Sylvester Experts Transforming Breast Cancer Care, Prevention
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but Sylvester experts are working year-round to conquer this most common cancer in U.S. women, accounting for 30% of all newly diagnosed cases among females. This month, they shared advances transforming the field:
Prevention in a Pill – Many higher risk women could prevent breast cancer by taking a pill, explained Elisa Krill Jackson, MD , Sylvester hematologist-oncologist. "We have a number of different options, including tamoxifen."
Precision Medicine – "We have witnessed amazing, life-changing and durable responses" during the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) trial, said Carmen Calfa, MD , breast medical oncologist and medical co-director of Sylvester's Cancer Survivorship and Supportive Care Program.
Circadian Alignment – Sylvester and Dana Farber Cancer Institute researchers led by Tracy Crane, PhD, RDN , are collaborating on the FastER trial involving prolonged, overnight fasting with or without exercise for patients on inhibitor therapy to combat treatment-related fatigue and sleep difficulties.
Lymphedema Treatment – Lymphedema is a serious complication from surgery and radiation that affects up to 30% of breast cancer patients. Sylvester's Eli Avisar, MD , has pioneered a surgical procedure that can reduce this complication by two-thirds. Sylvester also features the Comprehensive Lymphatic Center, offering personalized, effective treatment plans to help patients with this complication.
Breast Cancer Survivor, Doctoral Candidate Focuses on Cancer Disparities
LaShae Rolle was a former college basketball player and 26-year-old PhD candidate studying community health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine when she was diagnosed with multicentric breast cancer, a rare disease type that occurs when two or more tumors form in different breast quadrants. Today, Rolle encourages other breast cancer patients to start or resume an exercise program. She is now a competitive powerlifter while continuing her PhD studies. Her research and community outreach focuses on cancer disparities, including adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers.
Five Things I Learned About Cancer From My Diagnosis
