When it comes to breast cancer treatment, there are many things to consider.
How will my doctor treat this? Will the side effects cause me to be ill?
When it comes to breast cancer treatment, radiation therapy is an important tool. If your cancer can be treated with radiation, you will be referred to a Radiation Oncologist— a doctor who specializes in treating patients with radiation therapy. At Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, we offer radiation oncology right here in Reno County.
“As October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, my message to all the moms, daughters, grandmas, sisters, and aunts is get your mammograms every year. Consider making a date of it — go get your mammograms together,” said Dr. Shirley Butler-Xu. “Early detection saves lives.”
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, and the risk for diagnosis increases with age.
Dr. Shirley Butler-Xu
While people can have a difference in symptoms, generally, the warning signs are:
If you have any of these symptoms, see your primary care physician as soon as you can.
Once diagnosed with breast cancer, radiation treatment may be recommended to destroy lingering cancer cells after breast cancer surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy). Radiation therapy is not a “one size fits all” strategy.
When treating patients, Dr. Butler-Xu says, “personalized and comprehensive treatment is our standard. All cancers are unique, just as all individuals are unique so the best treatments have to be individualized to each patient. We tailor radiation treatments to each patient’s personal goals while providing technologically advanced standard of care treatments right here in Hutchinson.”
We have recently added new technology to further protect organs at risk, especially for breast cancer patients. With Deep Inspiration Breathhold via VisionRT, when a patient takes a deep breath, the breast/chest wall moves outward and the heart moves back to allow us to better block the heart. The system is connected to the radiation treatment machine so if the patient sneezes or coughs and the radiation target moves out of a predetermined threshold, then the machine automatically turns off.
At Chalmers Cancer Treatment Center, we are committed to providing the best high-quality care that includes using the latest and most effective treatments. All radiation treatments are very personalized. Using a 24-slice CT simulator, we design a precise treatment plan by creating a three-dimensional model of the patient, tumor and surrounding normal structures. The targets as well as the normal organs/tissues are delineated on the CT so that we can deliver the needed dose to the targets but also protect the important normal structures. There are a variety of ways to make the treatments as effective and safe as possible including shaping the beams and modulating the dose if needed.
Your first consultation is focused on YOU. Dr. Butler-Xu will sit down with you and your family to review the specifics of your cancer diagnosis and treatment plan, while answering any questions you may have. “Personalized medicine is my passion—and I want my patients to know that I am here for them, every step of the way. I strive to deliver the best quality radiation treatments right here in Hutchinson.”
Ken Johnson, the president and chief executive officer of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System has resigned after seven years in the role. Prior to serving as the CEO, Johnson served as the chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.
Hutchinson native Jessica Flax has been named Director for the Hutchinson Regional Medical Foundation (HRMF), a multi-million-dollar fund established soon after the opening of the
Brittney Weis has been named Director of Marketing and Communications for Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System (HRHS.) Weis is a tenured marketing and communications leader who
1701 E 23rd Ave
Hutchinson, KS 67502
620-665-2000
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