PINK DAT® month is a chance for us to highlight breast cancer awareness care in New Orleans. We've partnered with Touro to share some important information that could save lives. Stay connected at facebook.com/touro.
Mammograms: It’s important to make sure you're getting yearly mammograms, but you can also get ahead of breast cancer with just some simple awareness. You may not be aware of the less commonly known signs of breast cancer like a thickening in your breast, tenderness, irritation, a change in size or shape and dimpling or swelling. Need to schedule? Click here to get started.
Not Just Family History: It’s important to get ahead of the game with breast cancer. It's crucial for everyone because if you don’t have a family history of breast cancer, it doesn’t mean you’re not at risk. Only about 10% of people diagnosed have a family history. That’s why you need to be vigilant about monthly self-exams and yearly mammograms.
Lifestyle Choices: Choosing healthy habits can help reduce your risk of breast cancer. These simple lifestyle changes can help decrease your risk: if you smoke – quit. If you drink alcohol, make sure it’s in moderation. Watch your weight, get daily exercise, and eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. And don't forget to do your monthly self-exam!
Breast Care Center at Touro: No two women are the same. Their treatment plans shouldn’t be either. At the Touro Breast Care Center, we go beyond mammograms and checkups to provide women a collaborative and comprehensive approach to care. Our focus on prevention, treatment, and survivorship, ensures the women in our community receive the best care possible in a dedicated outpatient center. From advanced technology to patient navigation and individual care plans, Touro is setting a new standard in breast care.
Join Linda Cassidy for talks about breast cancer care with an emphasis on care. Hear her interviews with medical professionals from Touro on select mornings throughout PINK DAT® month on Magic 101.9.
MAGIC LISTENER SHARES HER STORY
Thank you to Gina for sharing this story with us...
My name is Gina Picone born and raised in Nola. I am a 52 year old breast cancer survivor as is my 53 year old sister. My maternal aunt, however, did not survive her battle with the disease. Both my sister and aunt were diagnosed fairly young late 30’s early 40’s. Every year when it was time for my annual mammogram I was always terrified. I just knew it was going to get me… it was just a matter of time. Because my sister and aunt were diagnosed young I figured once I passed 50 and still no cancer… that I was out of the woods and I was spared. However, that wasnt the case. Last November I was called back after my routine mammogram because they saw several suspicious spots that they felt were calcificationsns (I did have calcifications once before that showed up on mammogram like 5 years ago that were benign )it was just showing in 1 breast so I was called back for additional screens and then for a biopsy. Unfortunately it came back as Ductal cell carcinoma and and it was now my turn to fight cancer. Being that I was told it was in the early stages and it appeared that it was isolated to the ducts in one breast it was recommended by an oncologist that they do surgery to cut the cancer out and to physically explore in the breast to make sure it wasn’t anywhere else and had not spread outside of the milk ducts and then go through radiation. My sister when diagnosed under went a lumpectomy chemo and radiation and had just many complications throughout her battle and just recently under went diep flap surgery to correct a lot of problems that she had. I thought on all that she had gone through and just felt that I should get a double mastectomy and just be done with it so that I wouldn’t have to go through the rest of my life scared that it would come back. Many people around me were very discouraging and kept saying that’s crazy … it’s in an early stage … it’s only in the ducts… it’s only in one breast… that is such overkill when you “barely have cancer” I was appalled that someone could even say that to a person who has seen many Family members deal with cancer. I just in my gut felt like I should be aggressive with this diagnosis and get the mastectomy. Eventually against my better judgement I agreed to do a surgery to explore in the breast to make sure it had not spread any where else and just remove the cancer and keep both breasts and then do radiation. . I was never comfortable with this decision but I feel like I was pressured by people around me to do this. As I was preparing for surgery doing labs and blood work etc I felt like I should get an mri of my upper body to just be sure of what we were dealing with and have both info from mammogram and m r i. Well after doing all the preOp I got a call while I was at work from the oncologist. She said I’m sorry to tell you this but after looking at your m r I there is actually 2 malignant tumors in your other breast. I was devastated but this lead me to re evaluate my treatment options. I decided to get on board with my sisters oncologist,dr Alfred colfry. She loved him and said that he was the best of the best that was the best decision I ever made. In April I did have the double mastectomy diep flap surgery with reconstruction with my own tissue. I did not want implants … a decision which also many folks didn’t agree with but I didn’t let anyone else’s opinions influence me. I did not want anything foreign in my body and this was a non negotiable. I was a pretty low weight for my normal self and was told I barely had enough tissue to make breasts but I was ok with the fact that they would be small and I worked hard to gain 5 pounds before my surgery. Dr Ravi Tandon along with Dr colfry performed by procedures and I am so thankful for both of these doctors, their staff and Touro hospital. I feel like I got the best result I could have gotten and I am so glad I don’t have to worry about it coming back. I do have a very large scar around my body but that’s ok. I am healthy and cancer free, as is my sister, and that is the best outcome I could have prayed for. The message here is trust your gut ladies. Don’t let doctors, partners, family members and friends change your mind about your body and treatment course. I share this story to hopefully help people realize what options are available and that you can have a pretty normal outcome with this surgery despite losing your breasts. Thank you for this platform to speak out about breast cancer.
