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breast cancer

Hamilton Medical Center Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness

October 26, 2021

Many people have been affected by breast cancer, whether the diagnosis is for themselves, a family member, or a friend. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Hamilton Medical Center is supporting breast cancer awareness.

“It’s very important to have your yearly screening mammogram, says Eric Turner, MD, Peeples Cancer Institute medical director. “Catching cancers early and starting treatment quickly provides the best possible outcomes.”

Mammograms are recommended yearly beginning at age 40 and are covered by most health insurance programs.

Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older, but breast cancer also affects younger women. About 10 percent of all new cases of breast cancer in the United States are found in women younger than 45 years of age.

But it’s not just women who can get breast cancer. Though it is much more common in women, some men are diagnosed with the disease. Less than 1 percent of breast cancers occur in men.

It is important to be aware of the risk factors for breast cancer so the proper screenings can be performed. You should talk with your doctor about your risk factors and any concerns that you may have.

PODCAST – The Importance of Breast Cancer Early Detection

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Common risk factors include genetic mutations to certain genes (such as BRCA1 and BRCA2), early menstrual period (starting before age 12), late or no pregnancy (first pregnancy after age 30 and never having a full-term pregnancy), starting menopause after age 55, not being physically active, being overweight after menopause, personal and family history of breast cancer, taking birth control pills and heavy alcohol use.

Some factors can’t be changed, but there are things you can do to lower your risk. Exercising regularly (at least four hours a week) and maintaining a healthy weight can make a big difference. Research shows getting plenty of nighttime sleep, eating healthfully, limiting alcohol and avoiding exposure to carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals) decreases your chances for breast cancer. Also, breastfeeding your children, if possible, has been shown to reduce risk. And, of course, regular breast self-exams and scheduled mammograms are key in early detection.

Eric Manahan, MD, a surgeon with Hamilton Physician Group who has a special interest in breast cancer, says that when someone gets a breast cancer diagnosis, the best thing to do is to stop and take a breath. “This is not a surgical emergency to rush,” he says. “We need to be able to make the best decision on your particular treatment option. Breast cancer care is evolving and improving at a very fast rate. Let’s make sure we have all of the information and are ready to proceed in your best interests for your particular tumor with the latest and most up-to-date treatment options.”

3D mammography is available at Peeples Cancer Institute (PCI). This advanced technology finds 41 percent more invasive cancers than 2D alone. Without using more radiation, the process involves multiple images, allowing a clearer picture for radiologists. 3D mammography can help find cancer in earlier stages, and it reduces the chances of being called back for additional screenings and biopsies.

To schedule a screening mammogram at PCI, please call 706-272-6565. A doctor’s order is necessary.

Zhang Joins Hamilton’s Peeples Cancer Institute

April 23, 2020

Qin Zhang, MD, says being a medical oncologist was an easy decision for her. “Aside from the disease biology being of great interest to me from an academic research standpoint, I felt drawn to the patient population,” she says. “My patients come from all walks of life, each with different experiences and cultures that influence their decision regarding disease management. The collaborative relationship that forms between my patients and me is indescribable.”

Zhang says she chose healthcare because she feels nothing is more important than a person’s health.

Zhang, a board-certified medical oncologist, has joined Peeples Cancer Institute. She specializes in adult cancer and hematology disorders.

“I realize that for a patient, visiting my office to discuss a new diagnosis of cancer is the last place he or she would want to be,” says Zhang. “I make it a priority to identify each patient’s specific source of suffering during the very first clinic visit. This may be anxiety, depression, pain, anger or feeling of isolation. I’ve found that only then can we engage in productive discussion regarding management. Earning the trust and confidence of a patient is key in delivering effective health care.”

Zhang completed medical training at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham, and her medical oncology/hematology fellowship training at the University of Chicago in Illinois. Before joining Hamilton, Zhang practiced medical oncology for several years and served in a leadership role as medical director.

Peeples Cancer Institute

She says her family loves to hike and be outdoors. She has invested a significant amount of time in oil painting and Chinese calligraphy. “This art form is extremely challenging in that it requires strict discipline and guidelines, yet demands individualized expression and decisions in each piece – much like the art of medical oncology,” she says.

To schedule an appointment with Zhang, call Peeples Cancer Institute at 844-PCI-HOPE.

Hamilton to Host Pink Day Event

October 7, 2019

Hamilton Medical Center will host a Pink Day event on Friday, Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Burr Park, 101 South Hamilton St. The theme is “More than a color, more than a month.”

Supporting breast cancer awareness, Dalton Mayor Dennis Mock will officially proclaim Oct. 11 as Pink Day in Dalton. The proclamation is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

The event will include a free gift (while supplies last), cookies, pink lemonade, yoga class (immediately following the proclamation) chair massages, acupuncture and nail painting. Health and beauty vendors will be onsite as well, and Mix 104.5 will broadcast live from the event.

Regular breast self-exams, clinical breast exams and mammograms (based on age and health history) are recommended as the best way to detect breast cancer in the early stages.

“With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s a good time to be proactive,” said Rachel Ogle, marketing outreach manager for Hamilton Health Care System. “Nobody wants to hear a diagnosis of breast cancer, but early detection can make a huge difference.”

Some habits that can help reduce risk for breast cancer are maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, eating fruits and vegetables, not smoking and limiting alcohol consumption.

Hamilton Surgeon Chairs National Panel Changing Breast Cancer Genetic Testing Guidelines

March 7, 2019

The American Society of Breast Surgeons released new consensus guidelines on Feb. 14, calling for genetic testing to be made available to all patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The new guidelines expand earlier recommendations that encouraged testing only for certain age groups and types of cancer.

Eric R. Manahan, MD, a surgeon at Hamilton Physician Group – General Surgery in Dalton, chaired a group of world-renowned genetics experts to draft this new consensus statement. Other represented institutions included Johns Hopkins, Memorial Sloan Kettering (New York City), MD Anderson, Mayo Clinic and Harvard Medical School, to name a few. The statement is based on an extensive review of current literature that suggests that recent National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) criteria resulted in a number of potential disease-producing variants going undetected. Some patients and their family members developed cancers that could have been prevented with testing under the new, broader guidelines.

Identification of specific genetic inconsistencies in breast cancer patients often provides crucial guidance for more effective disease management. Additionally, relatives of those who are shown to have abnormalities and have a high probability of carrying the same potential disease-producing genes also could be tested. This would offer appropriate risk-reducing strategies for early stage diagnosis. Currently, NCCN guidelines allow for testing of family members of patients with identified potential disease-producing variants but only identify about 50 percent of breast cancer patients with those variants.

“Cancer risk assessment is an important part of well care for all of us,” said Manahan. “We look to activities or lifestyle changes including dietary habits that we can change to reduce our risk for certain types of cancer. We have also learned that more than 10 percent of all cancers do have some genetic component that can increase our risk for developing certain cancers.”

Breast cancer in the United States was estimated to affect more than 266,000 people in 2018. Of that number, approximately 40,000 would be expected to die from their disease. While experts have been looking at the genetic information of women with obvious family history of breast cancer, recent data has shown that genetic information may also be valuable and impact future care decisions for many other women where there is not a family pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I have genetic counseling?

The choice to have genetic counseling and proceed with genetic testing is one to be taken seriously and with some caution. Though it can sound simple to be tested, there are many things to consider before making this decision. Our physicians and nurses will help guide you through the entire process so you understand the pros and cons of genetic testing. If you or your family is interested, you should be certain to also ask for genetic counseling who can explain to you the meaning of the tests. Just because you may have a gene implicated in a specific cancer does not mean that you will definitely get cancer.

How do I initiate the process of testing?

If you have a significant family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer and you’re interested in genetic testing, it is recommended that a relative who has had breast or ovarian cancer be tested first. If your family member with cancer is tested and found to have an abnormality in one of these genes, other relatives with or without cancer may be tested for that specific genetic mutation.

If you then test negative for the genetic mutation that is known to be present in the family, your chance of developing breast or ovarian cancer is probably no higher than the risk faced by an individual without a significant family history. If you test positive, your risk for developing breast or ovarian cancer is substantially increased, but still not 100 percent.

What are the risks of genetic testing?

There are certain risks associated with genetic testing for cancer susceptibility, including the possibility of insurance or employment discrimination. There are some federal and state laws designed to lower the risk of insurance discrimination, but they only pertain to specific types of insurance. Other risks of genetic testing are adverse psychological reactions and disrupted family relationships. An individual who tests positive may experience anxiety, guilt, depression or fear. Family members may have similar feelings, which could cause strain between relatives.

What if I don’t have a family history of breast cancer? Should I be tested anyway?

The guidelines regarding who should be tested continue to evolve as we learn more about genetics and their role in cancer. If you have a question, ask your primary care physician.

Individuals who might consider genetic testing include:

All patients diagnosed with breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer.
An individual with a relative who has a pathogenic variant in a cancer susceptibility gene.
An individual who has a 1^st or 2^nd degree relative with any of the following:

- Breast Cancer ≤ 45 y/o
- Ovarian Cancer
- Male Breast Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- ≥2 Breast cancer primaries in a single individual
- ≥2 individuals with breast cancer primaries on the same side of family with at least one diagnose ≤50 y/o

An individual with a personal and/or family history on the same side of the family of 3 or more of the following (especially if diagnosed age ≤50 y/o; can include multiple primary cancer in same individual)
- Breast cancer, sarcoma, adrenocortical carcinoma, brain tumor, leukemia
- Colon cancer, endometrial cancer, thyroid cancer, kidney cancer, dermatologic manifestations, macrocephaly, or hamartomatous polyps of GI tract.
- Lobular breast cancer, diffuse gastric cancer
- Breast cancer, GI cancer or hamartomatous polyps, ovarian sex chord tumors, pancreatic cancer, testicular sertoli cell tumors or childhood skin pigmentation.

What does genetic testing cost?

Genetic testing pricing has decreased significantly with multigene panel testing costing as little as $250. Many insurance companies cover the cost of genetic testing, though most companies require that the family history meet specific requirements. It is always best to understand your own insurance coverage before beginning the process of genetic testing.

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