Harvard Gazette: BWH will Webcast surgery

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HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

BWH will Webcast surgery

To show treatment for breast cancer

Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) will host a live Webcast today (Oct. 27) demonstrating a multidisciplinary approach to treating breast cancer. This approach will show how the Dana-Farber/BWH Cancer Center brings together pathology, radiology, surgical oncology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology to treat breast cancer. The Webcast will highlight a core needle biopsy and preoperative chemotherapy, and will demonstrate - live - the use of regional anesthesia (para-vertebral block) - a technique frequently used at BWH for breast and axillary surgery (removal of lymph nodes under the arms).

Medical professionals and the general public are invited to logon to the Webcast - available at http://www.brighamandwomens.org/surgerywebcast - at 4:30 p.m. In addition to watching the procedure, viewers can participate in a live online question-and-answer session.

BWH breast surgeon Beth Lesnikoski will perform the complex breast-preserving procedure, with Morana Lasic and Mercedes Concepcion facilitating the regional anesthesia. The biopsies will be performed prior to the live Webcast with the assistance of BWH radiologist Robyn Birdwell. J. Dirk Iglehart, chief of surgical oncology of the BWH and Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, will narrate the Webcast.

"Breast cancer is a highly individualized disease that requires a well-coordinated team approach to best treat the patient," said Lesnikoski. "This Webcast will directly demonstrate the contributions of the different disciplines, highlight new techniques including regional anesthesia and preoperative chemotherapy, and present novel approaches to breast preservation and ultimately demonstrate how, with these treatments combined, we can improve outcomes for our patients."

For more information regarding this and future BWH Webcasts, visit http://www.brighamandwomens.org/surgerywebcast.