TV Coverages

“In my 26 years as an oncologist, I’ve seen about five men with breast cancer,” says Carlos A. Encarnación, M.D., FACP, Texas Oncology-Hamilton and Horizon Circle. Dr. Encarnación joins KCEN-TV (NBC, Temple) to talk about the rarity of male breast cancer yet the importance of men recognizing the signs and symptoms to catch the disease early.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Vijian Dhevan M.D., MBA, FACS, Texas Oncology Surgical Specialists–Harlingen, discussed mastectomies and breast cancer, emphasizing how mastectomies can reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence.

Vijian Dhevan, M.D., MBA, FACS, a surgical oncologist at Texas Oncology Surgical Specialists–Harlingen, provides tips on cancer screening during KVEO-TV's (NBC, RGV) morning broadcast. Dr. Dhevan said the most important thing to keep in mind is early detection.

Casey Matthews, a 34-year-old wife and mother of four who was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer on April 25, 2023, urges young women to notice the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and to act quickly if there are abnormalities. Her physician, Anne Doughtie, M.D., surgical oncologist at Texas Oncology Surgical Specialists–Amarillo, further emphasizes the importance of regular self-examinations, genetic testing, and healthy lifestyle choices to reduce breast cancer risk.

Jessica Sikazwe, nurse practitioner at Texas Oncology–Odessa West Texas Cancer Center, shared why screening and early detection of cancer is important, along with examples of patient stories in which screenings helped patients treat their cancer early. She emphasized that Texas Oncology offers different treatments for various types of cancer – such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy – and that patients do not have to travel to another city to receive treatment.

What should we look for when getting screened for breast cancer and what should we ask our physician during this visit? Aimee Mackey, M.D., FACS, Texas Breast Specialists-San Marcos and South Austin, joined In Focus Texas (Spectrum News 1, Austin) to answer these questions.

Back-to-school season can be hectic, especially for parents and caretakers with cancer. Kelli Volcik, breast cancer patient of Thomas J. Harris, M.D., Texas Oncology–Groesbeck and Waco, shares with KCEN-TV how she managed treatment while still being present. With her family, friends and community surrounding her, Volcik has been able to make it through the hardest times and still take care of her children, especially when it comes to going back to school. Now she wants to help others.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among Hispanic and Latina women. Sylvia Jaramillo, M.D., medical oncologist and hematologist Texas Oncology–Austin North Suite 300, discusses the impact of breast cancer on this community, ways to prevent breast cancer, and the importance of mammograms for the screening and early detection of this cancer type.

Since December 2022, Keith Westmoreland, patient of Christopher R. Oxner, M.D., FACS, USN, Texas Oncology Surgical Specialists-Austin Central, Cedar Park and South Austin, has been diagnosed with skin cancer four separate times, with two spots on his head and two on his chest. Both Keith and Dr. Oxner joined KVUE-TV (ABC, Austin) to discuss the risks of skin cancer, its symptoms and why this diagnosis is on the rise. In fact, incidence rates for melanoma have been rising rapidly over the past few decades, and in Texas, 4,998 cases of melanoma of the skin are expected in 2023, up 3.2% from 2022.

David Mocio, former naval pilot and 7-time marathoner was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma in 2015 and receives immunotherapy every 28 days, which has halted his cancer from spreading further, since his diagnosis. With June being the cross-section of Men’s Health Month and Immunotherapy Awareness Month, David and Dr. Carlos Encarnacion, Texas Oncology-Hamilton and Horizon Circle joined KXXV-TV (ABC, Waco) to raise awareness about taking care of yourself, not ignoring any glaring symptoms and provided viewers with insights on proper screenings.