention services. Sophisticated technology, medical expertise, research innovations, and compassionate care distinguish The Cancer Center’s services from other facilities. 

For more information about The Cancer Center or breast cancer services, call (201) 996-5800.
 

 

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