Why I Feel So Strongly About Recommending
The Ashikari Breast Center To My Clients.

Let me tell you what happened to me the first time I sat in Dr. Ashikari’s office. I am not a cancer patient, but there is a history of breast cancer in my family so I came to the Ashikari Breast Center on the recommendation of a friend.

As I was sitting filling out  new patient’s forms in the waiting room, a mature woman noticed me and gave me a second look which I did not fully understand. She then left the doctor’s office. A few minutes later she returned, visibly concerned about me.  I think she must have thought that I was a cancer patient and that this was my first appointment. In the most warm and generous way she said to me: “I just wanted to tell you that you have nothing to worry about. They really care about their patients and they will take good care of you — just as if you were family, I promise you”.

I have to say that lovely woman was right about everything. I have never experienced such high level expertise, joined always with so much respect and kindness.  I also experienced the doctors’  staff as being as compassionate and very patient as the doctors themselves.  These individuals are truly the perfect ambassadors for the Ashikari Breast Center.

My little story is the perfect introduction to the Ashikari’s center. Each of these doctors, Dr.Roy Ashikari, Dr. Andrew Ashikari and Dr. Pond Kelemen are exceptionally talented surgeons. All of us have had the experience of dealing with doctors who may be very proficient at what they do as doctors, but who are clinical and unapproachable. That is not how these doctors practice medicine. In my experience, the Ashikari father and son team, and their partner Dr. Kelemen understand the incredible emotional issues that accompany every woman’s encounter with cancer. As they go about their professional work, they are clearly compassionate and caring about what is going on in a woman’s heart. Their compassion is understated and unavoidable.

Why I Have Dedicated A Page On Our Website

After my unforgettable experience with them, I looked for more information about the Ashikaris and what I learned about them is truly extraordinary. I feel that all women need to know that this Center exists and they need to know that they do have choices for their care as cancer patients, other than the traditional and frequently drastic ways of treating this illness.

What Are The Best Reasons To Choose The Ashikari Breast Cancer Team?

One of Their Main Concern Is To Provide Minimally Invasive Techniques

The Center is known worldwide for a one-stage prophylactic nipple sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction which was pioneered by the Ashikari father and son team alongside other plastic surgeons. This has given high-risk patients throughout the country a powerful risk reduction strategy while achieving  extremely pleasing cosmetic results in a one-step operation. Another reason why patients are drawn from around the world is that the incisions are done under the breast and are less visible. This technique- entering the breast from underneath (where the scars are hidden) rather than the middle of the breast -- is very uncommon. Most doctors remove the nipple because sparing it requires that one leaves a small amount of  tissue beneath the nipple, which, theoretically, could become cancerous.

Since 1999, when they first started using this procedure, none of the practices prophylactic patients have developed cancer.

Advanced Medical Technology… Like No Other
How Their Fund Raising Enabled Them To Perform Less Invasive Procedures

In addition to their practice specializing in breast surgery, the Ashikari Breast Center has dedicated their efforts in fund-raising. These funds are not used for laboratory research, but are used for the immediate service of providing better care and personal diagnosis for women who are facing the terrible reality and difficult choices that come with any cancer. Because of their efforts, they have been able to raise funds to acquire the best state of the art equipment.

They pride themselves on providing their patients with access to the latest and most advanced medical technology. In addition to their high resolution ultrasound and digital mammography, they have a new state-of-the-art MRI with a dedicated breast coil that provides enhanced imaging and allows them to perform MRI-guided biopsy procedures when needed. Their new, on-site stereotactic breast table allows them to perform minimally invasive techniques for breast biopsy.  This new stereotactic breast table uses mammography to guide a surgeon to an abnormal growth, as opposed to locating these lesions by hand.

The Ashikari Breast Center now offers patients Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT), This is a form of radiation therapy that is given in a single-treatment session that may replace six-seven weeks of conventional radiotherapy treatments. Intraoperative Radiotherapy is given during surgery allowing the radiation to be delivered only to the area where the tumor was located, as opposed to the entire breast like conventional therapy. This procedure helps protect the surrounding healthy breast tissue, heart, lung and bones from radiation. Early study results show that this treatment has indicated possible elimination or reduction in the severity of side effects from conventional radiotherapy, as well as the elimination of the need for conventional radiotherapy, which could take up to six-seven weeks to be completed.

What Makes This Team Of Doctors Exceptional?

Through the Ashikari Breast Center’s determination to be at the forefront of medicine, they participated in an international TARGiT Trial with 24 other centers, to study the long-term effectiveness of Intraoperative Radiotherapy. The Ashikari Breast Center is only one of six centers to participate in the TARGiT International Trial in the United States and the only Center located in the North East. Majorities of the study participants are located outside of the United States, and tend to focus their treatment on predominately-Caucasian women or women of wealth.  The uniqueness of the Ashikari Breast Center’s participation is that approximately 25% of their current patients are minority women. With the expansion of their outreach efforts, they will be able to increase the number of minority breast cancer patients being treated to 40%, and provide them with the opportunity to receive Intraoperative Radiotherapy.  It has been determined that there is a genetic difference in the formation of cancer and treatment for different ethnic groups. It is through participation in the TARGiT Trial that the Ashikari Breast Center will be able to examine the effects of Intraoperative Radiotherapy in minority women and determine if this treatment is as effective as it has been in Caucasian women.

The Trial results will be shared worldwide in an effort to enhance the treatment of breast cancer patients, especially minority women. --- They are currently in the process of completing their study and will soon publish their findings.

The World-Renowned Ashikari Breast Center Has Been Granted a Three-Year Accreditation Designation By The National Accreditation Program For Breast Centers- NAPBC

What Does It Mean?  A breast center that achieves NAPBC accreditation has demonstrated expertise and a firm commitment to offer its patients every significant advantage in the battle against breast disease.  It is given only to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance.  During the survey process, the Center must demonstrate compliance with standards established by the NAPBC to treat women who are diagnosed with the full spectrum of breast disease.  The standards include proficiency in the areas of center leaderships, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement.

The Center is headed by renowned surgical oncologist Roy Ashikari, M.D., FACS, the former Chief of Breast Service at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, along with his son Andrew Ashikari, M.D., FACS, and Pond Kelemen, M.D., FACS.

How Does The Ashikari Breast Center Helps Their Patients Ease the Burden In The Initial Process?

The Center offers patients access to a highly qualified group of physicians including surgical oncologist, anesthesiologists, diagnostic radiologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, plastic surgeons, radiation oncologists, physician assistants and patient navigators.

What Is The Final Goal To Making Their Dream A Reality?

The campaign committee has worked very hard to raise almost $835,000 toward their $1.5 million goal. The $835,000 that was raised went to purchase the state of the art MRI.   New, additional remaining funds that are  to be raised will be used to fund the construction of two new operating rooms, updating all equipment, as well as the renovation of private patient rooms.  With the expansion of their outreach efforts, the Ahshikari Breast Center  will be able to increase the number of minority breast cancer patients- no matter their economic status.

What is the Most Important Message of The Ashikari Breast Center Team?

In addition to the excellent medical care, the Ashikari Breast Center team of doctors focuses on open and honest communication with the patients and their families, and between other specialists involved in the treatment process.

The Ashikari Team practices a holistic approach to breast health, which strives to heal the whole person, body, mind, and spirit, not just the disease.

Work of Art...

Every woman is a work of art. Perfume is a work of art. The masterful blending of superior medical care and holistic healing of body, mind & soul is also a work of art.

Introducing “Juliet” Eau de Parfum, a synergy born of woman, perfume and healing. Inspired by the unparalleled efforts of the doctors and staff at Ashikari Breast Center, “Juliet” is a celebration of both beauty and wellness combined with luxurious notes of Mediterranean spices, exotic woods, Italian jasmine and amber.

To do my part, I am donating ten percent of Juliet Perfume sales in support of the Ashikari Breast Center. It is a small contribution in how I can create awareness & a new movement towards breast cancer care, but I wish to demonstrate how remarkable these doctors are. They deserve our support.  BE YOUR OWN WORK OF ART…

Help Make Their Dreams A Reality

Please watch the Juliet perfume video at YouTube and pass this page on to all your friends to create an awareness for the ASHIKARI BREAST CENTER. Share on facebook.julietstewart.com.