Breast cancer is the most common cancer among U.S. women 鈥� with 240,000 diagnoses every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A shocking statistic 鈥� yes, but nothing compared to the level of shock many women experience upon learning about their diagnosis. The panic sets in. And like clockwork, some women think, 鈥淐ancer. I鈥檓 done for.
Typically, next steps for diagnosed women include speaking with their care provider, reaching out to support groups or even just taking a moment to process everything.
But one thing has become clear for UCF volunteer Assistant Professor of Surgery Olga Ivanov and former Breast Imaging Technologist Tammy Springer-Marcotte. With more than 20 years of combined experience in the breast cancer space, they see a clear knowledge gap between diagnosis and true understanding.
Through Springer-Marcotte鈥檚 one-of-a-kind online company Breast Cancer Coach, which launched this past July, the duo is empowering patients with educational breast cancer information to help them make well-informed treatment decisions while offering a compassionate ear to those in need.
鈥淚鈥檝e had this [business] concept in my mind for at least six years now,鈥� says Springer-Marcotte, founder and CEO of Breast Cancer Coach and a medical professional with over two decades of experience as a mammographer, ultrasound technologist and in the medical device industry. 鈥淚 just felt that nudge inside me saying, 鈥楧o this now.鈥欌��
And who better to team up with than Ivanov, a board-certified and fellowship-trained breast surgeon and instructor in the College of Medicine at UCF. The pair have known each other for over a decade, building a bond through shared ideas and experiences in their field.
鈥淔or both of us,鈥� Springer-Marcotte says, 鈥渙ur mission and goals are always patient-focused and how to better serve women.鈥�
In April, a coffee meetup with Ivanov marked the kickoff of the small business. Three months later, was up and running.
The urgency for comprehensive resource and support hubs like Breast Cancer Coach is evident. Women often face a daunting gap between diagnosis and understanding their options. Healthcare systems may inform patients only about educational materials or approaches specific to that system, rather than provide a broader range of options.
鈥淎s a breast surgeon, when women [who鈥檝e been diagnosed] come to me, they鈥檙e in that stress mode,鈥� Ivanov says. 鈥淸With Breast Cancer Coach,] we鈥檙e giving patients the space and time to calm down, to turn off that fight-or-flight psychological response, and be able to put on their rational thinking cap.鈥�
Breast Cancer Coach offers tailored services, emotional support and education to empower women in their care journey. Packages range from a free meet-the-coach call to hourly consultations to one-year VIP support. The services encompass personalized coaching, education and resources, as well as survivorship planning, addressing both immediate concerns and long-term well-being. And since the website is HIPAA-compliant, women can also securely submit their pathology reports for review by a medical professional.
Bringing her extensive expertise to the team, Ivanov reviews each patient鈥檚 case in her role as medical director at Breast Cancer Coach. She consults with Springer-Marcotte, who then dives deep with the patient. Their partnership ensures that each case is thoroughly reviewed, allowing for more focused and personalized patient care.
The team is also supported by other physicians with whom they鈥檝e formed relationships within the industry over the years. These medical professionals span the entire field of breast cancer care, from pathologists to medical oncologists to reconstructive surgeons 鈥� some of whom Springer-Marcotte plans to partner with for a new series called 鈥淎sk The Expert鈥� starting later this month. The free educational call is intended for patients wanting a better understanding of medical terms, surgical perspectives and more.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a tremendous need for women to have a better understanding of side effects and some of the medications they鈥檙e prescribed,鈥� Springer-Marcotte says. 鈥淸By having] a pharmacist join me to talk about side effects or to even have a radiation oncologist talk about different treatment options depending on [a woman鈥檚] stage of breast cancer 鈥� I鈥檓 bringing the knowledge to the table so women have a better understanding.鈥�
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the most common cancer among U.S. women 鈥� with 240,000 diagnoses annually.
With Breast Cancer Awareness Month internationally recognized in October, Ivanov says that great strides have been made all because of a month like this; however, women shouldn鈥檛 be complacent.
鈥淢ammograms still do save lives because if we [can] find cancer early,鈥� Ivanov says, 鈥渨e have a very good chance of curing it most of the time.鈥�
Emphasizing early detection is essential. In May of this year, the United States Preventive Services Task Force issued a recommendation lowering the age at which women should start screening from 50 to 40 years old. It鈥檚 recommended for women to prioritize this annual exam 鈥� as it can detect tiny calcifications much earlier than ultrasounds 鈥� along with doing self-breast exams, Springer-Marcotte says.
In a world where knowledge is key, Breast Cancer Coach is on its way to becoming a leading resource and welcoming space in the breast cancer community. Its positive impact extends beyond its strong presence throughout Florida to other states like California, Pennsylvania and Texas 鈥� and even to other countries like Canada and Peru.
鈥淥ver the years I鈥檝e learned so much, and now is the time to take this knowledge that I have in the [breast cancer] field, the relationships that I have with physicians across the country [and] 鈥� use my gifts to serve other women to help make a stressful situation maybe a little less stressful,鈥� Springer-Marcotte says.
