Every October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month represents an opportunity to reassess the impact of breast cancer in our lives and the lives of those we love, as well as our community.
The average risk of a woman in the U.S. developing breast cancer during her lifetime is about 13%, or one in in eight women. In recent years, the incidence rates have increased slightly by .5% per year. And in 2021, the American Cancer Society estimates 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S.
These statistics demand our full attention, as do the weapons that we have in our fight against breast cancer.
To continue making progress, we must focus on advancing access to care as well as providing the most advanced treatment and technologies available.
Breast cancer treatment usually involves a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and systemic treatment in the forms of chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Surgical approaches include a breast-conservation approach, often called a lumpectomy, in which the tumor is removed and the rest of the breast is preserved. The other common surgery is a mastectomy, a surgery in which the entire breast is removed.
Radiation therapy uses targeted doses of radiation to kill cancer cells. It works by damaging the genetic material inside cancer cells. Once this happens, they are not able to grow and spread. Radiation therapy is prescribed for several reasons. The most common goal is to cure a patient’s cancer, but even when this is not possible, radiation can be used to shrink tumors and reduce their associated symptoms. The phrase “radiation oncology” covers all aspects of radiation treatment. As each patient is different, it is critical to create an individualized plan based on all the relevant factors in a given patient’s case.
Modern radiation technology can target cancer cells with extreme accuracy while preserving as much of the healthy surrounding tissue as possible.
Breast Cancer Treatment Options
Recognizing that each patient is different, doctors at Advocate Radiation Oncology create an individualized treatment plan using the latest techniques available. The practice offers the following treatments:
- External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
- High-dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDR)
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
- Surface-Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT) and Deep-Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH)
Advocate Radiation Oncology is also proud to bring a powerful treatment option in the fight against cancer as it establishes the first proton therapy center along Florida’s west coast. An advanced form of radiation that uses proton beams to target tumors precisely, proton therapy has proven effective for the treatment of many common cancers.
Proton therapy uniquely spares significant dose to normal tissue, while delivering powerful treatment to areas of disease. This treatment option can lead to improved outcomes in combination with reduced toxicity and side effects in patients. The entire team at Advocate Radiation Oncology is honored to bring world-class cancer care close to home.
Early detection, effective treatment options and continued research are our best allies in the battle against breast cancer. We will continue to stand proudly with our patients and loved ones in their fight against this disease.
Note: This article was originally published in the October 2021 issue of SWFL Health & Wellness. The monthly magazine provides information that promotes living a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle.
READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Encouraging signs in the fight against breast cancer
About the Author
Dr. Arie Dosoretz is proud to provide top-tier patient care and significant management expertise to Advocate Radiation Oncology. He considers it critical for experts in the community to continuously stay up to date with developments in the oncology world so patients have access to the best care. He enjoys using his Spanish fluency to communicate with and fulfill the needs of the Hispanic community.
Dr. Dosoretz earned a joint MD/MBA degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the Wharton School of Business. He completed his residency at Yale University’s New Haven Hospital, Department of Therapeutic Radiology in New Haven, CT. He returned to his hometown of Fort Myers in 2015 where he has practiced as a physician and worked in clinical administration, directing physician recruitment and overseeing clinical operations and quality.
He is a widely published researcher in nationally recognized peer-reviewed journals, and is a member of the American Society for Radiation Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He maintains a close relationship with many academic researchers including the Yale COPPER center.
Away from the medical practice, he spends time with his wife, Jane and three children, Evan, Lydia, and Naomi. He is an avid runner, and enjoys the outdoors and fly-fishing trips.
Additional Information
To learn more about Advocate Radiation Oncology, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. There, you can learn about treatment options, referrals, insurance coverage, billing and more.
Dr. Todd Pezzi first became interested in oncology at a young age after seeing cancer impact his own family. He is passionate about delivering state-of-the-art oncologic care to the residents of Southwest Florida.
Thomas J. Klein, M.D., Ph.D., FACRO is a board-certified radiation oncologist who provides world class cancer treatment in a caring community setting. He values the personal relationships he forms with each of his patients and is committed to helping them in their fight against cancer. Dr. Klein is an advocate for his patients both in and out of the clinic. He has raised awareness on news broadcasts, lobbied for cancer patients’ rights on Capitol Hill, and educated physicians around the country on making better treatment decisions for their patients.
