WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, SportsBreast Accreditation allows cutting edge care for local cancer patients

Breast Accreditation allows cutting edge care for local cancer patients

by Natalie Sparacio

WESTON (WAOW)--  Last July, 44 year old, Judy Bremer of Bevent, found out she had Stage 2 breast cancer.

Bremer says, "... I was in shock, because I never expected that... at first it was denial, no I cant have cancer.. I'm not sick."

After undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and now hormone therapy, she says she's gone full circle.

Bremer says, "... it made me a lot more positive... don't worry about the little things anymore... even my brother in law noticed when he came over for Thanksgiving... he said he could see how I've changed... don't let little things bother you anymore... because it's not going to matter tomorrow. I just live life and enjoy life, when I feel good I'm going to enjoy life."

Judy's currently part of a multi-team approach at Marshfield Clinic, thanks to brand new accreditation administered by the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Ellen Schumann, the Medical Director for Women's Wellness at the Marshfield Clinic, says, "... over the past few years, breast cancer has gone from a disease that one person can treat... and then perhaps to a second or a third person down the line. It's gone from that approach to what we call a multi disciplinary approach... where you have a group of physicians who come together to share their knowledge and plan the best treatment for you."

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers has accredited over 105 centers in 38 states, and is the first and only program for breast care.

In order to comply the medical center must ensure that a patients has:

A complete range of state-of-the-art services.

Multidisciplinary team approach to coordinating the best available treatment options.

Information about ongoing cancer clinical trials and new treatment options.

Access to prevention and early detection programs, cancer education, and support services.

Ongoing monitoring and improvements in cancer care.

Dr. Schumann says, "... the program is a way of letting our patients know that we've gone the extra mile and guaranteed them an excellent clinical program."

Each patient is given what's called a Navigation Nurse. In Judy's case, it's Nurse practitioner, Jill Depke.

It's a person who pretty much takes a patient by the hand and leads them through treatment.

Depke says, "... you partner with patients to guide them through the cancer experience... it's when a patient is diagnosed at first onset through survivorship and you provide education or support."

Doctors and nurses say this new team based approach allows patients to better understand their diagnosis and the treatment options that are available.

There are 4 area hospitals who have this accreditation.

Three are within the Marshfield Clinic system, and 1 is with Aspirus.

For more information about the NAPBC, visit its Web site at www.accreditedbreastcenters.org.

Online Reporter: Natalie Sparacio