Advocating the need for a medical Team Approach in the treatment and recovery from breast cancer, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in partnership with the American Society of Breast Surgeons, urges breast cancer patients and their physicians to insist that their treatment be handled by a team of healthcare physicians with the appropriate expertise for each procedure and level of care.
The Team Approach to breast cancer care brings Breast Cancertogether an interdisciplinary group of key medical professionals – gynecologist, radiologist, breast surgeon, medical oncologist, and a plastic surgeon – who work together at the onset of a woman’s breast cancer diagnosis to develop and implement a treatment plan tailored for each patient. When the Team Approach is implemented at the time of diagnosis through treatment and recovery, it can result in significantly improved patient outcomes and quality of life.
“Each step of the cancer care journey requires specific medical expertise. When a team of experts works together, the outcome for patients is vastly improved,” said ASPS President Michael McGuire, MD. “However, when these specialists do not work in conjunction, opportunities are missed, and patient outcomes suffer. The problem is the Team Approach is underutilized. The ASPS is very pleased to be part of this extremely important venture along with the ASBS which represents physicians who play a critical role in the Team Approach.”
The ASPS, ASBS, physicians, breast cancer survivors, advocacy groups, manufacturers, and the media recently met in New York to discuss the critical role the Team Approach plays during an event entitled, “Connecting the Docs: The Team Approach to Breast Cancer Care.” Leading manufacturers of breast reconstruction products – Allergan Medical, LifeCell, and Mentor – were in attendance lending their support for the Team Approach.
Contact Dr. Patrick Schaner to learn more about breast reconstruction procedures in his San Antonio practice.
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