McLeod Health issued the following announcement on October 16.
Dr. Amy Murrell
McLeod Breast Program Director
Dedicated to the early detection and treatment of breast cancer, McLeod is the only Breast Health Center in the area accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. McLeod received this prestigious acknowledgement of the quality of care it offers to breast cancer patients in 2010 – the first and only breast program in the region to achieve this designation.
Annually, breast cancer is the most commonly treated cancer at McLeod Regional Medical Center. Because a tremendous volume of breast cancer patients are cared for at McLeod, the hospital, staff, and physicians have put considerable effort into ensuring state-of-the-art care for women with breast cancer and that the NAPBC standards are met or exceeded.
The McLeod Breast Program Leadership Committee includes myself, Radiation Oncologist Dr. Virginia Clyburn-Ipock, Oncologist Dr. Rajesh Bajaj, Radiologist Dr. Shawn Conwell and Pathologist Dr. Sharon Mitchell. Our team serves as the governing body of the McLeod Breast Health Center. Together, we plan, develop, implement, and evaluate all activities of the breast center; oversee and monitor compliance with the NAPBC standards; and review all center data annually.
The McLeod Breast Health Center promotes continuity of care by providing the full spectrum of services for women, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and support. Our goal is to make the individual patient’s entry into the system as painless and seamless as possible. We also provide personalized breast cancer care since one treatment does not fit all we individualize a plan to each and every patient’s needs.
Facets of our comprehensive breast cancer program include all of the following:
Breast Imaging
Today’s 3D mammograms pick up these tiny cancers that are not just treatable, but curable. So, most of the women, who are diagnosed with breast cancer at McLeod, are detected at a very early stage. These women have a totally normal life expectancy. As surveillance and imaging has improved, we find and treat cancer earlier.
We believe at age 40, a woman should start having yearly mammograms. However, any woman with a breast abnormality should definitely be seen by their doctor. If a woman has a first degree relative with the BRCA gene (mother, sister), then we advise to begin annual screening mammograms 10 years earlier than the family member who was diagnosed. So, if your mother was diagnosed at 38, then at 28, you need regular screening.
As a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, we are also pleased to offer the following modalities which have been accredited by the American College of Radiology:
- ACR Accredited in 2D & 3D Mammography
- ACR Accredited in Breast Ultrasound
- ACR Accredited in Breast Ultrasound Biopsies
- ACR Accredited in Stereotactic Breast Biopsies
- ACR Accredited in Breast MRI
After a diagnosis of cancer, patients may feel overwhelmed and confused. Often, treatment of this disease can be complicated. Tracey O’Neal, RN, CBCN, our McLeod Breast Oncology Nurse Navigator is there to help at every step of the way. Tracey’s primary goal is to help patients on the cancer journey, from diagnosis to survivorship. She works with patients and their doctors, helping to “navigate” them through appointments with physicians and follow-up care. She also provides education about breast cancer and treatment options and assists with locating resources within the McLeod Health system and community.
Breast Tumor Board
At the McLeod Center for Cancer Treatment and Research, breast cancer patients receive a second, third, fourth and fifth opinion on their treatment plan from the Tumor Board, whose mission is to provide patients not only with peace of mind but also the best cancer treatment plan possible for each specific diagnosis.
Each week at McLeod, physicians representing Medical Oncology, Pathology, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, and Surgery, discuss every breast cancer patient’s case presented to the tumor board. Together, we recommend the best treatment plans for patients with breast cancer. During the Breast Tumor Board meeting, we review the pertinent imaging and diagnostic studies, as well as the pathology, and their physician presents the patient’s case, including their history of physical findings. All members of the team give their input and the plan is put into place.
Breast Surgery
When a woman is faced with breast cancer the first goal is to perform an operation that removes the breast cancer. The second goal is to give the patient a cosmetic outcome that results in the breast looking as natural as it did before the surgery or even better in some cases.
If a woman undergoes a mastectomy, she may be interested in breast reconstruction surgery which involves the expertise of a plastic surgeon. At McLeod Regional Medical Center, we offer multiple options for breast reconstruction. These options include implant-based reconstruction using silicone or saline breast implants to recreate the breast or flap-based reconstruction in which the patient’s own tissue is used to reconstruct the breast (including DIEP).
Breast Cancer Research and Oncology Treatment
Discovering new ways to treat and prevent cancer is the goal of medical research. At McLeod, cancer research efforts were first developed 40 years ago with the arrival of Oncologist Dr. Michael Pavy. Today, the McLeod Center for Cancer Treatment and Research offers patients access to three dedicated cancer research nurses — Pam Worthy, BSN, OCN, Jennifer Floyd, RN, and Michelle Gandy, RN.
One cancer that has benefitted greatly from research is breast cancer. Thanks to clinical trials, breast cancer research continues to evolve with multiple advancements in care. We now have more chemotherapy agents and targeted treatments to help women than ever before. We also understand that there are very specific pathways cancer cells navigate for their survival. This research has led to the development of drugs that can block parts of those pathways and suppress the cancer. Additionally, we have immunotherapy available which arms the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells. This form of therapy helps the immune system recognize the cancer then stimulate an intense response against the tumor. As research of breast cancer continues, these discoveries will help guide treatment in the future and improve survival.
Radiation Oncology Treatment
Radiation therapy is necessary for many women with breast cancer. Most women who undergo a lumpectomy are receiving radiation to eradicate any microscopic cancer cells in the breast that remain after surgery. This significantly decreases the risk of recurrence of cancer within the breast.
Traditionally, the post-lumpectomy radiation would be delivered, five days a week for five to six weeks. But, thanks to clinical trials we now know there is no increased risk of recurrence in the women who receive a shorter course of radiation. Today, many women, who have early-stage breast cancer, can actually be treated with a technique called hypofractionated radiation therapy where we shorten the length of radiation treatment down to three to four weeks, making it more convenient for patients.
Advancements in early detection with the latest technology and a dedication to ensuring we are meeting and/or exceeding the national standards in breast cancer treatment demonstrates the McLeod Health commitment to improving survival and access to care.
For more information on breast cancer, please contact Tracey O’Neal at (843) 777-5418.
Breast Surgeon Dr. Amy Murrell serves as the Cancer Liaison Physician to the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer for McLeod Regional Medical Center as well as the Breast Program Director for McLeod. She cares for patients at Pee Dee Surgical Group, where she has practiced since 2005.
Examples of how McLeod meets and/or exceeds the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) Standards include:
- Each week at McLeod, the cases of breast cancer patients are presented at the McLeod Tumor Board which includes at least one attending physician from each of the following departments: medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgery, radiology, and pathology. This ensures that each patient’s case is considered from all aspects and in its entirety.
- Every new breast cancer patient treated at McLeod is reviewed by the Breast Tumor Board.
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy is performed on women with early-stage breast cancer.
- Women are considered for and offered entrance into clinical trials and research protocols.
- College of American Pathologists (CAP) guidelines are followed in the treatment of all breast cancer cases.
- Community breast cancer education, prevention, and screening programs are offered in the region.
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