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EASTON – On October 24th, members of the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation visited the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center, located at 10 Martin Court, Easton, to meet with hospital and community leaders. visit the center.
The foundation donated $ 5 million to Shore Regional Health to help build a comprehensive breast cancer treatment center in 2016.
After 16 months of renovations – with 250 to 300 patients per day still seen in the building – valued at approximately $ 6.5 million, Shore Regional Health's breast health services were fully integrated in the diagnostic and imaging center, in an institution housing this Regional health representatives have called advanced technology.
"The difference between this and what we were before is like day and night," said Medical Director Dr. Roberta Lilly. "The physical space made all the difference."
The Clark Comprehensive Breast Center offers a diagnostic mammogram; ultrasound and breast MRI; stereotactic biopsies, guided by ultrasound and MRI; excisional biopsies for benign or malignant breast disease; aspirations to the fine needle; surgical care for all benign and malignant diseases of the breast; a screening mammography program Wellness for Women; a survivor assistance program; and a women's health shop for clothes, prostheses and swimsuits after mastectomy.
The center was re-accredited in 2017 as a nationally accredited and nationally recognized breast center through the National Breast Center Accreditation Program.
Shore Health's Executive Director of Oncology Services, Brian Leutner, said the center was striving to create an inviting, comfortable and peaceful atmosphere.
"This is really what we were looking for in June 2016 when we opened our doors and that's what we think we have," he said.
Lilly said last year that the breast cancer center had hosted about 2,500 patients, of which only 8% were new cancer patients.
Although breast cancer represents a 12% lifetime risk for American women, Lilly said everyone thought about it and everyone was worried about it.
"So, breast cancer, although it is the number one cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death in women, just behind lung cancer, most patients do not have it, God thank you, "she said.
"Most of the people we see are women who have a complaint or who have a mammogram and need to have it examined further, that's why we're here," said Lilly.
"Fortunately, most of what we do is reassure women," she said.
Due to the large population of seniors in Talbot County, the age-adjusted breast cancer incidence rate is 130.5 per 100,000 compared to counties. of Caroline, Dorchester and Queen Annes, who are respectively 128.9, 127.1 and 113 per 100,000, CDC from 2011 to 2015 Cancer Status Profiles. The age-adjusted breast cancer incidence rate in Kent County was reported at 151.5 cases per 100,000 population.
"Age is the number one risk factor for breast cancer," Lilly said, pointing out that breast cancer in younger women tends to be much more rare and aggressive.
Courtney Clark Pastrick, president of the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation and breast cancer survivor, said it was wonderful to see the results of their philanthropy.
Pastrick was impressed by the customization of the center. "I'm especially impressed by Dr. Lilly, but I'm also impressed by the whole center," she said.
"It's such an important part of the community here for the women who live there and all the women on the shoreline who have had to drive vehicles without that," said Pastrick. "This should be accessible to all women and I think the most important part of the program is to educate the community and get women to come here earlier so that their cancer is diagnosed earlier."
Graham Lee, Regional Vice President of Philanthropy at Shore, said the end-of-year call was going to be launched towards a second 3D tomosynthesis mammography machine.
"We have definitely exceeded the needs for the second 3D mammography machine," said Dr. Christopher Levey, chair of the UM Shore Regional Coastal Cancer Health Committee. "A second is really important at this point."
Lee said the Memorial Hospital Foundation was going to raise money for the machine.
The former editor of Star Democrat News, Josh Bollinger, contributed to this story.
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