Breast Cancer Program for Underserved Women Receives $31,000 Gift

Oceanside, NY, September 24, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The Long Island 2 Day Breast Cancer Walk (LI2DAY) has awarded South Nassau Communities Hospital’s Cancer Center with a $31,000 gift in support of screening, early detection and diagnosis services for medically underserved and low income patients with suspected or confirmed breast cancer. This is the third consecutive year that LI2DAY has donated a gift to South Nassau’s program, for a combined total of $82,500.

“We are grateful that LI2DAY remains a steadfast supporter of South Nassau’s enduring mission to provide compassionate, quality care for the patients it serves regardless of their ability to pay,” said Christine Hodyl, DO, Director of Breast Health Services.

According to the American Cancer Society there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States, including women who are still being treated. Underserved and minority women have the highest mortality, lowest survival, and fastest-rising incidence rates for breast cancer in the U.S.

Nearly 400 walkers participated in the 2010 LI2DAY walk, held June 5-6, raising over $500,000 that is donated directly back to Long Island community-based grassroots organizations. The two-day, 35-mile walk began Saturday morning at Smith Point County Park at the Fire Island barrier beach in Shirley and continued along safe and scenic Suffolk County roads with continuous support from the Suffolk County Police Department, a qualified medical team, and local ambulance personnel. After completing a 20-mile walk on Day 1, participants camped overnight at Cathedral Pines County Park in Middle Island. Walkers completed a 15-mile route back to Smith Point County Park on Sunday.

South Nassau’s Center for Breast Health offers a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary breast care program, with a full spectrum of clinical and support services, from screening and diagnosis to treatment and counseling. The program is recognized for its advanced treatment of both cancerous and benign breast problems. Early detection is the focus of South Nassau’s Complete Women’s Imaging, PC, which uses an array of state-of-the-art diagnostic technologies, including digital mammography, high resolution ultrasound and MRI of the breast.

If a tumor or abnormality is detected, the Center offers the most advanced treatments for breast cancer and breast health complications and uses targeted surgical techniques that aim to preserve as much of the healthy breast and surrounding areas as possible. This includes sentinel lymph node biopsy and lymph node dissection for early stage breast cancer; single channel balloon brachytherapy techniques; breast-conserving surgery (commonly known as lumpectomy); mastectomy and oncoplasty (which combines surgical cancer removal with plastic surgery for superior cosmetic results). After surgery, other treatments such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and/or radiation treatments may be needed.

For more information about South Nassau’s Cancer Program or to schedule an appointment, please call 1-877-SOUTH-NASSAU.

South Nassau Communities Hospital is one of the region’s largest hospitals, with 435 beds, more than 875 physicians and 2,800 employees. Located in Oceanside, NY, the hospital is an acute-care, not-for-profit teaching hospital that provides state-of-the-art care in cardiac, oncologic, orthopedic, bariatric, pain management, mental health and emergency services. In addition to its extensive outpatient specialty centers, South Nassau provides emergency and elective angioplasty and is the only hospital on Long Island with the Novalis Tx™ and Gamma Knife® radiosurgery technologies. South Nassau is a designated Stroke Center by the New York State Department of Health and Comprehensive Community Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons and is recognized as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

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