Uniting Specialties to Advance Breast Cancer Care

Breast cancer affects everyone, one way or another. It may be personally or through a friend, coworker, or family member. Alternatively, it may be by seeing thousands of pink ribbons proudly worn in October, respectively known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. October should not be just about candy or costumes; October should be about how the medical community can continue to support patients living with breast cancer or dealing with the aftermath of diagnosis, treatment, and fears of death or relapse. This October, MJH Life Sciences® is doing something new and special: It is bringing awareness to the collaborative efforts of medical teams caring for patients with breast cancer. In particular, MJH emphasizes the teamwork between dermatologists and oncologists required to care for all the medical needs of patients with breast cancer. Advances in molecular medicine continue to provide innovative new therapies that push the boundaries of breast cancer care; however, breast cancer is complex, and some subtypes, such as triple-negative breast cancer, continue to have limited treatment options and poor outcomes. I am extremely proud and honored that this Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dermatology Times is presenting its first collaborative digital issue integrating dermatology with key oncology medical education brands: CURE®, CancerNetwork®, and Oncology Nursing News®. My vision for October’s breast cancer awareness campaign has always centered on the patient. What can we as clinicians do to help other clinicians—dermatologists, oncologists, rheumatologists, radiation therapists, surgeons, and others—become more educated about breast cancer and make meaningful improvements in the doctor-patient relationship? Women and men confronting breast cancer deserve a prepared and integrated team addressing their needs. Dermatology Times, CURE, CancerNetwork, and Oncology Nursing News present this collection of articles and stories to inspire enhanced teamwork among clinicians and inform how to provide better care for patients with breast cancer.

Christopher G. Bunick, MD, PhD, is editor in chief of Dermatology Times and an associate professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.