Saint Mary’s Commitment to Women’s Health Continues as Lacks Cancer Center
Welcomes Gynecologic Oncologist Kevin Brader M.D.

Grand Rapids, MI, August 4, 2004 – The statistics are startling: every 6.4 minutes – over 80,000 times per year – a woman in the United States is diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer.

With numbers like those, it isn’t surprising that public awareness of the dangers, and prevention, of gynecologic cancer is also increasing. In recent years, high-profile spokespersons such as actress Fran Drescher (a survivor of uterine cancer) and Susie Castillo, Miss USA 2003, have promoted measures aimed at early detection and diagnosis of these diseases.

Here in Grand Rapids, Saint Mary’s Hospital has placed the treatment of gynecological cancer as a top priority. In order to provide world-class expertise into the diagnosis and treatment of gynecological cancers, Saint Mary’s recently welcomed Kevin Brader, M.D., to the staff of the Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary’s.

Dr. Brader is a specialist who has practiced, trained and taught at many of the nation’s premier medical centers. He adds his expertise in the field of gynecologic oncology to the wide array of specialties already available at West Michigan’s premier cancer center.

“I was impressed by Saint Mary’s focus on oncology, and its commitment to creating a center of excellence in cancer care,” said Dr. Brader. “And I was also impressed by their mission of serving the entire community in greater Grand Rapids. It’s a great combination – world-class medical care coupled with a passion for serving others.”

Dr. Brader, whose undergraduate work was done at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, returns to the state after years of training in leading centers around the country. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, and completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern. From 1994 to 1997, Brader was a fellow in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, one of the nation’s leading cancer hospitals.

He was an assistant professor of gynecologic oncology at the University of Southern California School of Medicine in Los Angeles (1997-1999) and held the same position at Vanderbilt University in Nashville (1999-2002). Most recently, Brader practiced at the Texas Oncology Cancer Center in Austin, Texas.

Dr. Brader joins a growing roster of cancer specialists at the Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary’s whose collective expertise is contributing to its reputation as a leader in cancer treatment. As Brader notes, the opportunity to be part of such a distinguished staff is not only professionally attractive, but also represents a valuable health resource for the region.

“From a medical standpoint, it is an advantage for cancer patients to receive their care within a center that is dedicated to treating cancer,” said Dr. Brader. “The Lacks Cancer Center is designed around the patient’s needs, and that is a big advantage in the kind of care we can deliver.”

Dr. Brader’s patients are typically those who have been referred by general practitioners and gynecologists. In addition to care focused on cancer treatment, Dr. Brader also works with other patients who require specialized surgical procedures.

As Dr. Brader notes, gynecologic oncology is a complicated matter, and the quality of treatment depends on the expertise of the oncologist rather than any technological innovation. “There isn’t a breakthrough finding or treatment in this area,” he said. “Probably the most important thing is this: there is an increasing amount of data which shows that women with a gynecologic malignancy need to be treated by a gynecologic oncologist rather than a generalist. Someone who doesn’t specialize in the field may not do the appropriate staging necessary for effective outcomes.”

For Dr. Brader, the focus of his work is on the patient, rather than the disease. “The thing I want to do is take the fear away for people who have had a cancer diagnosis, and help them get back to a normal life,” said Brader. “That is what I see as my most important and satisfying role – unburdening the patient from fear.”

For more information regarding Dr. Brader, the programs of the Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary’s, or Gynecologic Oncology, please call 616-752-6714.