South Nassau Communities Hospital Named a Beneficiary of Breast Cancer Awareness Walk

Oceanside, NY, March 05, 2011 --(PR.com)-- South Nassau Communities Hospital has been named a beneficiary of the 2011 Long Island 2 Day (LI2Day) Walk to Fight Breast Cancer. This is the fourth consecutive year that South Nassau has been named a beneficiary of LI2Day.

All of the money raised by LI2Day is donated directly back to Long Island community-based grassroots organizations. LI2DAY has donated a total of $82,500 to South Nassau in support of its breast cancer screening, early detection/diagnosis, and follow-up treatment program for underserved and minority patients. Since its inception, LI2Day has raised over $3 million in support of local grassroots organizations, research facilities and educational scholarships.

The 2011 walk will take place on Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12. The two-day, 35-mile walk begins Saturday morning at Smith Point County Park at the Fire Island barrier beach in Shirley and continues along safe and scenic Suffolk County roads with continuous support from the Suffolk County Police Department, a qualified medical team, and local ambulance personnel. Individuals or groups interested in walking or donating in support of South Nassau and LI2Day should call Georgette D’Andraia, development associate/systems coordinator of South Nassau’s development department, at (516) 377-5360.

After completing a 20-mile walk on Day 1, participants camp overnight at Cathedral Pines County Park in Middle Island. Walkers complete a 15-mile route back to Smith Point County Park the following day. Volunteers and sponsors as well as interested walkers can register or learn more about information sessions, training sessions and registration online by calling (631)-863-2329.

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. Minimally invasive procedures can detect breast cancer long before it becomes a serious threat to your health and wellness.

If a tumor or abnormality is detected, the Breast Health Services Program offers the most advanced treatments for breast cancer and breast health issues and uses targeted surgical techniques that aim to preserve as much of the healthy breast and surrounding areas as possible. This includes Contura™ multi-channel and Mammosite® single channel balloon brachytherapy techniques, which utilize a balloon catheter to deliver highly localized radiation to the lumpectomy bed; breast-conserving surgery (commonly known as lumpectomy), in which only the tumor or abnormality is removed from the breast; or mastectomy, an operation in which the whole breast is removed. For invasive breast cancer, these procedures may be accompanied by a sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection if needed.

Oncoplastic surgical techniques are also offered. Oncoplasty combines surgical cancer removal with plastic surgery techniques to produce a superior cosmetic end result. Recommendations for whole-body or "systemic" treatments, such as hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of two of the three therapies, may follow either surgical approach. If early-stage breast cancer is present, sentinel lymph node biopsy is used as an alternative to traditional lymph node dissection.

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

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