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Dr. Jason Hechtman’s treatment approach treats patients like family, while offering world-class cancer care

By Chris Curtland

Dr. Jason Hechtman has wanted to fight cancer since he was a little boy, and a beloved family member’s bout with the disease still inspires him today. His grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer while he was young, and Hechtman felt helpless that he couldn’t take care of her.

“My grandma was filled with life and vitality, and it was hard for me to watch the life slowly get taken out of her as she got more tired and became sicker and sicker,” he said. “I didn’t know how to help her, so as I grew up, I knew I wanted to become a doctor.”

TGH Breast Health Center at 17416 Brookside Trace Court in New Tampa

Dr. Hechtman, is now on the medical staff at Tampa General Hospital as part of TGH’s Cancer Institute, and was an assistant professor of breast surgery at the University of South Florida (USF) Health Morsani College of Medicine. He recently moved to Florida’s East Coast and sees patients from across West Palm Beach, Palm Springs, Wellington and Jupiter.

Dr. Hechtman specializes in the treatment of breast cancer and breast diseases. He blends cutting-edge treatment options with advanced surgical interventions to ensure patients not only receive the best medical care possible, but also feel beautiful and confident with the result. With more than 16 years of experience, Hechtman is an expert in breast lumpectomy, mastectomy, axillary dissection, sentinel lymph node procedures, breast ultrasound, ultrasound-guided breast interventions, partial breast radiation therapy, Savi Scout-guided breast resections, breast oncoplastic surgery, hidden scar technique and other minimally invasive breast interventions that maximize aesthetic outcomes.

Inspired by his relationship with his grandmother, Dr. Hechtman has always focused on developing close relationships with his patients and their families, building trust and a system of support to improve patient outcomes and develop a continued road to success. He works with patients to develop individualized plans that incorporate mental health and positivity.

“What I try to do when I take care of patients is treat everybody as I would my grandma, mother or sister,” Dr. Hechtman explained. “I focus on how to talk and relate in that way, because family is the most important thing in everybody’s life. If you treat your patient like you would treat your family, you can’t go wrong.”

The fused relationship between TGH and USF has allowed Hechtman to seize on the research, expertise and “environment of learning” that the university structure offers.

“This environment breeds new avenues and openings, but patients don’t always want to be bombarded with the science because it gets confusing,” Dr. Hechtman explained. “So instead, I really enjoy getting to know my patients, their parents, their children, what they do, what their likes and dislikes are. Because we’re going on a journey together, and that journey is not going to be for a short time. When I take care of my patients, I take care of them forever.”

To refer a patient to Dr. Hechtman or to schedule a consultation, please call (561) 644-0125.