Blackwell Breast Surgery

Dr. Lea Blackwell, MD, FACS, started her career as a breast surgeon in Fort Myers, Florida, in September of 2008. She moved to the area after completing her fellowship in breast surgery, in Washington, D.C. Fellowship training for breast surgery involves an additional year of surgical training after completing a general surgery residency. The training she received, in a Society of Surgical Oncology designated fellowship, was specific to the surgical care of breast cancer. She has incorporated the multidisciplinary team approach to the management of breast cancer locally and has developed relationships with physicians that treat breast cancer to insure excellent care for her patients. She has participated in the breast leadership panel with Lee Health to initiate and obtain the accreditation of multidisciplinary breast clinic by the NAPBC. Since starting in 2008, Dr. Blackwell has cared for over 150 breast cancer patients each year.

She recognized that her patients were uncomfortable after surgery with the post-operative bras available through the hospital. She has worked diligently since 2011 employing a local seamstress and a bra designer in New York City to develop a bra for patients after surgery. She received her first patent for a post-operative surgical bra in 2014, the Blackwell Bra and now holds four patents.

Dr. Blackwell has assembled a dedicated staff at Blackwell Breast Surgery, a division of 21^st Century Oncology, to ensure that patients receive efficient and compassionate treatment. She has incorporated a nurse practitioner, Ellen Poage, to provide survivorship care. With over twenty years of experience, Ellen has excelled in the management of lymphedema (chronic swelling) complications from surgeries and cancer treatment. Blackwell Breast Surgery offers skillful, high quality custom care for individuals needing surgical treatment for breast cancer.