Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1425002
protective equipment for both medical staff and patients has presented its own challenges, on top of the ongoing shortage. "Honestly, it's hard for our patients," Dr. Ananthakrishnan says. "New patients don't really know what I look like, and I don't really know what they look like. That's a challenge in itself because as oncologists, we get so many cues about how a patient is feeling by looking at their face and reading their facial expressions." Surgeries have had to be scheduled and rescheduled on the fly after patients have tested positive for COVID-19, and patients have also struggled with being unable to have fa mily members visit after surgery. " We do faci litate v ideo ca l ls w it h family members as much as possible," Dr. Ananthakrishnan says. "I can't tell you how proud I am of our staff and our team, because everybody has just been going above and beyond to try to make sure that the patients are comfortable and have a good experience." Throughout the challenges of the past year, the team has tried to stay positive and maintain a sense of humor to help boost patients' spirits. n Fo r m o re info r m at i o n , pl ea se v i s it wphospital.org/breastcancer. Experts at the White Plains Hospital Center for Cancer Care provide patients personalized cancer care with precision diagnostics, a wide choice of treatment options, and access to clinical trials and cutting-edge research. " Placing breast implants above the pectoral muscles has really made a difference in our patients' functionality after surgery. In the past, with the implant behind the muscle, patients often experienced pain or impaired mobility. It could take months to get back to their baseline function. But now, with the plastic surgeon placing the implant in front of the pectoralis muscle, patients can return to a full range of movement more quickly. For example, one patient, a teacher, returned to her online classroom just four days after her surgery." — PREYA ANANTHAKRISHNAN, MD, FACS, DIRECTOR OF BREAST SURGERY, WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL CENTER FOR CANCER CARE 1 0❱❱❱❱❱ C O V E R F E A T U R E