Archive for the ‘Prostate Cancer’ category

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Cancer Patients Speak Out About The Farber Center

August 9th, 2011

A special thank you to our patients who were kind enough to speak out and tell their stories and allow us to put together this video. These patients are fighting breast cancer, prostate cancer, sarcoma, and brain cancer. We will have longer versions of the stories available soon on our website. Grace Huang directed the film, and Industrial color handled the post production.

About Grace Huang: You might remember her from our Rocks Against Cancer Video. Grace began her photography career at Harvard University, where she obtained a BA in Visual Environmental Studies under the tutelage of acclaimed fine art photographer Christopher James. After graduation, a Rotary International Fellowship afforded her the opportunity to spend an adventurous year in and around Provence while attending the Ecole Nationale de la Photographie. Settling in New York City, Grace began her professional photographic career shooting everything from fashion and beauty to lifestyle and travel for a wide range of magazines. Her signature style of cinematic storytelling and naturalistic spontaneity evolved over the next decade. Today she has a eclectic career shooting both stills and motion for a diverse editorial and advertising clientele. Her editorial clients include InStyle, British Marie Claire, Red, German InStyle, Self and Lucky. Her advertising clientele includes Dove, EOS, Mary Kay, St. Ives, Aveeno, Clinique, John Frieda, Cyzone, Gillette, Johnsons, Carefree, Hue, No Nonsense, Gardasil, Olay, Avon, Lilly Pulitzer, Liz Claiborne, Target, Godiva, Walmart and Saks Fifth Avenue. Grace has photographed a range of celebrities such as Krysten Ritter, Katrina Bowden, Poppy Delevingne, Bijou Phillips, Cory Kennedy, Jennifer Morrison, Carmen Electra, Julie Delpy, Jessica Simpson, Cynthia Rowley, Shiva Rose, Sarah Chalke, Elisha Cuthbert, Mia Tyler, Daisy Fuentes, Rhona Mitra, Whitney Port, Daveigh Chase, Sarah Wynter, B. Smith, Jesse Martin, Christy Turlington, Frederick Fekkai, Sergio Garcia, and Henrik Lundqvist.

About Industrial Color: From top tech and production support on over 10,000 shoots to inventing online digital photo workflow, Industrial Color continues to push the limits and develop industry standards. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Miami, their talented team and extensive production capacity enables them to provide a full range of high-end services to clients whether it be in studio or on location anywhere around the globe. Services of Industrial Color include: digital still and RED and HD video capture, post-production, color and video editing services, archival printing, high-speed file transfer, online image management, archive and file storage.

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Posted in Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Skin Cancer, Uncategorized

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Gay Men Face Extra Burden with Prostate Cancer

June 21st, 2011

Researchers at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting reported that Gay men have a tougher time dealing with the aftermath of prostatectomy than heterosexual men do.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Gay men with prostate cancer have some additional social and sexual challenges that are rarely addressed adequately by their oncologists and social workers. For example, prostate cancer treatment can have some distinct effects on gay sexual behavior and relationships. In fact David M. Latini, PhD, Assistant Professor of Urology & Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine used a battery of studies to determine the health-related quality of life for gay men compared with a historical control group. He found that the results showed that gay men fared consistently worse than the comparison group.

Dr. Latini also noted that many gay men, had severe sexual quality-of-life disturbances because the aftermath of prostatectomy was not helped as much by phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor medication that allows men with erectile dysfunction to function sexually.

“For gay men this is a particularly difficult area,” he explained. “The phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors were created with an endpoint in the trials of vaginal penetration. We know that an erection has to be firmer to penetrate someone anally. So for sexual intercourse between two males, these medications are usually not sufficient.”

To download the study and full article as it appeared in the June 2011 Oncology times click here: PDF File Oncology Times.

For support services and more information on cancer risk and gay men please visit Malecare.org America’s largest volunteer men’s cancer support group and advocacy national nonprofit organization. Malecare, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, founded in 1997. Malecare develops practical, life saving programs to address the problem of men dying sooner than women. Since 2005, they have expanded their programs to include services and research regarding the effects of cancer on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people via our new nonprofit organization, the National LGBT Cancer Project-Out With Cancer.

Below is a video on Prostate Cancer:

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Posted in Prostate Cancer, Uncategorized

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The Farber Center on Today in New York on NBC

June 17th, 2011

Darlene Rodriguez

We were honored to welcome Darlene Rodriguez into our center a few weeks ago. Darlene Rodriguez is co-anchor of Today in New York on WNBC. Rodriguez became co-anchor of the show in July 2003 after serving as a reporter for WNBC and then co-anchor of Weekend Today in New York. Here is the link to the report: www.nbcnewyork.com Enjoy and spread the word.

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Posted in Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Skin Cancer, Uncategorized

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10K Raised for The Revlon Run/Walk by The Farber Center Team

May 3rd, 2011

Saturday morning we completed our first Revlon Run Walk for Women as The Farber Center Team and raised $10,000.

The Run/Walk is co-sponsored by the Entertainment Industry Foundation, so celebrities always kick off the race with motivational speeches. This year’s guests included Keesha Cole, Jessica Alba, Jimmy Fallon, Nate Berkus and Doctor Oz.

(L-R) Nate Berkus,Jessica Alba,Dr. Mehmet Oz, Jessica Biel and Jimmy Fallon attend the 14th annual Entertainment Industry Foundation Revlon Run/Walk for Women on April 30, 2011 in New York City.

The Revlon Run always starts in Times Square and ends in Central Park. Money raised from the New York event will help support local New York-based cancer organizations including: The Actors’ Fund, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Cancer Care, Gilda’s Club NYC, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, William F. Ryan Community Health Center, EIF’s Women’s Cancer Programs.

Dr. Marnee Spierer, Marina Higgins, Dr. Leonard Farber

(L-R) Dr. Marnee Spierer, Team Captain Marina Higgins, Dr. Leonard Farber

Here is more coverage of the Revlon Run/Walk: Fox News Coverage

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Posted in Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Lung Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Skin Cancer, Uncategorized

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The Farber Center Walks for Cancer

April 18th, 2011

Marina Higgins VP Argo Real Estate

On April 30th, The Farber Center Team lead by our patient Marina, will walk for the 14th Annual Industry Foundation Revlon Run/Walk in New York City.
The EIF Revlon Run Walk was created in 1994 through the committed and collective efforts of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Lilly Tartikoff and Ronald O. Perelman. The EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women has grown to become one of the nation’s largest 5K fundraising events. To date, the Run/Walks (in Los Angeles and New York) have distributed over $60 million for cancer research, treatment, counseling and outreach programs. Thanks in part to these funds, new treatments are being developed and lives are being saved.

Your donation will help fund important research into the cause and cure of women’s cancers, prevention, education and support service programs.

So please donate if you can. Here is the link: DONATE

Team t-shirt by our friend Dan McClure: his email:dan@eastcoastsportswear.com

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Posted in Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Skin Cancer

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Radiosurgery at The Farber Center

March 22nd, 2011

The only Elekta Infinity in NYC

Like CyberKnife, Elekta is the only other radiation system to use Monte Carlo based dose calculations. The Monte Carlo Based dose calculation is the most accurate statistical method of mathematical and physics-based calculations. What this means for the patients is the most accurate way of knowing the dose you plan on delivering and the dose they will actually receive. With Elekta Infinity and Monte Carlo calculations we can now perform optimal radiosurgery.

Radiosurgery is a non-invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors anywhere in the body, including the prostate, lung, brain, spine, liver, pancreas and kidney. The treatment – which delivers beams of high dose radiation to tumors with extreme accuracy – offers new hope to patients worldwide.

3 TO 5 DAY TREATMENT FOR LUNG PATIENTS:

Stereotactic Body Radiosurgery (SRS) and Radiotherapy (SBRT) as an alternative to lung cancer surgery and has yielded very high cure rates. These techniques present elderly patients, patients with severe lung disease, patients who refuse surgery, patients with severe heart disease, and other patients with poor health a curative alternative to lung cancer surgery. Stereotactic body radiosurgery not surgery at all. SRS and SBRT lung cancer treatment is an outpatient procedure that is performed in no more than five treatment visits to The Farber Center. SRS and SBRT are painless and patients can continue their daily activities without difficulty. They utilizes multiple tightly conformed radiation beams converging at the lung tumor. A specially designed body frame immobilizes the patient and decreases the movement of the lung tumor due to breathing. With this technology, very little lung receives radiation. The low volume of lung exposed to radiation allows very high doses to be given to the lung tumor leading to cure rates comparable to surgery. Because of the low volume lung exposure SRS and SBRT haev a low risk of long term lung complications in the treatment of lung cancer.
SRS and SBRT are promising new technologies for stage one lung cancer. Lung cancer surgery remains the gold standard. SRS and SBRT are used for patients who could not tolerate lung cancer surgery or would rather not have the lung cancer surgery.

Who is a Candidate for Stereotactic Body Radiosurgery/Radiotherapy Lung Cancer Treatment?

Patients with stage one non-small cell lung cancer who are unwilling or unable to undergo lung cancer surgery are candidates for SRS/SBRT. Typically patients are unable or unwilling to undergo lung cancer surgery because of older age or poor general health. Stage one non small lung cancer is categorized as a lung tumor with the histology of non small cell (squamous cell, large cell, adenocarcinoma) and no spread to the lymph nodes. In most circumstances, the patient has a needle biopsy demonstrated the histology. Patients must also have a PET scan that demonstrates no lymph node involvement.

5 DAY TREATMENT FOR PROSTATE PATIENTS:
Stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy are highly successful alternative cancer treatment methods performed as an outpatient procedure and given over the course of five (5) days. Because it is non-invasive, there are fewer risks for complications. Prostate Radiosurgery/Radiotherapy at The Farber Center involves no hormone therapy, a high rate of erectile function preservation and no fiducial markers (fiducial markers are gold seeds or stainless steel screws that are implanted in and/or around a soft tissue tumor, or within the bony spine, to act as a radiologic landmark, to define the target lesion’s position).

Who is a Candidate for Stereotactic Body Radiosurgery/Radiotherapy Prostate Cancer Treatment? Stereotactic radiosurgery, or stereotactic radiotherapy, is a technique that shows great promise in the treatment of early stage prostate cancer.

Please feel free to call 212 300-0663 to speak with Dr. Farber regarding stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy. He would be happy to answer any questions. Or, you can email any questions to lafarbermd@thefarbercenter.com. We can easily obtain patients films and records for review if necessary.

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Posted in Lung Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Uncategorized

Co-Payment Help for Cancer Patients

February 28th, 2011

The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established in 2007 to address the needs of individuals who cannot afford their insurance co-payments to cover the cost of medications for treating cancer.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation takes into account a person’s financial and insurance situation when determining who is eligible for assistance.

The criteria used to determine if you are eligible are:

Financial Information
Individuals or families with incomes of up to four times the federal poverty level may qualify. See the poverty level chart below. The Foundation may also consider the cost of living in your particular city or state.

Diagnosis and Treatment
You must be diagnosed with one of the cancer types that the Foundation covers. This is a listing of diagnoses they currently cover:
Breast Cancer
Colon or Colorectal Cancer
Gastric Cancer
Glioblastoma
Head and Neck Cancer
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Renal Cell Cancer

Your diagnosis must be verified by a doctor. Your doctor must complete and sign their physician verification form.
You must receive treatment dispensed in the United States, and the medication that you are taking must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cancer.

Insurance Coverage
You must be covered by private insurance or an employer-sponsored health plan, —or—
Have Medicare Part B, Medicare Part D, Medicare Supplementary Health Insurance (“Medigap”) or Medicare Advantage Plan
If you are uninsured (do not have any insurance or medical plan that covers prescription medication) you are not eligible for co-payment assistance; however, we encourage you to contact us so that we can refer you to other organizations or patient assistance programs.
The Foundation grants assistance on a first-come, first-served basis, to the extent that funding is available.

HOW IT WORKS
Step 1: Apply
Call 1-866-55-COPAY to determine if you are eligible and begin the application process.
Step 2: Award Determination
They will send you a form to complete and return.
They will send you a form that your doctor will need to complete and return.
If approved, you will receive an Award Determination letter by mail with instructions for accessing your award.

Important Note: The Foundation will only send an application form to you after you call 1-866-552-6729 to speak with one of their specialists so that they can determine if you are eligible to apply.

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Posted in Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Skin Cancer

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Connect with family and friends during a health challenge

January 31st, 2011


When you find yourself diagnosed with an illness, your family and friends can be a pillar of strength.

People going through cancer treatments should never have to go it alone. Throughout the process, family members need to stay strong.

Unfortunately, contracting a secondary illness while fighting cancer can seriously hurt your ability to fight the disease. So when you are unable to go meet friends or be with family, you can be open and honest about why, and still connect in a personal way.

CaringBridge websites offer a personal and private space to communicate and show support, saving time and emotional energy when health matters most. The websites are easy to create and use. Authors add health updates and photos to share their story while visitors leave messages of love, hope and compassion in the guestbook.

No one likes to sit on the sidelines, but being honest about why you’re doing so will help keep your friends and family close. To see how it works click here: CaringBridge

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Posted in Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Renderings, Skin Cancer, Uncategorized

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Who is deciding where you get your radiation treatment ?

January 14th, 2011

Did you know you can choose where you get your radiation cancer treatment?

Let me tell you two stories. Their names have been changed to protect their identity. The first story is about Mary Higgins.
 Mary Higgins is a timid, slightly grayed 55-year-old working mother of two teenage boys, who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. She was recently seen at a NYC hospital by a breast surgeon who after a work up performed a lumpectomy as part of her breast conservation treatment. Mary did not need chemotherapy but was told that she needed a radiation oncology evaluation. She was referred to the radiation oncologist at that same NYC hospital.
 Mary went home and called to schedule her appointment with the hospital radiation oncologist and was given an appointment for the following week. Being nervous and having to sit for a week with no answers, Mary got on her computer and Googled breast cancer treatment. That is how she found The Farber Center. Mary called us asked if she could come in on her own or did she need her doctor to request a consult. We told Mary she can schedule an appointment and we will take care of the rest. We saw Mary the same day. When Mary arrived she walked into what seemed like a spa and was “blown away” by the experience. Mary was greeted by Vivian, our patient concierge, who took her coat, got her a beverage, and held her hand through all the paperwork. After Mary’s consult and a tour of the facility, she was angry that she was not sent here first by her physician. Mary felt that going into a hospital every day for several weeks was just a reminder that she was sick. She asked why wouldn’t her physician have sent her here first.
The reality is hospitals are businesses and they put pressure on the physicians to refer within the hospital.

There are some physicians, particularly urologist, that only send to centers with whom they have a relationship (click for article)

Let me tell you about Bob: 
Bob Wright is a physically fit 60-year-old father of two teenage girls and a son in college. Bob was just diagnosed with prostate cancer and was sent to the Upper East Side to a radiation center with whom his urologist has a “relationship”. Bob went for his radiation oncology consult on the upper east side. He was told his treatment would be everyday for nine weeks. Bob lives in the Village and works downtown and got on the Internet thinking, “there has to be something closer to me.” Bob went on Yahoo and Googled prostate cancer treatment and found The Farber Center. He called us and scheduled a consultation. After his consultation, Bob realized that the Upper East Side center did not treat with cone beam CT (which is considered the best type of image guided radiation treatment for prostate cancer). Bob was upset. He was sent to this other center, which was farther away from his office and home, and offered less than state-of-the-art treatment. He asked if his urologist knew of us. The answer was yes, and in fact, the physicians at The Farber Center went out of their way to drop off information on the center and introduce themselves prior to Bob’s visit with them.

GET A SECOND OPINION FROM AN INDEPENDENT PHYSICIAN. ASK YOUR DOCTOR. It’s YOUR LIFE. It’s your choice. EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE!

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Posted in Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Prostate Cancer

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Tribeca Citizen Covers The Farber Center

December 14th, 2010

I had the great pleasure to meet Erik Torkells the other day. Erik is the founder of Tribeca Citizen which is a website dedicated to all things Tribeca. Erik got the idea for Tribeca Citizen after he quit his job in the summer of 2008. He lived in the neighborhood since 2003, but after taking Howard ( his pug), on much longer walks with his new found time, he discovered he had all sorts of questions: What was filming on Duane Street? What will that huge new Frank Gehry building look like? What is David Bouley up to now? When he couldn’t find a website with the answers, he began to envision one.

Erik discovered us on one of those walks and decided that everyone should know that there was an amazing alternative for cancer patients in need of radiation therapy. Please Click here to read the story www.tribecacitizen.com.

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Posted in Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Skin Cancer, Uncategorized

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