To advance its breast cancer program, UToledo Health has added an innovative new tool to remove cancerous tissue more precisely, allowing for shorter, more accurate procedures.
“As with all cancers, the earlier we identify breast cancer, the better the outcome,” said Dr. Natalie Rizk, a specialized breast surgeon who joined UToledo Health in December to lead the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center’s breast program. “When we screen for early detection, we sometimes find masses that are not appreciated on physical exam. If a biopsy determines the mass to be cancerous, the patient will be referred to us for treatment.”
The region’s only all-female-led breast cancer team is at UToledo Health: from left, Dr. Danae Hamouda, a medical oncologist; Dr. Natalie Rizk, a specialized breast surgeon; and Dr. Mersiha Hadziahmetovic, a radiation oncologist.
Most patients with early-stage cancer, Rizk said, elect for breast-conserving surgery, also known as a lumpectomy, because it’s less invasive and preserves most of their breast. The procedure is an alternative to a mastectomy, in which the entire breast is removed.
Historically, a wire would be placed on the same day as lumpectomy surgery to guide the surgeon in removing the area of cancer. However, technological advancements have given providers new options for marking those early-stage tumors that are less burdensome to patients and make the procedure more efficient for the surgeon.
UToledo Health recently invested in a state-of-the-art surgical guidance tool called SmartClip from Elucent Technology. This tool pairs tiny implantable signaling devices with GPS-like navigation to the tumor site.
The SmartClip, about the size of a grain of rice, can be placed days or weeks before surgery, removing the need for same-day wire placement.
“This is the best platform on the market,” said Rizk, who helped bring the new technology into the operating room. “It makes it easier for the surgeon and the patient on the day of surgery. I can see the area of interest in real time, allowing for more precise tumor removal and often a shorter procedure. We are thrilled to be able to offer this to our patients.”
Rizk is board-certified through the American College of Surgeons and fellowship-trained in breast surgical oncology. She joins medical oncologist Dr. Danae Hamouda and radiation oncologist Dr. Mersiha Hadziahmetovic to make up the region’s only all-female-led breast cancer team.
Rizk
“I’m excited about the energy at the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center. We have a highly skilled care team that is truly passionate about their work,” Dr. Rizk said. “We’re here to partner with our patients to provide a high-level individualized care based on trust, respect and open communication.”
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed form of cancer in the United States, with more than 300,000 new cases every year. It’s also the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. When caught early, however, the disease is highly treatable. The five-year survival rate for patients whose cancer has not spread beyond the breast is more than 99%.
“When paired with radiation therapy, lumpectomy can be a highly effective treatment,” she said. “With the technology UToledo Health has invested in, we’re able to do these procedures with an extremely high level of accuracy — which helps ensure we’re getting all the cancer out while also preserving as much of the breast tissue as possible.”
Finding those tumors early, however, is critical.
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends that women with an average risk of breast cancer get their first mammogram at age 40 and continue getting screened every year until age 74. Some women with a higher risk of breast cancer due to genetic factors and their personal or family health history may be advised to begin screenings earlier or have them done more frequently.
UToledo Health offers the more advanced 3D mammography, which takes multiple images and gives radiologists a complete breast picture.
UToledo Health also recently added a high-tech 3D mammography-guided biopsy platform to complement its existing MRI and ultrasound biopsy capabilities, allowing clinicians to sample a broader range of suspected tumors.
“The number one piece of advice I would give to the public is to make sure you’re up to date on your screening mammogram,” Rizk said. “It can save your life.”
