Breast Care Center

One out of eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. It is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in American women. An estimated 14,400 new cases of breast cancer, and 3,500 deaths, are anticipated in New York state in 1996.

The Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program evaluates and treats benign or malignant breast conditions. The program is located in the Regional Oncology Center (ROC). Patients may access the program directly or via referral from a physician.

The primary components of the breast cancer program are breast health instruction, screening of asymptomatic women, and referral for prompt medical evaluation of any breast abnormality. Mammograms are done on the same day as the examination and biopsies are also performed at the ROC.

The breast health instruction includes public education regarding breast disease and the role of routine mammography in breast care, personal instruction and a video on breast self-examination, and free literature. Educational sessions are held on site, as well as at locations throughout the community.

The Comprehensive Breast Care Program provides evaluation and care by surgeons, radiologists, radiotherapists, and oncologists with expertise in breast disease with assistance from supportive, trained counselors. The team maintains an ongoing relationship with the patient from the time of diagnosis through the treatment phase. Completing the list of services is a long-term follow-up evaluation of patients at high risk for developing breast cancer. Women who do not have a primary care physician are referred to one.

Every year, since 1988, the Comprehensive Breast Care Program has been part of a consortium of local health care providers that has receivedfunding from the New York State Health Department for early breast cancer detection and counseling through the Women's Health Outreach Program (formerly known as the BEST Program). One of the goals of the program is to operate local breast cancer detection and counseling programs targeted to minority populations with inadequate access to preventive health care. Other objectives include outreach, education, referral, and follow-up services to the underserved population, as well as participation in the establishment of a statewide referral network of cancer care providers.

For several years the Comprehensive Breast Care Program has had a strong relationship with the American Cancer Society, utilizing not only their services and rehabilitation programs such as Reach to Recovery, but also their public and professional education programs that promote screening and early detection. For the past year, Jane D'Antoni, RN, NP, the nurse administrator for the Comprehensive Breast Care Program, has served on the Core Breast Cancer Committee for the American Cancer Society/New York State Division and as a member of the Breast Cancer Detection Awareness Committee/New York Sate Division. This committee has produced guidelines and a slide presentation on "Early Detection of Breast Cancer" for both professional and public education.

Ms. D'Antoni and Patricia Brady, the program's nurse practitioner, are teaching "The Early Detection of Breast Cancer," a program sponsored by the American Cancer Society, to both lay groups and medical professionals in the Central New York area, including medical students, nurses, and x ray technicians.

The Comprehensive Breast Care Program is also the site of teaching and research activity. A Breast Conference is held at SUNY Health Science Center on the second Monday of every month of the academic year, with the objective of providing up-todate information from a multidisciplinary perspective to practitioners interested in breast disease. Clinical studies have been initiated that focus on the identification of individuals at high risk for the development of breast cancer, as well as studies which examine markers of prognosis in patients with cancer.

In our ninth year of operation, we evaluated 830 new patients of whom 113 had breast cancer identified, 768 patients had screening mammograms performed, and 143 women were taught breast self examination.

Patricia J. Numann, MD, is the program director and a Professor of Surgery at SUNY Health Science Center. Other staff members are listed above. The Comprehensive Breast Care Program is partially funded by the SUNY Health Science Center Auxiliary through proceeds raised from the 6th Annual Art Show held in September 1986.

Appointments may be made by calling (315) 464-8224.

Patricia J. Numann, MD, Professor of Surgery, Program Director

John D. Halverson, MD, Professor of Surgery

Seema A. Khan, MD, Asst. Professor of Surgery

William H. Marx, DO, Asst. Professor of Surgery

Michael M. Meguid, MD, Professor of Surgery

Howard M. Simon, MD, Asst. Prof. of Surgery