Breast Cancer Awareness: Focus on Survivorship

By: Tiffany Svahn,MD

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is the ideal time to focus on survivorship.  Because of advances in research, early detection and improved treatments have led to higher cure rates and a growing population of breast cancer survivors.  In the United States today, there are an astounding 2.5 million breast cancer survivors!  Health care providers involved in the treatment of breast cancer now spend a significant amount of their attention on addressing the issues of survivors in addition to the actual treatment of the disease. 

Breast cancer survivors have a unique set of needs – there are both psychological and physical side effects of going through breast cancer treatment.  Many of the side effects are short-lived, and resolve soon after treatment ends.  However, there are unfortunately many side effects that persist for many years and sometimes indefinitely – they can be related to surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or hormonal therapy.   Tools that can help with after treatment side effects include a prescribed exercise programs, physical therapy, lymphedema therapy, nutritional changes (think Mediterranean diet), and psychological therapy, to name a few.

Some centers that treat breast cancer now have survivorship programs – the practice where I work, Diablo Valley Oncology, will be rolling out its survivorship program this October, in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  This program will be very closely associated with our Lifestyle Center.  On October 12th, we had our annual Many Faces of Breast Cancer survivorship program at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek, where a panel of experts addressed the many issues that survivors face, including a question and answer session.

Tiffany Svahn, MD is a Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology.  Dr. Svahn specializes in treating patients with breast cancer. Dr. Svahn sees patients at Diablo Valley Oncology’s comprehensive cancer center is located at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill and at their satellite office in San Ramon.  For more information call 925-677-5041.