October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Ridley-Tree Cancer Center invites local doctors to speak on panel

One in eight women are affected by breast cancer, according to Dr. Winifred Leung, a radiologist who specializes in breast imaging. Since it’s so common, millions of women live in fear of “the C word.” But doctors and experts reassured that advancements in treatment are being made every day, and that patients have an army there for them here in Santa Barbara. With Breast Cancer Awareness Month underway, the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center and Sutter Health opened up the floor to a panel of experts at an event on Friday. The panel featured six doctors specializing in different aspects of breast cancer treatment, from surgeons to radiologists to genetic testing experts. They answered questions from the audience and discussed treatment advancements, the danger of predatory AI spreading misinformation and an overall positive shift toward breast cancer treatment becoming less invasive and more personalized. But according to event moderator Lindsay Cortina, conversations around general