ONCOLOGY
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Treasure Coast Medical Report
She has hospital privileges at Cleveland Clinic Martin Health,
St. Lucie Medical Center and Port St. Lucie Surgery Center.
With a background in art and an eye for perspective, the
doctor enjoys applying artistic concepts to her surgical techniques.
She uses oncoplastic breast conservation surgery and
hidden scar surgery in her procedures to remove cancerous
tissue which prevents excessive scarring and leaves a good
cosmetic result.
“You really have to have a good artistic eye to know how
much do you have to remove; how much tissue do you have
to release to have a good outcome,” she says. “Part of it is that
I sew a lot. Tailoring a skirt is similar to tailoring skin.”
A FINE BALANCE
According to Sanderson, honing her surgical skills is what
makes her job demanding and rewarding, but more importantly,
it makes her patients feel complete.
“The challenge is to do a good cancer surgery, but also with
a good cosmetic result so that it’s not about vanity,” she explains.
“It’s about a woman feeling whole when they’re done,
and not have to look down and feel scared about their cancer.
Those are important things when you’re treating someone for
this disease. This affects not only their fear of life and death,
but it affects their sexuality. It affects how they feel about
themselves in their clothes, and how they feel about their
relationship with their spouse or significant other.”
Her role as a psychiatrist is equally important as a breast
cancer surgery specialist. Sanderson says that every person
responds differently to a cancer diagnosis, so it’s vital to know
how to access the patient.
“You have to read the room and treat every patient you
have and care for them,” she says. “You can’t just diagnose
and tell them what it is and say this is what we’re doing. No,
part of being a doctor is not just diagnosing and treating —
it’s caring for the patient and that’s caring for their psyche,
too. It’s knowing how they are feeling and understanding that
and responding to it appropriately.”
When Sanderson is not busy caring for patients, she enjoys
spending time watching her sons play baseball and relaxes at
home by sewing and making crafts. She also likes watching
the latest shows on Netflix and tries to include hot yoga in
her schedule.
Mostly, she says, she’s “simple, a jeans and T-shirt” kind of
woman. And she enjoys being a physician where she strives
to be honest, caring, compassionate and thorough.
“Women who have breast cancer are a special group of patients,”
she says. “They are passionate about their disease and
they want to help each other. They care about getting better.
It’s just a great group of people and I like taking care of them.”
DR. DENISE SANDERSON
Age: 49
Occupation: Breast cancer surgery specialist
Lives in: Palm City
Family: Husband, Steven; sons, Ryan and Quin
Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the
University of Dallas; medical degree from Weill Cornell
Medical College of Cornell University; residency
at the University of New York and fellowship at the
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, in
breast oncology
Hobbies: “I craft a lot. I also sew, making pillows,
dog beds, surgical masks and hats — things that don’t
require a lot of mental attention that I just do for fun.”
Who inspires you: “My kids. They’re funny, they’re
smart, and they have good hearts.”
What most people don’t know about me: “When I
was little, I used to run around as a superhero named
Dynamo. My mom made me a little purple leotard
with a D and I was Dynamo!”
Women who have breast cancer are a
special group of patients. They are passionate
about their disease and they want to help
each other. They care about getting better. It’s
just a great group of people and I like taking
care of them.
—Dr. Denise Sanderson
The walls at Sanderson’s office display mementos that represent her mission
to fight breast cancer.