Montefiore Medical Center today announced it has received a $75,000 grant from the Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen^®. The grant enables the hospital to hire a registered dietician (RD) for its multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Program team at Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care. 

"We are thrilled to receive this grant from Komen Greater NYC to improve the care of our patients in the Bronx and surrounding area," said Leslie Montgomery, M.D., chief, Division of Breast Surgery, Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and director, Breast Service at Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care and associate professor, Clinical Surgery, Department of Surgery, Einstein. "In addition to breast cancer, many of our patients have serious health issues that can complicate their treatment and recovery. A dedicated registered dietitian will help reinforce the importance of healthy nutrition to impact their overall health.” 

Obesity and diabetes rates are high in the Bronx, with residents facing an estimated 85 percent elevated risk of being obese, compared to those in Manhattan. 

“Our research has shown a strong relationship between obesity and a higher risk of cancer recurrence, especially late recurrence in women with estrogen-receptor positive tumors, the most common breast cancer subtype,” said Joseph Sparano, M.D., vice chairman, Medical Oncology, Montefiore, and associate director, Clinical Research at Albert Einstein Cancer Center. “Our findings have recently been confirmed in a large analysis of approximately 90,000 women with early stage breast cancer, suggesting that lifestyle changes such as attention to diet and exercise, could have a profound effect in reducing breast cancer death rates.” 

The RD will work with Montefiore’s team of breast cancer specialists to help patients adapt healthier diets and lifestyles. The goal is to help patients overcome health obstacles so they can receive the best possible care, such as losing weight to then be eligible for certain cancer-related procedures.

“We conducted a needs assessment of our community and found that providing funding for a dietician would complement the comprehensive support services Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care provides those impacted by breast cancer,” said Anita R. McFarlane, MPH, director, Grants & Public Policy, Komen Greater NYC. “We are confident this addition to the program will help women with breast cancer live healthier lives that may protect them from future cancer recurrence.”

Montefiore’s Breast Cancer Program was founded in 2010 and treats approximately 400 patients with a breast cancer diagnosis each year. In June, the National Consortium of Breast Centers recognized the program as a certified participant in its National Quality Measures for Breast Centers Program. In 2013 it was accredited by the National Accreditation of Breast Centers.