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The region\u2019s 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.<\/p><\/div>\n
Most patients with early-stage cancer, Rizk said, elect for breast-conserving surgery, also known as a lumpectomy, because it\u2019s less invasive and preserves most of their breast. The procedure is an alternative to a mastectomy, in which the entire breast is removed.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the best platform on the market,\u201d said Rizk, who helped bring the new technology into the operating room. \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s only all-female-led breast cancer team.<\/p>\n
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Rizk<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cI\u2019m 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,\u201d Dr. Rizk said. \u201cWe\u2019re here to partner with our patients to provide a high-level individualized care based on trust, respect and open communication.\u201d<\/p>\n
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed form of cancer in the United States, with more than 300,000 new cases every year. It\u2019s 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%.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen paired with radiation therapy, lumpectomy can be a highly effective treatment,\u201d she said. \u201cWith the technology UToledo Health has invested in, we\u2019re able to do these procedures with an extremely high level of accuracy \u2014 which helps ensure we\u2019re getting all the cancer out while also preserving as much of the breast tissue as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finding those tumors early, however, is critical.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
UToledo Health offers the more advanced 3D mammography, which takes multiple images and gives radiologists a complete breast picture.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe number one piece of advice I would give to the public is to make sure you\u2019re up to date on your screening mammogram,\u201d Rizk said. \u201cIt can save your life.\u201d<\/p>\n
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