Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 21 A FORWARD-LOOKING APPROACH One distinguishing characteristic of Dr. Ilić's approach to surgically treating breast and endocrine cancers is her focus on the patient's quality of life in the years after treatment. "We want patients to be looking forward with hope past this diagnosis, so my intention surgically is not only to be effective at treating the cancer that's there, but also giving a superior cosmetic result if possible," she said. "I am very intentional in approaching surgery to place the incision in an area that when it heals, hopefully the patient will not be able to see it." In the moment, most patients aren't even thinking about scar placement—they just want to get better. Dr. Ilić said that while a superior health outcome is always the priority, "it's my job to stay grounded in the understanding that down the road, it will probably matter to them to be able to wear a bathing suit or a blouse and not worry about their scar showing." Toward this end, Dr. Ilić received a Hidden Scar certificate of training for breast surgery. She also uses this approach when performing thyroid surgeries. While these do require an incision on the neck, she said, "there are technical things that I do in the operating room to try to make sure it closes as nicely as possible. If I can use a natural crease on the patient's neck, I will." SPECIAL CARE FOR THOSE AT HIGHER RISK Having a good relationship with a gynecologist or primary care provider can help ensure you get the care you need. Family history, breast composition and other factors can put women in a higher risk category for breast cancer. For these women, Mary Washington Healthcare's High Risk Breast Screening Program provides a higher level of screening, often alternating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with mammography so that screening occurs every six months. Dr. Ilić said that talking with your relatives about family history of breast, ovarian and other cancers can help you talk to your provider about getting the level of screening needed to detect cancer while it is still treatable. "Sometimes family history is very glossed over and not everyone talks about it," she said. "But having those discussions can really allow patients to be proactive about their own screening, because if someone is designated as high-risk, then we do start screening at an earlier age, depending on when the closest family member was diagnosed." Any patient who receives a mammogram at a Mary Washington imaging facility has her overall lifetime risk of breast cancer determined using the Tyrer-Cuzick statistical model and individual risk factors and may be referred to this program if appropriate. Learning that you've been designated "high-risk" can feel a little scary, but Dr. Ilić empha- sizes that the designation in no way means a diagnosis is imminent. "One of the first things I always say to my patients is, 'This does not mean that you are def- initely going to get breast cancer,'" she said. "This is our opportunity to be proactive about your health and come up with a game plan that everyone is on board with." That could include looking at lifestyle factors that can reduce risk. These include getting 30 minutes of exercise each day and avoiding alcohol. For patients in a higher risk category, other tools, such as anti-estrogen medication, or mastectomy surgery, may be discussed. To learn more about Dr. Ilic and her practice, please go to practices.mwhc.com and click on "General Surgery" or call 540.373.2244. STAY ON TOP OF SCREENINGS BREAST CANCER Recommendation: Annual mam- mograms are recommended for all women starting at age 40. Be proactive: Talk to your health- care provider about any family history of breast cancer, or any physical changes you notice in your breasts. This may indicate a need for earlier screening. Schedule your mammogram: Call 540-741-XRAY(9729). THYROID CANCER Recommendation: Regular check- ups with your primary care physi- cian or gynecologist should include a neck palpitation, which can iden- tify any nodules of concern on the thyroid. Be Proactive: If you have symp- toms such as swelling or lumps in your neck, you should see your healthcare provider right away. PARATHYROID DISORDERS The parathyroid glands are four tiny glands located near the thyroid in the neck. They are responsible for regulating calcium levels in the bloodstream. Recommendation: Annual blood- work as part of a regular checkup with your primary care provider can detect if calcium levels indicate a possible parathyroid issue. Be proactive: If you notice symp- toms such as a lump in the neck, muscle weakness, fatigue, bone pain or recurring kidney stones, talk to your healthcare provider.

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