Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
To me, a survivor is a patient who's gone through the acute
treatment for breast cancer -- acute being defined as surgery,
chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Number one most important message to give the ladies
who are done with their treatment is that
they can return to a normal life.
It might take them several months to get over all the long
term side effects of the treatments that they have.
But number they will be able to return to a normal life.
It's a very difficult time for most women because
even though they're given a lot of information about their
diagnosis and their treatment they're
too busy being ill to really comprehend.
And every two weeks they're in seeing
a physician or healthcare provider.
And they feel like somebody is
watching over them very carefully.
And then they're done with their treatment the physicians
and healthcare personnel that they're used to
seeing on a regular basis kind of disappear.
And they go well, you're done.
And the patient goes, well, you think I'm done.
But I'm not really done.
I still have a lot of issues that are relevant to me.
So we've established the Survivorship Institute here
directed specifically toward breast cancer.
And what we do is about six to eight weeks after their last
treatment -- be it chemotherapy or radiation they're seen.
We get a consultation from them pretty much within a day or two
after they are finished with their last treatment and telling
them that in about six weeks we'll see them.
And I'll make an appointment for them,
so they know that within a month or two they will be seen again
by somebody who's gonna reevaluate them,
review all their treatment courses
and outline the future for them.
We're done with the acute things,
but we're not done monitoring you and making sure that the
long term complications of the treatments you've gotten
will be addressed if they arise.
And that we'll continue to monitor you to make sure that
there's going to be no reoccurrence
and no other issues that you have to deal with.
One of the most important messages that we can give the
ladies who visit our Survivorship Institute is that
yes, they've had a bad disease that they've had to deal with.
We have given them the very best treatment,
the most current treatment available.
The treatments are extremely effective.
Their cure rates are extremely high and getting better.
If God for bid they get a reoccurrence in the
next five years we're making a lot of strides
in the treatment of breast cancer.
They should not live in fear of the disease -- that they need to
get back to a normal, happy life.
Get back to their families, their kids,
their grandkids and just look to the future.