Stay Healthy

LOCAL EXPERTS PROVIDE TOP CARE FOR BREAST CANCER

In our October 2018 issue, Monthly consulted with the following local experts in our coverage of breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment.

WALKERS FLOCKS TO LOWCOUNTRY FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS FUNDRAISER

The iconic Bluffton scene at the end of Wharf Street — the oak trees, the May River and the Daddy’s Girl  shrimp boat — will be in the background this year as participants cross the finish line of the Bluffton leg of the seventh annual Pledge the Pink three-day walk to raise money for breast cancer treatment in the Lowcountry.

A coordinated approach defines modern breast cancer care. Many Lowcountry practices now hold weekly interdisciplinary meetings where doctors, surgeons, geneticists, oncologists and other specialists review options and details of the patient’s needs before coming to a consensus about treatment.

“That’s really the best way to keep everything together and to give each patient the individualized care they need,” said Dr. William Burak, a breast surgical oncologist at the Center for Breast Care at Memorial Health University Physicians. He also treats patients at Hilton Head Hospital.

MANY WOMEN WITH EARLY-STAGE BREAST CANCER CAN SKIP CHEMOTHERAPY, STUDY SAYS

A major national study has found that many women with early-stage, intermediate-level breast cancer don’t need chemotherapy, and local doctors are examining its implications for breast cancer treatment.

The TAILORx trial, which stands for Trial Assigning Individualized Options for Treatment, enrolled more than 10,000 women with breast cancer who fit specific credentials, making it one of the largest precision medicine trials ever for breast cancer, and possibly all cancers.

GOOD SKIN IS IN THIS SEASON THANKS TO THESE DIY TREATMENTS

Though October can be a scream — ghoulish yard decorations, scary slasher movies, horrifying piles of sugary candy — there is nothing more monstrous than not properly taking care of your skin from head to toe. But fear not: Here are a few healthy skincare ingredients you might already have at home, plus a few DIY treatments that will leave you hauntingly radiant.

While mammograms have been the go-to technique for years to identify abnormalities in women’s breasts, a new national study with a local test site is exploring another tool that may also prove useful.

SouthCoast Imaging Health Service, which has offices in Savannah and on Hilton Head, is part of a national study of a whole-breast ultrasound machine to see if it is a better option for women with specific types of tissue that are more prone to developing breast cancer.

Bras designed by high school students are on display this month to raise awareness for breast cancer. The Bra Project was started four years ago by Dr. Audrey Klenke of Pinnacle Plastic Surgery, and the practice continues to sponsor the exhibit. Students from May River High School and Hilton Head Island High School designed and created the bras, which will be on display at various locations throughout the Lowcountry.

Patients with no health insurance or high-deductible plans can now save money on a wide range of medical services, including mammograms, at Beaufort Memorial Hospital thanks to a new partnership with MDsave, an online healthcare marketplace.

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Beaufort Memorial is offering $99 mammograms through MDsave during October. Mammograms are available in both Bluffton and Beaufort and can be purchased online at www.MDSave.com/Beaufort through Oct. 31.

REGAIN YOUR YOUTH AT THE SPA

Walking inside the calm environment of Serendipity Medical Spa in Hilton Head Island, you can’t help but relax. The neutral color palette, lightly scented air and soothing background music turn the space into a peaceful oasis, where even the most hectic of days fade away as you walk through the door.