Fighting Breast Cancer is a Team Effort at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital

A breast cancer diagnosis can change life in an instant, bringing questions, uncertainty and important decisions about what comes next. But advances in screening, diagnosis and treatment continue to give women more reason for hope,  particularly when breast cancer is detected early.

About one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 321,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in U.S. women in 2026. Breast cancer accounts for about one in three new cancers diagnosed in women each year. The five-year relative survival rate is 92% for all stages combined and greater than 99% when invasive breast cancer is detected while still localized to the breast.

At West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital (WCCH), helping women achieve the best possible outcome means providing coordinated care throughout the breast cancer journey. The hospital’s comprehensive Breast Health Program brings together education, screening, advanced diagnostics, treatment, patient support and survivorship services.

“Our goal is to make sure women have access to the resources they need for early detection and, if cancer is found, a coordinated team to guide them through what comes next,” says Heather LaBauve, RN, OCN, BHCN.

As a breast health navigator, LaBauve is one of the most important connections for women diagnosed with breast cancer at WCCH. She provides individualized guidance and support throughout diagnosis and treatment.

“A breast cancer diagnosis comes with so much information at a time when a patient is already dealing with fear and uncertainty,” LaBauve says. “My role is to help make the process easier to navigate, answer questions and make sure each patient knows she has someone beside her throughout her journey.”

WCCH’s Fast Track program is another important part of that commitment, helping move patients efficiently through the next steps following a suspicious finding.

“Waiting can be one of the most difficult parts of the process,” LaBauve says. “Patients want answers and they want to know what happens next. Our team works to coordinate appointments, paperwork and referrals as efficiently as possible. We try to remove obstacles and connect each patient with the appropriate specialists and resources so she can focus her energy on moving forward.”

That coordination continues throughout diagnosis, treatment and recovery. WCCH works closely with surgeons, oncologists and other specialists to provide patients with a connected continuum of breast cancer care.

Kamran Shahid, MD, hematologist/oncologist with Ochsner CHRISTUS Health and a member of the WCCH medical staff explains that breast cancer treatment has become increasingly personalized, with decisions based on the specific characteristics of the cancer as well as the individual patient. “Today, we have more treatment options and more information to help us determine the most appropriate approach for each patient, and having access to oncology care and treatment services close to home can also make a meaningful difference for patients who may require ongoing care.”

“Breast cancer treatment requires many different areas of expertise, and collaboration among those providers is extremely important,” says Devin Seale, MD, general surgeon with Sulphur Surgical Clinic and a member of the WCCH medical staff. “Being part of WCCH’s Breast Health Program allows us to communicate and coordinate care throughout the process. For the patient, there is tremendous reassurance in knowing the people involved in her care are working together toward the same goal.”

In addition to breast health navigation and Fast Track services, WCCH’s comprehensive program includes:

DIAGNOSTICS

Mammography remains an important tool for finding breast cancer at an early stage. The American College of Radiology recommends annual mammography beginning at age 40 for women at average risk and recommends that women have a breast cancer risk assessment by age 25 to determine whether earlier or additional screening may be appropriate. WCCH offers advanced digital mammography with 3D SmartCurve technology, designed to provide accurate imaging with enhanced patient comfort. When additional evaluation is needed, ultrasound, MRI and minimally invasive biopsy services are conveniently available at the hospital.

TREATMENT

WCCH provides comprehensive breast cancer treatment capabilities through a team of specialists and support services. Available services include surgery, outpatient chemotherapy, port care and infusion services, allowing patients to receive much of the care they need close to home.

GENETIC TESTING

Inherited changes in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can significantly increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 60% of women who inherit a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene change will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, compared with approximately 13% of women in the general population. Genetic testing, available through WCCH, can provide important information that may help guide treatment and future decisions about proactive care. Determining whether genetic testing is appropriate should involve careful consideration and discussion with a physician about an individual’s personal and family history, potential benefits and limitations of testing.

PINK CRUSADE SUPPORT GROUP

The WCCH Pink Crusade Support Group provides another layer of support for women facing breast cancer and survivors continuing their journey. Meeting monthly, the group offers a welcoming environment where women can share experiences, learn from one another and find encouragement among others who understand what they are going through.

“Breast cancer remains a significant health concern for women, but we also have more tools than ever to detect it earlier and treat it effectively,” LaBauve says. “What we want every woman who comes through our program to know is that she has an entire team behind her. Whether she is coming in for screening, facing a diagnosis, undergoing treatment or moving into survivorship, she does not have to take any step of that journey alone.”

To learn more about the WCCH Breast Health Program, visit wcch.com/services/breast-health.

Moving Hope Forward with Every Step

Hundreds of people will fill the front lawn of the Lake Charles Event Center on October 17 for the 22nd Ethel Precht HOPE Breast Cancer Walk, continuing a Southwest Louisiana tradition built on hope, compassion and community support.

Organized by the WCCH Foundation, the annual walk brings the community together to celebrate breast cancer survivors, remember those who have been lost and raise funds to help local individuals facing breast cancer.

The event was founded by the late Ethel Precht, a breast cancer survivor who understood firsthand the challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis. Several years after her own diagnosis, Precht organized a breast cancer survivors’ walk in 2004. What began with her desire to help others has grown into an annual community event and a lasting legacy of support for breast cancer patients throughout Calcasieu and Cameron parishes.

“This walk is more than an event; it’s a movement of compassion and support that continues to grow each year,” says Demi Neely, director of marketing, foundation and community impact at WCCH. “Ethel Precht’s vision was to ensure no individual in Southwest Louisiana walks through breast cancer alone, and we are proud to continue her mission through this annual event.”

Today, Precht’s legacy lives on through both the annual walk and the Ethel Precht HOPE Breast Cancer Program of WCCH. Funds raised through the event provide direct financial assistance to eligible individuals in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes who are undergoing breast cancer treatment.

Assistance can help cover medical bills as well as specialized garments, wigs, prostheses, lymphedema sleeves and other expenses associated with treatment, recovery and survivorship. By helping with these costs, the program can ease some of the financial burdenon patients and their families.

Neely says last year’s walk raised more than $142,500 and brought together over 2500 participants. Over the past year, funds generated by the event helped provide more than $72,000 in financial assistance to 78 local individuals facing breast cancer.

“We invite local businesses and individuals to join us to make this year’s event even  more successful,” says Neely. “Every person who participates helps us continue Ethel’s legacy and provide hope and support to people in our own community.”

To learn more or register for the Ethel Precht HOPE Breast Cancer Walk, visit ethelbreastcancerwalk.org.