Shore Regional Breast Center recently hosted a symposium to update local physicians, nurses and other health partners about breast health programs and services available for patients and their families.
Addressing the symposium guests and setting the tone for the evening, Dale Reddish, MSN, CRNP, coordinator of Shore Regional Breast Center, said, “Taking a multi-disciplinary approach to cancer treatment and survival is critical. Each of you has played an integral role in the lives of the patients we care for together.”
On behalf of Shore Health System, Reddish thanked the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for 13 years of support. Komen grants have been used for community outreach that provided education about breast health and treatment options. Grants from Komen also supported Shore Health’s breast cancer clinical trials programs.
Breast cancer survivor Edla Coleman told the symposium participants her story of diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Coleman’s experience compelled her to become a mentor with Survivors Offering Support (SOS). She now oversees the SOS program at Shore Regional Breast Center, where she connects newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with women who have survived the experience.
Coleman explained, “Being a mentor for SOS takes a random, horrible experience and brings it full circle. Some women say they would go through having breast cancer all over again to be of service in this way.”
Next on the symposium program was Mary DeShields, MD, senior investigator and director of the Shore Health System Cancer Clinical Trials Program. Dr. DeShields, who is also a medical oncologist, talked about the challenges and benefits of conducting cancer clinical trials in a rural community.
“Patients who participate in a cancer trial are guaranteed to get the highest standard of care while staying close to home,” Dr. DeShields explained. “Society also benefits because clinical trials make it possible for us to add to the body of information needed to improve how we treat cancer.”
Closing the program, acupuncturist Monika Armbruster, L.Ac, from Shore Health’s Center for Integrative Medicine, explained how acupuncture, massage, meditation and psychotherapy complement other treatments and support programs available for cancer patients.
“We want to empower people to live life to the fullest,” Armbruster said. She offers a free 15-minute consultation to help people choose the services that will support their physical, emotional and mental health.
To learn more about Shore Regional Breast Center, call 410-820-9400 or visit www.shorehealth.org/services/breastcenter. Information about cancer clinical trials offered through Shore Health System is available by calling 410- 820-6800, ext. 2300 or visit www.shorehealth.org/services/clinicaltrials. For information about the Center for Integrative Medicine, call 410-770-9400 or visit www.shorehealth.org/services/intmed.
In photos:
Above: The Shore Regional Breast Center team, which is based at the Memorial Hospital at Easton, includes (left to right) Mattie Foundation, community outreach worker; Dale Reddish, MSN, CRNP, coordinator; Consuelo Carpenter, community outreach worker; Edla Coleman, coordinator, Survivors Offering Support; Sara McCafferty, receptionist; Joanie Peters, nursing assistant; and Jane Escher, RN, case worker.
At left: Pictured at the Mid-Shore Breast Health Symposium are (left to right) Chris Levey, MD, Chief of Radiology for Shore Health System; Roberta Lilly, MD, medical director for Shore Regional Breast Center; Mary DeShields, MD, senior investigator and director of the Shore Health System Cancer Clinical Trials Program; and Dale Reddish, MSN, CRNP, coordinator of Shore Regional Breast Center.
At left, below: Dale Reddish, MSN, CRNP, (left) coordinator of Shore Regional Breast Center, thanks Lori Yates, Eastern Shore Field Coordinator for the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, for Komen’s 13 years of grant funding.