RIVERHEAD, NY — Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC) recently hosted the 2023 Pink Panel to explore a range of topics related to breast cancer detection and treatment options to give area residents an inside look at the medical innovations and answer questions with potentially life-saving information. The event was held at the Hotel Indigo in Riverhead and featured a panel consisting of Susan H. Lee, MD, Chief of Breast Surgery, PBMC, Elizabeth Sieczka, MD, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Brittney, MD, Medical Oncologist and Director of the Cancer Services Program of Suffolk County, Maureen O'Connor.
“At Peconic Bay Medical Center, our mission is to provide excellent medical care and empower our residents with the information they need to make informed health care decisions,” said Amy Loeb, EdD, MBA, RN, PBMC executive director. “Events like our Breast Cancer Pink Panel are an integral part of our position as a community hospital and help shine a light on the significant investments PBMC has made to advance cancer services throughout Eastern Suffolk County.”
According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, and an estimated 297,790 new cases of breast cancer will be detected in 2023. Additionally, an estimated 2,800 new cases of breast cancer will diagnosed in men nationwide – a man's lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 833. However, the five-year survival rate when breast cancer is caught early in its localized stage is 99%, according to the American Cancer Society.
PBMC has made significant investments in mammography technology to detect breast cancer in its early stages. This includes the Hologic Selenia® Dimensions® mammography system, a state-of-the-art device that captures ultra-sharp images and enhances clinicians' ability to capture previously undetectable cancer identifications and operate as precisely and non-invasively as possible. The panel discussion highlighted the team approach to breast cancer treatment at PBMC and how the evolution of the breast health program has helped patients avoid traveling long distances for modern quality care.
In addition, Peconic Bay recently announced that it received a five-year extension to house the Suffolk County Cancer Services Program at its facility. This program, funded by the New York State Department of Health, offers free cancer screenings to those who are uninsured or meet eligibility criteria for access to subsidized, life-saving cancer screenings.
For more information about breast health services at Peconic Bay Medical Center, visit pbmchealth.org/breast.
About Peconic Bay Medical Center
Located in Riverhead, New York, Peconic Bay Medical Center is a 144-bed not-for-profit hospital committed to providing excellent care and improving the health of the communities it serves. Peconic Bay Medical Center offers broad-spectrum, full-scope services and programs, including advanced surgical, cardiac, orthopedic and women's health care, comprehensive inpatient medical care, palliative care and a wide range of outpatient services, along with state-of-the-art technology. Peconic Bay Medical Center joined Northwell Health in 2016. For more information, visit PBMCHealth.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
