HUNTINGTON, N.Y., Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Donald S. Krieff, D.O., F.A.C.O.S., a board-certified neurosurgeon at Neurological Surgery P.C. based in West Islip, NY with nearly 20 years of experience will remove his white coat, and becomes a patient next week of Dr. Erna Busch-Devereaux.
On Monday, November 21, at Huntington Hospital, on Long Island. Dr. Krieff, (53 years old), will undergo prophylactic bilateral mastectomy due to his strong male family history of breast cancer and BRCA2 + status. While it is unusual for a male to undergo mastectomies, Dr. Krieff believes it is important to raise awareness in men as well as women with the BRCA gene. He is lucky that he can be continue to be productive and not sit around waiting for the cancer to act.
Dr. Krieff made the decision about 6 months ago to have the surgery after discovering that he was BRCA2 positive. The reason to have the surgery now is clear – he is healthy enough to sustain the surgery and the cancer has not started to act. He is having the surgery to decrease breast cancer risk to near zero. With any surgery, the downsides are surgical complications such as infections, bleeding, etc., however, the upside is to remain cancer free.
According to the National Cancer Institute, "Harmful mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 increase the risk of several cancers in addition to breast and ovarian cancer. BRCA1 mutations may increase a woman's risk of developing fallopian tube cancer and peritoneal cancer. Men with BRCA2 mutations, and to a lesser extent BRCA1 mutations, are also at increased risk of breast cancer. Men with harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have a higher risk of prostate cancer. Men and women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations may be at increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Mutations in BRCA2 (also known as FANCD1), if they are inherited from both parents, can cause a Fanconi anemia subtype (FA-D1), a syndrome that is associated with childhood solid tumors and development of acute myeloid leukemia. Likewise, mutations in BRCA1 (also known as FANCS), if they are inherited from both parents, can cause another Fanconi anemia subtype.
Dr. Krieff, a highly acclaimed neurosurgeon, who treats adult and pediatric patients, is down-to-earth with his patients and has a common-sense approach to medical problems. "People with back and neck problems have often been in pain for a long time and are seeking relief," he explains. "We're not looking to operate on patients just because we can. We want patients to get better and if that simply means nonsurgical management, that's great. Surgery is reserved for the cases which have failed extensive conservative care." He desires to bring local and national attention to the fact that males can also get breast cancer and can take proactive measures to reduce and/or eliminate the risk of cancer.
One patient, Laurie Tankleff, knows that Dr. Krieff saved her life years ago when others chose not to take an aggressive approach. "If it wasn't for Doctor Krieff and his amazing staff, I wouldn't be alive today. He took an interest in me like no other doctor did and he took the necessary steps to safe my life. He is my hero and savior and thanks to him, he has given me a quality of life I thought I would never have," said Laurie Tankleff.
For Press and Media Inquiries:
Lori M. Berlin
Email: [email protected]
Laurie Tankleff
Email: [email protected]
Media Contact: Lori Berlin, The Male Breast Cancer Coalition, 9133622196, [email protected]
News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com
SOURCE The Male Breast Cancer Coalition
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On Monday, November 21, at Huntington Hospital, on Long Island. Dr. Krieff, (53 years old), will undergo prophylactic bilateral mastectomy due to his strong male family history of breast cancer and BRCA2 + status. While it is unusual for a male to undergo mastectomies, Dr. Krieff believes it is important to raise awareness in men as well as women with the BRCA gene. He is lucky that he can be continue to be productive and not sit around waiting for the cancer to act.
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Dr. Krieff made the decision about 6 months ago to have the surgery after discovering that he was BRCA2 positive. The reason to have the surgery now is clear – he is healthy enough to sustain the surgery and the cancer has not started to act. He is having the surgery to decrease breast cancer risk to near zero. With any surgery, the downsides are surgical complications such as infections, bleeding, etc., however, the upside is to remain cancer free.
According to the National Cancer Institute, "Harmful mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 increase the risk of several cancers in addition to breast and ovarian cancer. BRCA1 mutations may increase a woman's risk of developing fallopian tube cancer and peritoneal cancer. Men with BRCA2 mutations, and to a lesser extent BRCA1 mutations, are also at increased risk of breast cancer. Men with harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have a higher risk of prostate cancer. Men and women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations may be at increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Mutations in BRCA2 (also known as FANCD1), if they are inherited from both parents, can cause a Fanconi anemia subtype (FA-D1), a syndrome that is associated with childhood solid tumors and development of acute myeloid leukemia. Likewise, mutations in BRCA1 (also known as FANCS), if they are inherited from both parents, can cause another Fanconi anemia subtype.
Dr. Krieff, a highly acclaimed neurosurgeon, who treats adult and pediatric patients, is down-to-earth with his patients and has a common-sense approach to medical problems. "People with back and neck problems have often been in pain for a long time and are seeking relief," he explains. "We're not looking to operate on patients just because we can. We want patients to get better and if that simply means nonsurgical management, that's great. Surgery is reserved for the cases which have failed extensive conservative care." He desires to bring local and national attention to the fact that males can also get breast cancer and can take proactive measures to reduce and/or eliminate the risk of cancer.
One patient, Laurie Tankleff, knows that Dr. Krieff saved her life years ago when others chose not to take an aggressive approach. "If it wasn't for Doctor Krieff and his amazing staff, I wouldn't be alive today. He took an interest in me like no other doctor did and he took the necessary steps to safe my life. He is my hero and savior and thanks to him, he has given me a quality of life I thought I would never have," said Laurie Tankleff.
For Press and Media Inquiries:
Lori M. Berlin
Email: [email protected]
Laurie Tankleff
Email: [email protected]
Media Contact: Lori Berlin, The Male Breast Cancer Coalition, 9133622196, [email protected]
News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com
SOURCE The Male Breast Cancer Coalition
