Encouraging signs in the fight against breast cancer

By Dr. Arie Dosoretz

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.

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.

About the Author
Dr. Arie Dosoretz is a board-certified radiation oncologist and founding partner at Advocate Radiation Oncology, a locally owned and operated practice with offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte, Bonita Springs and Tamarac. For more information, please visit AdvocateRO.com.