OFM_Dept_Health_Breast_Cancer_1019_DEPT 9 / 23 / 19 1 : 46 PM Page 1 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Miami in 1993 that opened a Central Florida regional H office in Oviedo last year . T Part of the group’s mission is centered ALaround advocacy and fighting for important policy changes E FIGHTINGthe at the state and federal levels . Education is equally H as important , especially during Breast Cancer Aware - ness Month . “ We’re heavily focused on prevention and getting GOOD FIGHT your regular checkups , because most breast cancer cases are not genetic , ” says Tracy Jacim , a former Fox From surgeons to nonprofit 35 news anchor who is now the director of commu - members , local residents nity empowerment for the Central Florida region . are leading the way in the “ You always hear about family history , and don’t get me wrong , obviously if you have it in your family , battle against breast cancer . you are at higher risk . But the majority of breast cancer cases are not genetic ; only about 10 % are . So B Y M A T T C O S E N T I N O October for us is all about education and letting people know the choices they need to make so maybe ike pumpkin - flavored foods and trick - or - treating , breast cancer awareness they can sidestep this disease . ” has become a staple of October in recent years . This month is an important Another major focus for the organization is L time to not only bring attention to the disease , but also to raise money for defeating breast cancer , which is why it supports and funds scientific research . Several prominent research and educate people about detection and prevention . researchers are on the board of directors , including Dr . For patients who require a mastectomy , surgical Annette Khaled from the University of Central With that in mind , Orlando Family Magazine is oncologists like McCray can perform skin - sparing or Florida , Dr . Shahla Masood from the University of once again shining a light on those in our area who are nipple - sparing mastectomies in conjunction with a Florida and Dr . Conor Lynch from the Moffitt working to fight breast cancer and the medical break - plastic surgeon , with breast reconstruction to follow . Cancer Center . throughs they are utilizing and helping to develop . She explains that studies show women who have The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation accepts October may be Breast Cancer Awareness Month , better cosmetic outcomes will have better results with proposals for research projects every year , reviews but for these leaders in the field , the mission never ends . their cancer , and these types of surgeries are especially them in - house and through an outside agency , and IMPORTANT ADVANCEMENTS helpful for younger patients . then determines who to give grants to . “ We’re seeing cancer in patients who are pretty “ One of our researchers right now is looking at Dr . Devina McCray , a breast surgical oncologist at young ; my youngest patient is 25 years old , ” McCray finding a way to stop the metastasis of cancer cells , ” AdventHealth Altamonte Springs , believes the overall says . “ When it comes to younger women , they want Jacim says . “ We literally have researchers on our board philosophy of breast cancer treatment has come a long their bodies to look how it did before treatment . who are in labs getting very close to major break - way and will continue to make strides . They Google and look at pictures from years before , throughs that will change the landscape , not only for “ It used to be , let’s say 30 years ago , that all we and they’re horrified . But when we speak to them in breast cancer but for all cancers . ” knew was to do mastectomies and to remove all the consultation we’re able to reassure them . ” Jacim has a history of breast cancer in her family lymph nodes , ” she says . “ We found that even when we As far as detection , McCray points to 3D and knows all too well the effects it can have , but she did all this and thought we would have good local tomosynthesis mammography as a major improve - remains optimistic about the way things are headed . control , women were still getting recurrences . Why ment over traditional mammograms , especially for “ The technology today is amazing and the med - was that ? Probably because we were not treating more women with dense tissue . Breast MRIs and genetic ical advancements are so encouraging , ” she says . systemically . ” testing can also be used , particularly for those with “ Essentially now , if breast cancer is detected at According to the National Cancer Institute , sys - a family history of breast cancer . an early stage , with the current med - temic therapy is “ treatment using substances that travel McCray adds that the rise of mutli - ical advancements and tech - through the bloodstream , reaching and affecting cells disciplinary centers , such as the one nology you have a very , very all over the body . ” These drugs can treat cancer cells at AdventHealth Altamonte Springs , good chance of being OK . wherever they may be and can include chemotherapy , allows patients to see specialists like The key is early detection . ” immunotherapy and targeted drugs . surgeons , radiation oncologists and McCray adds that systemic therapy dives into the medical oncologists all under tumor biology instead of just looking at the size or stage one roof , leading to more con - of the cancer . venience and a collaborative “ Treatment is getting more targeted , ” she says . approach . “ Different cancers have different tumor biology , so when we’re treating different cancers , there are certain SUPPORT FOR medicines that are going to target the different cancer THE CAUSE types . It’s much more specific and [ focused on ] killing that particular type of cancer . ” In addition to the medical One of the newer surgical procedures McCray experts doing their part in the and her colleagues at AdventHealth are using is intra - battle against breast cancer , operative radiation therapy . Instead of the old there are also many charitable method , in which patients would come back for four organizations lending their weeks of radiation after a lumpectomy , they can have support . One shining example is the radiation delivered to the targeted area all at once , the Florida Breast Cancer Foun - during surgery . dation , a nonprofit founded in 14 ORLANDO FAMILY october 2019 ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM