NEW ORLEANS – Ochsner Health System wants to know “What’s Your Shade of Pink?” One out of eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Ochsner’s October breast cancer awareness campaign asks ‘What’s Your Shade of Pink?’ to find out your level of participation and encourage New Orleanians to get involved! Schedule a mammogram; Educate yourself and your family on breast health; Participate in breast cancer-related events; and Donate to help provide comprehensive care to cancer patients.
Mammography: Early Detection is Key
Remember, mammography is the single most powerful tool to detect breast cancer early, and the earlier the detection, the wider a woman’s options are for treatment.
“Our goal is to remind Greater New Orleans area that early detection is critical in the fight against breast cancer,” says Dr. Dana Smetherman, Section Head of Breast Imaging, Ochsner Health System. Dr. Smetherman says the keys to the prevention and early detection of breast cancer include:
• Performing regular monthly breast self-exams
• Knowing your body and paying close attention to any changes including:
o Development of a new lump or mass in the breast
o Change in the size, shape or skin color of the breast
o New development of nipple discharge or change in nipple, such as inversion of the nipple or skin
• Beginning your yearly screening mammograms at age 40 – sooner if you have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Seeing your doctor at least once a year for a clinical breast exam and to discuss your family history and any other risk factors that increase your chances of developing breast cancer
“All women should know their risk factors and always stay up-to-date on their yearly screening mammograms and clinical exam by their doctor,” says Dr. Smetherman. “The gold standard in early detection remains the digital mammogram, which is able to detect 80 - 85% of suspicious abnormalities. Often, women will not have or have developed any symptoms, nor will they have felt anything abnormal on their self-exams.”
To schedule a mammogram, educate yourself about cancer prevention, or to learn more information about breast cancer services, please visit ochsner.org/pink.
Ochsner Cancer Institute: Coordination of Care
Ochsner Health System delivers advanced cancer treatment close to home with access to regional state-of-the-art specialized services, innovative treatment options, research and cutting-edge clinical trials. Patients at Ochsner receive care from a multidisciplinary team of leading experts including medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, specialized radiologists and social workers who, with a patient-centered approach, deliver advanced and compassionate cancer care in an environment comfortable for both patients and their families.
Representing the largest clinical trials network in Louisiana and Mississippi, Ochsner’s 55+ cancer clinical trials are benefitting thousands of patients while helping find cures. For more than 80 years, Ochsner physicians have been leading researchers in the fight against cancer and have developed 34 nationally recognized cures and protocols. Affiliation with numerous leading treatment groups has enabled them to deliver the most current, effective cancer therapies.
Additionally, Ochsner is expanding services and treatment options to meet the needs of cancer patients throughout the Gulf South with the creation of The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center.
For more information, please visit ochsner.org/cancer.
The Tansey Breast Center: Celebrating A Decade of Women’s Health
The Lieselotte Tansey Breast Center at Ochsner is celebrating its 10 year anniversary this month. The Center was established to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the detection and treatment of breast disease by compassionate and caring specialists. The Breast Center is actively involved in breast cancer research, helping to develop new and more effective methods of preventing, diagnosing and treating breast cancer.
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, there will be an evening of lectures at The Tansey Breast Center on Thursday, October 20 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Speakers include Ochsner’s Dr. Dana Smetherman, Dr. Ralph Corsetti, and. Lynette Mauterer, N.P. as well as demonstrations and door prizes.
To learn more about the Lieselotte Tansey Breast Center at Ochsner, please visit ochsner.org/pink.
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Ochsner Health System is southeast Louisiana’s largest non-profit, academic, multi-specialty, healthcare delivery system with eight hospitals and over 38 health centers in Louisiana. Ochsner has been named the Consumer Choice for Healthcare in New Orleans for 15 consecutive years and is the only Louisiana hospital recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a “Best Hospital” across seven specialty categories. Ochsner employs more than 12,500 employees, over 850 physicians in over 90 medical specialties and subspecialties and conducts over 300 clinical research trials annually. Ochsner Health System is proud to be a tobacco-free environment. For more information, please visit ochsner.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
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