Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Treatment Options Available At Washington DC VA Medical Center
Washington DC VA Medical Center turns pink during October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The Washington DC VA Medical Center pairs state-of-the-art breast cancer treatment options with highly skilled medical professionals to care for Veterans diagnosed with breast cancer.
“We offer the full gamut of breast surgery,” said Washington DC VA Medical Center’s Chief of General Surgery, Meredith Garrett, M.D. “If it’s out there, we can do it, and the talent of our plastic surgeons and their ability to reconstruct Veterans in a meaningful way is unmatched.”
Treatment options available to breast cancer patients at the DC VA Medical Center include:
- Medications (chemotherapy/hormone therapy)
- Surgical procedures (lumpectomy - breast conservation therapy, mastectomy, breast reconstruction)
- Radiation therapy
- Oncology (specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer)
Because every diagnosis is different, the DC VA Medical Center takes a team approach to treating the cancer and caring for the Veteran through bi-weekly meetings to discuss every patient’s progress.
“The entire team gets together to discuss every Veteran,” said Garrett. “We talk about the treatment for the cancer, but also other care that might make the process easier for them. We bring in mental health and support services to help. It’s not just about the surgery, or medicine or radiation, it’s about the comprehensive package that we offer to women and men with breast cancer at the VA.”
That comprehensive package starts long before a diagnosis, with mammogram coordinators who track and schedule Veterans for vital screenings when due. Garrett said keeping Veterans involved in their own screening efforts is the biggest challenge they have. Another is helping Veterans overcome obstacles to treatment after a diagnosis.
“Open communication is vital because every Veteran’s situation is different,” she said. “They might need surgery, but don’t have any childcare help at home. We have had homeless Veterans who need treatment, and we have to figure out a way to get them the care they need both here, and at home. Those kinds of factors are why we treat the Veteran, and not the disease.”
Despite the variety of treatment plans available, there are Veterans who opt not to proceed with breast cancer care. Garrett respects their decision but maintains contact to make sure they know that the path to treatment is always available.
“I keep a list of active breast cancer patients on my desk, and I look at it every day and consider if there is something else that I need to do to provide care for them,” she said. “I want them to know that I respect their choice, but that I will never stop caring for them. Our door is always open.”
For more breast cancer information and to speak to professionals who treat it at the Washington DC VA Medical Center, visit the Women’s Health Clinic Breast Cancer Information Fair, every Wednesday in October, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. outside the main entrance to the Washington DC VA Medical Center. Find the event details here. VA Washington DC Health Care | Breast Cancer Awareness Information Fair | Veterans Affairs