Breast Cancer Isn't Easy, But One Stop for Treatment Eases Your Mind

By Tracy Simons | Silver Cross Hospital

While experiencing an unusual body rash, Joliet resident Pam Alexander discovered a lump in her breast while applying lotion. She immediately scheduled a mammogram and biopsy which confirmed she had a malignant tumor in her left breast.

“I am so grateful that I acted quickly and was able to receive all of my specialized care so close to home at one location on Silver Cross Hospital’s campus in New Lenox,” said 52-year-old Pam Alexander. “As a result of the cutting-edge treatment that I received, I’m thrilled to report that I’m cancer-free for one year!”

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Alexander went to the Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health for her mammogram in the summer of 2014. When the staff called her and explained that she needed to come back in for a biopsy, Pam was worried.

“I was so nervous, but the nurse navigator Neda Zelehovitis was so kind and supportive,” said Alexander.

Next Alexander met with her team of physicians – Dr. Mark Danielson, general surgeon with Silver Cross Hospital, Dr. Grace Suh, medical oncologist with the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital, and Dr. Anne McCall, Medical Director for Radiation with the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital – to discuss her care plan.

“I am so blessed to have had these three experts working together to determine what the best approach was for treating my breast cancer,” said Alexander.

On Aug. 1, 2014, she had a left breast lumpectomy surgery which was followed up with almost six months of chemotherapy treatments and 33 radiation treatments.

New Coordinated Approach to Treating Breast Cancer Available

During her treatment process, Alexander benefited from a Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Conference that is now available at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital. Alexander received recommendations from a group of breast cancer experts that included her physicians on the next steps to take with a convenient, one-stop experience.

“We know women are extremely busy taking care of everyone else in their lives, so we wanted to make it easy for them to get all the necessary information and medical opinions to make an informed decision as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Grace Suh. “The sooner we can start treatment, the better chance we have to eradicate the disease as we did with Pam’s breast cancer.”

The multidisciplinary team meets in the Cancer Center for a Breast Conference every Tuesday morning. At the Conference, physician specialists representing general surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, plastic surgery and pathology review the patients’ clinical information, radiological images and pathology slides with state-of-the-art equipment to develop a consensus recommendation. The team documents the recommendations and a certified breast nurse navigator provides the recommendation to the patient’s doctor within 24 hours.

“Having all of the specialists in one room, at one time, improves communication and allows for sharing information with each other. The physicians benefit by being able to talk about the treatment plan together, and patients, like Pam, benefit from timely recommendations by a team of experts,” said Dr. Anne McCall.

Patients now benefit from a wide array of breast cancer tests and treatments on the Silver Cross campus including digital mammography, breast MRI, ultrasound and biopsies, and the latest chemotherapy and radiation therapies including clinical trials. Prone breast radiation is available, where radiation is administered on a specially-designed table to help the woman lie more comfortably in the prone position, on her stomach, which may prevent radiation to the underlying heart and lung. Certain women may also be able to receive their radiation in only three weeks. In addition, new plastic surgery techniques such as flap microsurgical breast reconstruction are now available at Silver Cross Hospital.

“Early detection as well as prompt and precise treatment is the key to fighting cancer, which is why all the specialists involved in the Breast Conference are donating their time and expertise to provide Pam and other patients with this unique opportunity close to home,” said Dr. Mark Danielson.

Patients who could benefit from the Multidisciplinary Breast Conference at Silver Cross should contact their primary care physician. Physicians that have a patient who could benefit from the Breast Conference, should contact Neda Zelehovitis, R.N., at (815) 300-6364, fax (815)300-6374 ornzelehovitis@silvercross.org to put your case on the schedule for the following Tuesday.

Lymphedema and Cancer Care Close to Home

Once Alexander’s cancer treatments were completed, she then followed up with lymphedema therapy at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross Hospital (RIC). To make treatment easier, RIC’s services are conveniently accessible to patients on the Silver Cross Hospital campus.

Lymphedema often occurs in breast cancer patients who had all or part of their breast removed and axillary (underarm) lymph nodes removed. The condition occurs when the lymph system is damaged or blocked. The blockage prevents lymph fluid from draining well, and the fluid buildup in soft body tissues leads to swelling.

“Lymphedema usually affects an arm or leg, but it can also affect other parts of the body,” said Temi Asein, Physical Therapist and Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT-LANA) with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross Hospital. “However, as was in Pam’s case, it can be managed with early diagnosis and continual care to the affected limb.”

In addition, RIC at Silver Cross therapists have experience working with all types of cancers including: blood, bone, brain, breast, childhood, digestive, head and neck, lung, pelvic, reproductive, skin, and spinal.

“Our therapists use evidenced-based treatment to address cancer patients’ physical and cognitive concerns caused by the disease and treatment,” said Valerie Paluszak, Manager of Outpatient Rehabilitation for The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross Hospital. “Our programs focus on helping our patients, like Pam, meet their challenges and achieve their highest ability.”

Advice to Others

“I recommend other cancer patients to seek treatment at Silver Cross Hospital. All of the physicians, nurses, radiation therapists and lymphedema therapists made me feel like I was their number one patient and concentrated on me and my well- being which made me feel very special. For any cancer patient, these criteria’s are exactly what is needed to help get through this trying time,” said Alexander.