for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Lori Dean (center) with Drs. John Colfry and Ravi Tandon. 50
I n side N ew Orl ean s
PHOTO: TRENT SPANN IMAGESBYROBERTT@GMAIL.COM
Breast Cancer Care
HAVING PERFORMED CLOSE TO 1,000 surgeries together, Drs. Ravi Tandon and John Colfry are committed to helping women fight and overcome breast cancer. With advances in technologies and techniques and an increased focus on breast reconstruction, the duo aims to return patients to normalcy as soon as possible. “A breast cancer diagnosis is serious but does not justify a poor outcome,” Dr. Tandon says. Many local women who face the daunting challenges of breast cancer and surgical options come to Dr. Colfry and Dr. Tandon for their expertise. They see patients who have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, have genetic predisposition to breast cancer, or who might have had a mastectomy years ago when modern breast reconstruction was not an option. And there’s also patients like Lori Dean who is all too familiar with cancer. Lori says: “Cancer is no stranger to me. Both of my parents had cancer, which inspired me to become an oncology nurse 18 years ago. I have since witnessed other family members and close friends experience this life altering disease. To give back, I donate time and sit on the board of a grassroots non-profit organization NOFA NOLA (No One Fights Alone NOLA) that raises awareness and money for individuals who are faced with the tragedy of this disease. Cancer encompasses my professional and personal life.” While showering, Lori found a large cyst in her left breast. “The next day at work I brought it to the attention of a medical oncologist that I work with. She examined my
