Breast Cancer Awareness Month starts
in just a few days in October,
but we're getting a jump start
by talking about the latest in
screening and testing options
with Overlake Medical Center.
Dr Eileen Consorti is joining me now.
Thank you for being here. You're
welcome. Thank you for having me. Absolutely.
This is a very important topic
to discuss and I love that we're
getting a jump on it because I always
wonder what is the official time?
When should women be screening?
So that's an interesting question.
We recommend that women start
getting their screening.
Mammograms at the age of 40.
Hmm. And then at the age of 55,
they can have a conversation with
their primary care to determine
if they need to continue with
annual screening, mammograms,
or if they can jump to every
two years. Ohh
OK, yeah, so you should not do that
until you were in the 50s. Yes,
50, age 55. And I would definitely cushion
that around a good conversation with the
primary care your primary care provider.
Alright, that's good information to know.
Do you recommend genetic testing?
So I recommend genetic testing for any
woman with a new diagnosis of breast cancer.
OK, and also they should every woman should
have a conversation with their primary
care providers about their risk factors,
including family history of all types
of cancer, not just breast cancer,
but all types of cancer to determine
if they would be a candidate
for getting genetically tested.
So OK. You mentioned that you think
they should get tested after a new
diagnosis. How does that help?
And so if a woman tests
positive for a genetic mutation,
it may alter what kind of surgical
choice she wants for her body, OK.
In terms of treatment for her breast cancer.
So say she has the back of Gene,
which is the gene we know to contribute
to breast cancer, if I'm saying
that scientifically correctly, yes.
That could alter maybe full mastectomy or
or or making a more aggressive treatment.
Correct? Correct.
It's really fascinating.
You have a new clinic though that
recently opened tell us what,
what's happening there,
right. We're really excited.
Overlake was very supportive in helping
us start the multidisciplinary breast
cancer clinic and it really helps these
women with new diagnosis on their
journey for breast cancer treatment.
We're A-Team at Overlake and the teams.
Comprised of a breast radiologist,
breast pathologist, medical and radiation
oncologists and surgical oncologists.
And we all get together.
We in one morning,
we review each woman's imaging studies,
her pathology report, and come and,
and then the woman goes ahead and with
consultations with all the specialties,
she fills out one medical intake form,
so she doesn't have a bunch of forms.
Her appointments aren't skewed
over two to three weeks.
There in one morning she brings in a
loved one or friend to be her eyes
and ears during the consultation.
And then at the end of the morning she
comes up with a cohesive treatment
plan that allows her to know what
her schedule is going to look like
in the next few months for treatment
of her breast cancer.
Wow.
We have a nurse navigator who
helps her at every step of the way
and helps get that plan together.
And the nurse navigators are really
key and have done such a great job at
over like with helping these women.
Find their path.
And we also have social workers
to help with women supportive
and emotional needs.
That is amazing. I mean,
it's really comprehensive,
super nice, nice, nice
program to offer these women.
This is amazing. Yes.
You know, when you sat down
here you you were very insistent
that we keep this conversation
positive and upbeat because you
said women are really having good
results from their treatment,
yourself included.
That's right, I'm a breast cancer survivor.
I was diagnosed in 2013.
And it's my passion to help women
through this journey and really
do well in the long run and return
them to how they were before
their diagnosis. Cancer free.
Well, your your passion is palpable.
I can see it. How can people
maybe learn more about what
their journey would look like?
Well, on the Overlake website we have links
to the multidisciplinary breast cancer
clinic if they do have a new diagnosis.
They can get in touch with our
nurse navigators who will help guide
them through their appointments
and schedule them for this clinic.
And even if, let's say,
they started treatment somewhere else
or they started the path somewhere else,
but they they're hearing this
now and they say, I think this
is where I need to be. It's OK.
They can just kind of come on over.
Absolutely. If they started somewhere
else and they're not sure sure,
they can give us a call and we
can get them into our clinic.
Thank you so much, Doctor Consorti.
It has been a pleasure talking
to you and congratulations on
your on your fight and and thank
you for sharing your passion.
Yeah, thank you for the interview. Lovely,
absolutely. Well, to learn more about
what we discussed today to get in
touch with Overlake Medical Center,
just visit the website right on your screen.
Well, I recently took a big road trip
over the weekend all by my lonesome.
That was a little bit nervous,
some anxiety, and I have some
thoughts on the value though of a
solo adventure when we come back.
Portion of New Day Northwest is
sponsored by Overlake Medical Center.