Well, Spring is on the way (!) and we wish a joyous new season to all of our friends and patients in Harford Co. The BCSC has patients from MD, PA, DE, WV, OH, MA, TN, NC, FL, and ME, but Women'sI doesn't reach THAT far. This issue's article will give us an opportunity to highlight some of the features which we feel distinguish us as a "center of excellence" in the field of breast care. We still occasionally hear of patients who feel they must go to the City of Baltimore to get the highest level of breast cancer treatment and this is simply not the case.

      Our mission is to provide the same scope and quality of surgical care that can be found in any academic institution in the United States. We have data to show that we are accomplishing this mission well. We treat every patient with compassion and dignity. We keep up-to-date on modern diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. Our patients become our lifelong commitment.

      What is a Center anyway? Is it a building, an attachment to a big hospital, or a commitment to patients with a particular illness and the resources to deal with all aspects of their care? We have been committed to the care of patients with breast cancer for over 30 years. We have both a breadth and depth of experience unmatched anywhere, and our commitment to this cause has led us to develop programs that are unique and extremely beneficial to all of our patients.

      Let's start with screening. Most of our patients do not come to us with a diagnosis of cancer, but simply a risk of developing a cancer. We calculate several statistical risk models that assist the patient in performing "selective screening" whereby they utilize not only yearly mammograms, but also ultrasound (available within our Center), MRI examinations, genetic testing, and "Nipple Aspiration & Ductal Lavage", a topic discussed previously in Women'sI.

      When indications for surgical intervention are present, we are equipped to do all of the minimally invasive techniques. These include stereotactic biopsy, ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy, wire-localized biopsy, needle aspiration cytology, and even open biopsy when needed.

      Once a diagnosis of cancer is made, a detailed discussion of the implications of this diagnosis is held with the patient and family members. A "BCSC Treatment Plan Notebook©" is given to each patient which outlines the decision tree that is followed once a biopsy has shown cancer to be present. A listing of the highest-quality medical and radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons, and holistic health specialists is included. A "Glossary of Terms" is in each Notebook given to the patient so that all terms used in our discussions can be understood. An outline of the follow-up care plan is given to each patient with the tests usually performed out through 10 years.

      A listing of books available for checkout in the Genevieve Thomas Breast Cancer Library is in each Notebook. Patients and their husbands often avail themselves of these resources and provide us with feedback on the quality of the material read. In this way, you can research not only the titles of the books but also critiques of previous breast cancer survivors. Also, a list of Internet Web addresses which provide additional useful information has been researched and culled from the many sites available on the Web for our patient's benefit.

      Each newly diagnosed cancer patient is paired with an age matched "Navigator". This specially trained survivor has resources available and can answer many of the questions which pop up in that first 8 to 12 weeks after diagnosis. This navigator program is not unique, but it has been hailed as an "adjunct to excellence" in the breast cancer community. This is separate from the Reach For Recovery Program which is run by the American Cancer Society and which is endorsed wholeheartedly by our Center.

      The heart of any endeavor is, of course, its people. We are fortunate to have as our Breast Cancer Coordinator Mrs. Sharon Hunt. She has many years of experience in the field of cancer care. She runs our "Navigator Program", assists in Navigator training, and takes every patient "under her wing". She offers much comfort and support to all our patients. Sharon also schedules all surgical procedures accommodating our patient's needs as closely as possible.

      Our receptionists are personally selected for their "Cancer Patient" skills. Each understands the anxiety inherent with breast complaints and arranges our schedule to have you seen as soon as possible. Each has been trained to be aware of the particular needs of the cancer patient and fulfills this assignment with great professionalism and compassion.

      The Breast Cancer Surgery Center has a commitment to research. I have participated in a National image-guided biopsy study evaluating the effectiveness and safety of stereotactic biopsy to sample lesions which were seen only on mammogram. We also participated in an early local sentinel lymph node biopsy trial using a radioactive tracer to isolate and remove only those nodes to which the cancer was most likely to have spread. The results of these collaborative studies paved the way for all women to receive the benefits of these techniques. Our Center is currently participating in a research study looking at the problem of depression as it relates to body image in women who have undergone mastectomy either with or without reconstruction. Our Center's patients have access to all the latest "clinical trials" which are performed either locally, at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, or at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the NIH.

      Lastly, our commitments has led us to expend resources to create a website for our patients, BCSCofMD.com and we invite you to visit and learn. We welcome your comments, criticism, and suggestions for future topics to be presented in Women'sI. You may also contact me surgeonFWW@aol.com with questions. In summary, our Center lives up to its name in all aspects. When you need us, we will be there!

      We have been asked to submit another series of six educational articles for next year. and are happy to do so. We support Women's ideas, information and inspiration. The feedback we have received from so many of you, and the results of an informal poll taken in the community show that this is a good thing to do. We look forward to presenting new information to you about the most modern diagnostic methods and treatment of breast cancer.