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Breast Health Center
February 28, 2008 |
Dealing with the diagnosis of cancer is never easy. Sharon MacDonald is the Vice
President for Lee Memorial Health System Cancer Services. “When people are
diagnosed with cancer the first thing they think about is oh my God I’m going to
die. And although we’ve made great strides in curing this disease it’s now
better chances than ever that you’ll live with the disease it’s still a great
fear.” But there is one place in particular designed to help women ease their
fears about breast cancer. Dara Leichter is a Registered Nurse with the Lee
Memorial Health System Breast Health Centers. She says, “Any woman that’s
diagnosed with any kind of breast abnormality either benign or malignant
diseases I help them sort of through that journey from being diagnosed through
treatment.” Dara spends her days educating and counseling women at the Breast
Health Center. She says the center offers a safe haven for patients to come and
express their feelings. “I always tell them that my office is a free zone that
they get mad and they can cry and they can have any of those emotions that they
don’t like to show out there,” says Dara. The women also get a chance to learn
more about how the disease is affecting their body. “I can sit down and go over
I can you know even pull out books and pictures and show the women and just
really tell them exactly what’s going on with their disease process or treatment
and just give that extra bit of time that they need.” Dara also says that little
extra time she’s able to spend with a patient can go a long way. “They have all
said to me how valuable the service has been that they have some place where
they.” Right now there are four active Breast Health Centers. The facilities
also help women find financial resources and community support to help with
treatment. |
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