In recent years, tremendous advances in breast cancer treatment have helped boost survival rates. Many of the greatest advances have been made in adjuvant therapy – treatment that is given after breast cancer surgery, according to Sunny D. Mitchell M.D., F.A.C.S., Medical Director of the Breast Center and Director of Breast Surgery at Montefiore Nyack Hospital.“Gone are the days when all breast cancer patients got surgery, chemo and radiation,” Dr. Mitchell said. “Now everyone’s treatment is tailored to that person’s specific cancer.”

What is Adjuvant Therapy?

Many patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery at Montefiore Nyack Hospital now have the option of being treated with robotic surgery. “We are using the da Vinci Surgical System, which uses robotic arms and instruments that have a wider range of motion than humans do,” said Lee Fleischer, M.D., F.A.C.S., Director of Surgical Services at Montefiore Nyack Hospital. “Because of this, the surgery is even less invasive than regular laparoscopic surgery resulting in less pain for the patient and a shorter time for recuperation.”

As a growing number of patients are discharged from the hospital sooner, with more complex medical needs, the role of home care is expanding. Today, home care nurses care for very sick patients who require extremely skilled high tech nursing care at home.

Home care organizations also provide physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, as well as a medical social worker, and home health aides.