Hadassah Recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This October, Hadassah Greater Atlanta recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month. More than 300,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Hadassah members and associates recently learned about Hadassah’s breast cancer center at Hadassah’s Sharett Institute of Oncology. This center is headed by Dr. Paluch-Shimon. She is a pioneer in empowering women to make informed choices throughout their deeply personal breast cancer journeys.

Dr. Paluch-Shimon is an international expert on breast cancer and the first Israeli to serve as an editor for the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).

Hadassah’s Sharett Institute of Oncology models Dr. Paluch-Shimon’s vision of empowered, integrated holistic care. Patients are supported by a dedicated nurse coordinator who guides them through the maze of appointments, tests, and treatments prescribed by a team of surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, psychologists, social workers, and other specialists. This personalized psychosocial support helps patients make decisions in line with their values and goals.

Dr. Paluch-Shimon tells the story about a young woman who had early-stage breast cancer and transferred to Hadassah after her oncologist elsewhere told her to enjoy her three children and quit dreaming of a fourth. “We judged that a planned and appropriately timed pregnancy was possible and safe for her,” Dr. Paluch-Shimon said of this patient. “We temporarily stopped her hormone therapy and 10 months later the patient safely delivered a beautiful little boy.”

Rosalie Agrow, president of the Hadassah Greater Atlanta Ketura Group explains, “We learned that treatment at Hadassah’s Sharett Institute of Oncology is tailored not only to the biology of each patient’s disease but also to her personal story. The clinical battle — surgery, radiation and chemo-, immuno-, hormonal, or biological therapy — is only one aspect of coping with cancer.”

Hadassah urges everyone to tell their lawmakers to improve access to breast cancer treatment, which in turn saves lives. Congress is considering several bipartisan bills: Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act (HR 3037 and S1500), Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act (HR 2048), EARLY Act Reauthorization (HR 4541 and S2339), and Find it Early Act (S1410).

Simone Wilker, advocacy chair for Hadassah Greater Atlanta explains, “October is a time that Hadassah women wish to create awareness, honor the millions of lives affected by breast cancer, and reaffirm our global commitment to equitable access to care and improved survival for all.”

To easily send a message to your senator and representative, go to Hadassah’s Advocate and Take Action Center: https://www.hadassah.org/get-involved/advocate-take-action.