​New Breast Cancer Services Available At Norwalk Hospital

New Breast Cancer Services Available At Norwalk Hospital Through SHARE Cancer Support

NORWALK CONNECTICUT, January 12, 2018 — National nonprofit SHARE Cancer Support and Norwalk Hospital have teamed up to offer a new support group for women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) at the Smilow Family Breast Health Center in Norwalk, CT. The goal of the group is to offer women with MBC the opportunity to share their experiences, exchange information, and discuss challenges with other women who know what it is like to face the disease. It is the first support group of its kind in Fairfield County.

The group is facilitated by an LCSW and metastatic peer from SHARE, Kathy Hynes-Kadish, and a breast specialist and APRN from Norwalk Hospital, Mary Heery.

“I attended a SHARE support group when I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer 17 years ago, and it saved my life,” Kadish says. “I could talk to people who understood what I was experiencing.” According to the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance, virtually all of the 40,000 deaths from breast cancer in the U.S. each year occur as a result of MBC, which begins in the breast and spreads to other parts of the body. The experience of patients with MBC is different from those with early-stage breast cancer. It is progressive and incurable, and the median survival rate after diagnosis is just three years. Only 7% of breast cancer research funding is dedicated to MBC research.

“Hearing that ‘there is no cure’ and ‘you’ll be in treatment the rest of your life’ is overwhelming,” said Kadish. She notes, however, that new treatments are helping more metastatic women live longer. “The other critical issue is isolation. Most metastatic women haven’t met anyone else like them. That’s why groups like this are so necessary. It’s wonderful that Norwalk Hospital is taking such comprehensive care of its patients.”

Support groups are part of the holistic, compassionate care Norwalk Hospital provides breast cancer patients and their families. The Smilow Family Breast Health Center offers newly diagnosed and triple negative breast cancer support groups as well as many other services. The MBC support group is unique because it is the first group of its kind.

“We have observed that people truly benefit from talking to someone who is going through the same experience. There is a sense of comfort and understanding. We are thankful for our partnership with SHARE and committed to providing support for those with metastatic breast cancer. Our patient response has been extremely positive so far,” said Heery.

In addition to this support group, patients also receive the expertise of Norwalk Hospital’s new chief of medical oncology, Linda Vahdat, MD. She specializes in caring for patients with MBC. Norwalk Hospital’s breast medical oncologists, Richard Zelkowitz, MD and George Zahrah, MD consult with Dr. Vahdat on a regular basis. Individualized care is provided based on the latest research and current practices.

The MBC support group meets every other Monday starting again, January 15, 2018 from 12:30–1:00pm. Please call Mary Heery to learn more about the group and to register: 203-852-2757.

About SHARE
SHARE improves the lives of women affected by breast or ovarian cancers through experienced peer support, practical education, and innovative advocacy, always for free. It meets women wherever they are, especially in medically underserved communities, with the insight of others who have been there too, creating a nationwide network where women are empowered and feel less alone. Its free services include support groups, educational tools, expert-led webinars and presentations, a helpline, online communities, and survivor-patient navigation.

About the Smilow Family Breast Health Center
The Smilow Family Breast Health Center has received a three-year, full accreditation designation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. The NAPBC Accreditation is the seal of approval for The Smilow Family Breast Health Center from the American College of Surgeons and formally acknowledges our commitment to providing the highest quality evaluation and management of our patients.

The Smilow Family Breast Health Center is located at Norwalk Hospital: 34 Maple Street, Norwalk, CT 06850. Please call 203-852-2300 for more information about the services provided by the Smilow Family Breast Health Center.