Medical oncologist Lauren Carcas, M.D., is proud to be part of Baptist Health Cancer Care at Plantation, where a team of medical and surgical experts offers the full spectrum of breast cancer care for Broward residents.Dr. Carcas focuses on treating breast cancer patients as well as those with an elevated risk of developing breast cancer based on their family history. She also treats cancers of the female reproductive system.
“As a Broward resident myself, I understand the benefits of receiving cancer care close to home,” says Dr. Carcas. She is affiliated with several Broward-area hospitals and coordinates care with other local physicians, ensuring that patients can stay with their preferred surgeon while receiving treatment from Miami Cancer Institute, Florida’s only member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance.
“Our cancer hub in Plantation places us in the geographic middle of large, well-established hospital systems,” she says. “What sets us apart is our women’s health program, which offers extensive care from screening to treatment, all under one roof. This includes screening mammograms, diagnostic testing, biopsies,MRIs, staging studies, echocardiograms, consultations with oncologists, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and follow-up care.”
Baptist Health Cancer Care at Plantation also offers a robust clinical trial platform, exposing qualifying patients to groundbreaking,potentially less-toxic medications that could improve their chances of survival and a life free of cancer. The multidisciplinary cancer care team in Plantation also includes breast medical oncologists Dr. Naomi Dempsey and Dr. Reshma Mahtani; radiation oncologist Dr. Ana Botero; breast surgical oncologist Dr. Nadia Nocera- Zachariah; and Dr. John Diaz, chief of gynecologic oncology at Baptist Health Cancer Care.
“Our Plantation team believes in personalized care, and our focus on women's health and malignancies allows us to provide a comprehensive patient experience, as we are not competing with other disease sites for resources or space,” says Dr. Carcas. “We know our patients by name and tailor our treatment programs to align with their personal priorities,beliefs and support systems.
“Unlike other providers in the area, we offer all aspects of cancer care in one place, including radiation therapy in our APEx-accredited facility. Patients who need proton therapy,gamma knife and other advanced radiation therapies receive expedited treatment at Miami Cancer Institute.”
The Plantation cancer hub also offers on-site surgery, with pathology reviewed by specialists in women's malignancies.
“We believe in treating the whole person, not just the cancer,” says Dr. Carcas. “Our onsite physical therapy, rehabilitation and pain management services address the physical changes that can occur during and after cancer treatment. We offer diet and nutrition counseling as well as an alternative medicine clinic. We also emphasize the importance of mental health through on-site wellness and self-care programs as well as telehealth access to social workers and therapists.”
The Baptist Health women’s cancer experts at Plantation take pride in creating a welcoming environment for patients. The care team warmly greets all patients and guides them through their entire cancer journey. “We approach each patient as a whole person with needs beyond just cancer treatment, and it is our goal to address all of these needs,” says Dr. Carcas. If you are a woman living in Broward County and have been diagnosed with breast cancer,we invite you to experience the personalized care offered by the Baptist Health Cancer Care team at Plantation.
To get the compassionate cancer care you deserve, schedule your appointment at 954-837-1490 or visit BaptistHealth.net/Plantation.
