Cancer Treatment at Hadassah Hospital, Israel

The understanding of the genetics of the disease may also play a role in the epidemiological aspects of breast cancer. The diversity of the cultural backgrounds of women in Israel shows that the disease is more prominent among women with a western origin than among those with an eastern background. However, the most serious increase in the incidence of breast cancer has been seen in Israeli born women and in the non-Jewish, mainly the Arab, population.

At the end of the 2nd European Breast Cancer Conference, held in Brussels in September 2000, a statement was established. This statement claimed that: “The conference demands that national governments establish and accredit breast units in their countries…” The same statement stressed the importance of a multidisciplinary team to be at the core of such units. The Israeli Breast Cancer Coalition decided to advocate and work towards the establishment of such centers. Some efforts have been already implemented into practice in this country. In this paper, a description is given to the proposed Breast Care Center to be established at the Hadassah Medical Organization.

A General Description of the

Hadassah Breast Cancer Treatment Center in Israel

The Hadassah Breast cancer treatment Center is to be established with the aim of providing multidisciplinary comprehensive care for women with breast cancer. In a specially dedicated medical setting, women will be offered diagnostic procedures, a plan for cancer treatment in Israerl, as well as follow-up services for their various breast conditions. The cancer treatment center integrates the expertise of radiation and medical oncologists, breast surgeons, and specialists in radiology, pathology, social work, nursing and psychology. The priorities of the center will be based on the provision of state of the art care, patient-centered care, clinical research, education and community outreach.

Highlighting of Unique Aspects of the Breast Care Center. 

ý      Single access Point

The Hadassah Breast Care Center will offer women a single point of access into the health system. A dedicated telephone line will be available staffed by a trained personal who has the skill to triage women to the appropriate next step and handle their records and referral needs. This member of staff will also have the ability to assure women that they will be taken care of and followed within the medical system.

ý      Clinical Nurse Specialist

The day-to-day coordination of the Breast Care Center will be managed by a trained and dedicated Breast Care Clinical Nurse Specialist. Her role is to follow women with breast problems from the access point of entry and help them navigate within the system by coordinating all aspects of their treatment and care. She will continue to be their main contact address across their entire continuum of management and follow-up. Moreover, the Clinical Nurse Specialist will provide women with information and help them to make decisions regarding their care. She will also provide emotional and psychological support and refer women to other sources of support when needed.

ý      Multidisciplinary Breast cancer treatment Program

The Hadassah Breast Care Center will offer women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer a Multidisciplinary Breast Care Program. In a single outpatient visit, women will meet individually with the physicians and nurses in their provider team, which is comprised of a breast surgeon, medical oncologist and a nurse specialist. During the session, the provider team will meet to discuss each patient’s case and develop a recommended treatment plan. A breast imaging specialist and pathologist will be also in attendance to consult on mammograms and pathology slides. Social work and psychological medicine are also to be available. The benefit for women is that, in one convenient session, they will meet all of their breast health providers, have their case reviewed by a team of specialists, and receive an individualized and tailored plan of care.

ý      Cancer Risk Evaluation Program

The Cancer Risk Evaluation Program will be developed for women who are concerned about having an increased risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer. Women will be given the opportunity to meet with a medical oncologist and genetic counselor who have an expertise in risk assessment. The goal of this effort is to address the concerns of a woman who, for reasons of strong family history, may wish to discuss her particular degree of risk, appropriate management of that risk, and the issue of genetic counseling and screening.

ý      The Psycho-oncology Services

The Psycho-oncology services will offer women a program designed to assist with managing psychological stress and anxiety related to the diagnosis and treatment, and help in increasing coping skills and modifying adverse life-style behaviors. The program will include individualized psychological care as well as ongoing group sessions to women according to ages and stages of disease. Patients will learn to take an active role in their own care through a variety of relaxation techniques, which help reduce anxiety and fear such as from the side-effects of chemotherapy, and help to enhance feelings of control and hope.

ý      Information and Learning Center

The Breast cancer treatment Center patients will be referred to the Information Center to learn more about their health and their particular breast cancer treatment in Israel. The Information Center is free and is located near the Center. Patients, health visitors and all members of the community can access an extensive collection of books, periodicals, videos, and computer software and internet on wide variety of women’s health issues in general, and breast problems in particular. Visiting the Information Center may help women and their families to formulate questions when they meet the multidisciplinary team. In addition, the Center will empower women who have breast cancer so that they can make informed choices in relation to their treatment and care.

ý      Patient to Patient – the Reach for Recovery Program

The Reach for Recovery Program will provide a free support program for women with breast cancer. Staffed by volunteers, who have all experienced breast cancer and its treatment, this program offers additional avenue of support and insight.

ý      Patient Satisfaction

The Breast cancer treatment Center will be committed to continually improve its program and facilities. Patient satisfaction will be monitored annually by a special survey developed for this purpose. Action steps to address will be taken.

ý      Research and Education

The world's Breast cancer treatment Center in Israel will serve as a venue for clinical, as well as psychosocial research. Issues related to environmental factors and breast cancer, the genetic aspect of the disease and epidemiological factors will be of main interest for such ongoing research. The center will also join other academic and established medical institutions in conducting clinical and basic research. Psychosocial research will also be done and evaluated in practice. Educational activities of medical and non-medical staff will be carried out at the center.