Page 26 - PGA Community News- November '23

Page 26, PGA C.A.N.! November 2023 November 2023

Family History Of Breast Cancer? Doctor Encourages

High-Risk Assessment Early

Do you have a • Ashkenazi Jewish descent Society of Clinical Oncology.
family history of breast • Personal history of an atypical biopsy TGH Cancer Institute oncologists work in
cancer? You may be up • Personal history of chest radiation collaboration to provide comprehensive treatment options
to twice as likely to get • Known or suspected genetic mutation carrier (BRCA1 in a seamless manner. The team takes a multidisciplinary
the disease. And family or BRCA2) approach and strongly emphasizes compassionate and
history is only one of a According to the American Cancer Society, personalized care through a highly coordinated range
handful of factors that breast cancer is the most common female cancer, with of multidisciplinary specialties such as hematologic
can determine your risk. approximately 194,000 new cases diagnosed each year in malignancies; thoracic oncology; and breast, colorectal
Dr. Kelly Foster, a the U.S. More than 70 percent of breast cancers occur in and gynecologic oncology.
medical oncologist at women who are 50 years of age and older. The incidence Patients who need a higher level of care have a
Tampa General Hospital of breast cancer increases with age, beginning slowly direct connection to Tampa General’s academic health
(TGH) Cancer Institute between the ages of 45 and 50, and steadily rises each system resources, including research breakthroughs, a
in Palm Beach County, Dr. Kelly Foster year. In addition, breast cancer is the leading cause of wider variety of clinical trials and options for advanced
encourages women with cancer deaths for women between the ages of 20 and 59. immunotherapy procedures, enhanced personal treatment
a high risk for breast cancer to obtain a comprehensive “Breast cancer is common and will affect one in plans, and a convenient path to complex surgeries
assessment early. “It is important to visit a high-risk eight women” says Foster. “The good thing is that the available through Tampa General Hospital. Patients
clinic for an individualized risk assessment,” explained oncology field is constantly evolving and advancing. As who receive more complex procedures or treatment at
Foster. “It’s a key first step in cancer prevention and an oncologist, I look for ways to improve screenings for Tampa General will be able to follow up with their local
early detection. If you’re someone with risk factors, a early detection and discuss risk reduction strategies for physician upon returning home.
routine annual mammogram is not enough.” prevention.” TGH Cancer Institute is nationally recognized by
Foster specializes in breast and gastrointestinal Early detection is also personal for Foster. Her U.S. News & World Report and the Commission on
cancers at TGH Cancer Institute in partnership with the mother has battled breast cancer for 20 years. As a result, Cancer (CoC), and is home to the country’s top cancer
Cancer Center of South Florida. she is passionate about the science, as well as prevention, specialists, surgeons and research scientists. TGH
At TGH Cancer Institute, a high-risk breast clinic, patient communication and advocacy. “My mom’s Cancer Institute specialists collaborate with experienced
Foster works closely with patients to determine their cancer journey has taught me a lot about the patient oncologists and surgeons across the state to deliver
true risk percentage, and then designs an individualized experience and motivates me to provide the best care for personalized medicine and game-changing treatments
imaging surveillance plan that includes risk reduction my patients.” fueled by academic medicine.
strategies, state-of-the-art breast imaging and referral for Foster completed her internal medicine residency, “Again, I strongly encourage anyone with risk
ancillary services such as genetic counseling. and her medical oncology and palliative medicine factors to visit a high-risk breast clinic,” says Foster.
TGH Cancer Institute recommends that patients fellowship training at McGaw Medical Center of “Getting assessed early could mean the difference
receive a referral for a formal risk assessment if they are Northwestern University. She received her undergraduate between life and death.”
concerned about their lifetime risk of breast cancer and degree at UCLA and then moved to Chicago to complete For questions about detecting and assessing a high
have any of these risk factors: medical school at Loyola University Chicago. She is risk for breast cancer, contact the TGH Cancer Institute
• Any family history of breast or ovarian cancer board-certified in medical oncology, internal medicine at (561) 739-4TGH (4844).
• A male relative with breast cancer and palliative medicine, and is a member of the American

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