In 2017, Dr. Joseph collaborated with hospital leadership to start the Patient Pathology Consult Program, and since then hundreds of patients have seen their lab slides, spoken with a pathologist and gained a better understanding of the biological happenings behind their diagnosis.
Although she sees patients with all types of conditions, she says the program attracts many breast cancer patients as their diagnosis often leaves them feeling a loss of all control.
“We meet with the patient, and their physician is invited to attend as well. If a patient has a question outside our scope, we immediately notify their care team. It reinforces the theme of comprehensive care; that we all communicate with each other and are here to take care of them.”
Visits last about a half hour, and patients are given a brief presentation on what is normal, and what is abnormal cellular growth. Breast cancer patients get to see the hormone receptors and biomarkers that help inform their treatment. Not all patients want this detail, but for those who do, learning how and why their tumor responds to this treatment or this medication helps them understand what’s next.
For Heather Price, this made all the difference in her breast cancer journey.
Heather’s life was turned upside down this past March when there was a finding on her annual screening mammogram. A biopsy and MRI confirmed she had DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ), a very early stage of breast cancer.
“I couldn’t believe it, you could have blown me over with a feather,” said Heather. “I have no family history, so this came as such a shock. I started my mammograms at age 40 and I’ll tell any woman don’t put it off—it could save your life.”
Heather underwent a lumpectomy in June to remove her cancer. An MRI test post-lumpectomy revealed that there was a small amount of cancer cells (less than a millimeter) at the edge of the tissue sample, so another procedure would be needed to clear the area around the excision site, called the margin. She learned about Dr. Joseph’s program from her pathology report and jumped at the opportunity to learn more.
At the consultation, she and her mom met Dr. Joseph, equipped with a large stack of slides that allowed her to see her cancer up close under the microscope and on a big screen TV.
“She explained it to me so I could understand what I was looking at, what my DCIS looked like and where it sits, that this is the edge, this is the margin… it makes you understand visually what is happening, and that is a beautiful thing to have at your disposal.”
Heather’s next surgery revealed more cancer cells in a wider berth that would need to be removed. After consulting with all the members of her healthcare team and weighing many different options, she felt like she had all the pieces of the puzzle to help decide what would be best for her and her next course of treatment. She credits the Pathology Consult Program for being a large piece of that puzzle.
“I got a picture of my enemy. I could say that’s you, buddy, and I’m coming for you!”
