During this episode of Health, YEAH!, hear from three oncologists at Stony Brook Medicine who have an informative discussion on several topics related to breast cancer, including the signs and symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment options and more.
One out of eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. While it’s a common condition, the exact causes are unclear. What is known is that early detection saves lives. “For most women, they don’t have any early signs. It gets picked up on a routine screening mammogram, as it should be, and by and large those are the cases that are going to be cured,” Dr. Alexander Stessin says.
“Fortunately, treatments are very effective and the vast majority of women with breast cancer are cured by our multimodality therapies,” explains Dr. Jules Cohen.
The Experts
Brian O’Hea, MD
Dr. O’Hea is Director of the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Care Center and a high specialized breast cancer surgeon at Stony Brook Medicine. In this podcast, Dr. O’Hea speaks on the importance of annual mammogram screenings for women starting at age 40. Even in the most sophisticated areas of the country, he says, only about 70 percent of eligible women are getting screened. Dr. O’Hea also discusses modern approaches to breast cancer surgery, including performing breast reduction or reconstruction surgery during a lumpectomy, which has a number of benefits.
Alexander Stessin, MD, PhD
Dr. Stessin is a radiation oncologist who specializes in breast cancer and has been at Stony Brook Medicine for ten years. In this podcast, he discusses what breast cancer patients could expect during radiation treatment, and what factors determine the best treatment plan. Dr. Stessin explains that radiation oncology, when given after surgery, is effective and safe. It’s a well-tolerated treatment, Dr. Stessin says, and is a controlled treatment that has evolved a great deal over time. Dr. Stessin also discusses modern treatments for breast cancer offered at Stony Brook Medicine.
Jules Cohen, MD
Dr. Cohen is a medical oncologist who specializes in breast cancer and has been at Stony Brook Medicine for fourteen years. In this podcast, he explains what a patient can expect from a medical oncology consultation, which is a systemic treatment plan for breast cancer that reduces the risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body. Dr. Cohen explains the different types of medical oncology treatments that are available, depending on the type of breast cancer, such as hormone receptor positive (HR+) and hormone receptor negative (HR negative) breast cancers. Dr. Cohen also discusses clinical trials for breast cancer currently underway at Stony Brook Medicine.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
- 00:00: Introduction
- 02:00: Breast cancer surgery options, lumpectomy vs. mastectomy
- 05:06: The role of a breast cancer surgeon
- 06:35: What to expect during radiation treatment
- 10:15: What to expect during a medical oncology consultation and therapy options
- 12:35: Understanding a medical oncology treatment plan and chemotherapy
- 14:38: Understanding the benefits of radiation oncology
- 16:30: The causes of breast cancer
- 18:30: The prevalence of breast cancer
- 19:44: Early signs of breast cancer and when to see a doctor
- 20:58: The importance of breast cancer screening
- 22:00: Modern treatments for breast cancer
- 24:35: Clinical trials and research for breast cancer
- 30:00: Closing
