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understand dietary changes that may come with cancer and chemotherapy. "We feel that it enhances our program to have somebody physically available to communicate with our patients on the spot," Dr. Gordon says. "One of the hallmarks of our program is that we make our staff members readily accessible to patients, whether by phone or email." ONGOING ACCESS TO CLINICAL TRIALS T he W h it e Pl a i n s Hospit a l Cent er for Ca ncer Ca re Breast Progra m has full accreditation desig nation by the Nationa l Accreditation Prog ra m for Breast Centers. " In order to get t h is desi g nat ion , a program has to go through rigorous eva luation a nd rev iew," Dr. G ordon says. " We have to be a comprehensive center — defined as having a complete range of state-of-the-art services and equipment — and we have to demonstrate that we have a team approach to breast ca ncer, a nd that we're providing our patients with the best available treatment options, including ongoing clinical trials and evolving treatment plans." There are currently nine clinical trials relating to breast cancer underway at the hospital. Every new patient's case is assessed by a physician and the clinical trials coordinator as to whether or not the individual patient is eligible. "With clinical trials, you ask, 'Is this the best treatment for this patient? Is this the treatment that will provide the best chance of cure? What are the potential side effects? Is there a drug that offers a better survival advantage or is there a drug that causes less toxicity?'" Dr. Gordon says. "We're constantly weighing curative treatments versus the potentia l side effects that our patients will experience." Clinical trials relating to COVID-19 have been front-page news over the past year, and Dr. Ananthakrishnan hopes the impact of the vaccine research will encourage more patients to sign up. "Really, all the advances in breast can- cer have been made due to the courageous patients who have participated in clinical trials," Dr. Ananthakrishnan says. "The benefit of clinical trials is that patients get access to the latest and the greatest treatments right from the get-go." CONTINUING CARE DURING COVID-19 The pandemic has not brought an end to cancer diagnoses, and the White Plains Hospita l Center for Ca ncer Ca re has pivoted to protect both patients and staff. "We do allow family members to come for a new consultation," Dr. Gordon says. " We think it 's ver y important for our patients to bring one family member with them, because the diagnosis and treat- ment of breast cancer is overwhelming." "I think our caution has allowed our patients to feel more comfortable coming to see us," Dr. Gordon says. Still, the changes haven't always been ea sy. The addition of ex tra persona l Dr. Ananthakrishnan is a fellowship-trained breast surgeon who focuses on all types of breast surgery including breast conservation or lumpectomy, mastectomy, nipple-sparing mastectomy, and axillary lymph node procedures. Dr. Gordon has been a member of the surgical staff at White Plains Hospital for more than 30 years. He currently serves as Chairman of the Cancer Committee and Surgical Director of the Cancer Program. M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S L O N G I S L A N D ■ 2 0 21 0 9