Greater Options for
Faster Oncology Treatments
Podcast: Why "Dad's Genes
Matter for Breast and Ovarian Cancer." Click here to listen.
After a brief course of HDR brachytherapy, Patricia Matlack of Pittsgrove Township is cancer free and able to enjoy time with her grandchildren.
The American Cancer Society recommends the following cancer screenings:
• Women undergo annual mammograms beginning at age 40.
• Women receive annual well-woman exams for early detection of certain gynecologic cancers.
• Men talk with their physicians about the benefi ts of prostate-specifi c antigen screenings by age 50.
Both men and women should
consult their physicians about when and how frequently to undergo cancer screenings, as it may vary depending on certain risk factors.
For one woman, a cancer treatment plan
included high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy — an innovation in oncology care that enabled Patricia Matlack to undergo radiation therapy in a mere four days. Th e 63-year-old retired lunch aide and
Learn about the
Three-Step Plan for Early Detection of Breast Cancer by clicking here.
Pittsgrove resident was diagnosed with cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions in both breasts aſt er undergoing a routine mammogram — an exam she had faithfully received every year — at South Jersey Healthcare Elmer Hospital. When the screening test revealed abnormalities in her breasts, she underwent a second mammogram and an ultrasound at the hospital six days later. "My primary care physician, Jay V. Malickel,
[D.O., board-certifi ed family practice physician at SJH] recommended I contact a surgeon aſt er
4 FALL 2011
he received the results of the second mammogram and ultrasound," Patricia said. "When I went to see my SJH breast surgeon [Claudia Lago-Toro, M.D.] 12 days later, she delivered the surprising news: I had cancer in my leſt breast and some pre-cancerous lesions in my right breast. I was reluctant to have a double mastectomy followed by reconstruction, so my surgeon and I decided to pursue HDR brachytherapy."
Unmatched Convenience Patricia underwent her fi rst HDR brachytherapy
treatment session, called a fraction, at the Frank and Edith Scarpa Regional Cancer Pavilion at SJH. Just four days later, her treatment was complete. "I visited the Cancer Pavilion for fractions in the morning and aſt ernoon," Patricia said.
SJH Family & Friends
When a woman is faced with a breast cancer diagnosis, the thought of weeks- long treatment can add to her fear and anxiety. New treatment options available at South Jersey Healthcare are helping many women receive the treatment they need in a matter of days, helping them get back to their daily routines.
