Clear Lake Area Chamber Of Commerce: Clear Lake Connections Podcast Episode 37 | Beyond Breast Cancer – A Sit Down With UTMB.

Press release from the Clear Lake Area Chamber Of Commerce:

November 3, 2021

This week on Clear Lake Connections Podcast presented by UTMB Health: On a special episode of Clear Lake Connections, Programs and Communications Chair, Jamieson Mackay sits down with Dr. Colleen Silva, Director for the UTMB Breast Health and Imaging Center to discuss Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Dr. Silva talks about her journey through the UTMB system, key things she wants women to know about Breast Cancer Awareness and all things going on and available to our community for those in need of cancer resources.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness and our host Jamieson Mackay sat down with Dr. Colleen Silva, Director for the UTMB Health Breast Health and Imaging Center. She graduated from UTMB Medical School and did a General Surgery Residency and then did extra years of training in surgical oncology field which is cancer related surgery. Over the years her practice became more just breast and then when she came back to UTMB in 2007 she helped them develop a breast and imaging center.

Breast Cancer Awareness is a huge educational opportunity. She wants to give a shoutout to the Komen Foundation because they help women who are underserved. They provide funding for many people and for research. A lot of people don’t know this but in the state of Texas if you are diagnosed you can get qualified for a specific Medicaid. The first hurdle is getting that mammogram and then you can move through this pipeline. Galveston County has a high percentage of Breast Cancer patients compared to other parts of Texas.

At UTMB, in addition to participating in the Komen organization they also are a big participator in hosting special events, support groups and other events. When it comes to screening recommendations, she suggest that women get a mammogram at the age of 50. This has changed over time. She says you need to be breast self-aware and bring it to the attention to your general practitioner. Dr.Silva personally says you should still get a mammogram at age 40 and get them consistently for the rest of your life.

Advice the doctor has is:

• Looking at your family tree pattern, other cancers and ones that run in groups are also a factor

Breast cancer has changed over the year with technology, treatment etc. A lot of people wonder what drives the rise of breast cancer in the area? She assuming it is from environmental effects but no one really knows, this is when more studies will have to be done.

Dr.Silva says it is important to get your mammogram, be holistic and look at the full patient, they have people that will help you find many types of resources. If you’re looking to get involved, donate to the Komen foundation if your able because the money does come back to our area.

This press release was produced by the Clear Lake Area Chamber Of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.