Posts Tagged ‘radiation oncology’

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Oral Head and Neck Cancer

April 3rd, 2012

April is Oral Head and Neck Cancer Awareness. The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology will be offering free screenings on April 26th by appointment only. Please reach out to Vivian at 212 300-0663 if you would like to schedule an appointment.

Over the past decade, an increasing number of young, non-smokers have developed mouth and throat cancer. Recent research could explain the increase of oral cancer incidence in young adults, a group traditionally at low risk. This phenomenon has been at least partly attributed to the rise of the human-papillomavirus (HPV), a cancer-causing virus that can be transmitted through oral sex. Though oral cancers associated with the papilloma virus are still relatively rare, they typically are found near the base of the tonsils and the back of the tongue, areas that are often difficult to see during visual screenings until the cancer is in a late stage. An early indication of oral and throat cancer is one or more changes in the way the soft tissues of your mouth usually look or feel.

Signs and symptoms may include:
A sore in your mouth that doesn’t heal or increases in size
Persistent pain in your mouth
Lumps or white, red or dark patches inside your mouth
Thickening of your cheek
Difficulty chewing or swallowing or moving your tongue
Difficulty moving your jaw, or swelling or pain in your jaw
Soreness in your throat or feeling that something is caught in your throat
Pain around your teeth, or loosening of your teeth
Numbness of your tongue or elsewhere in your mouth
Changes in your voice
A lump in your neck
Bad breath
Most oral cancers arise on the lips, tongue or on the floor of the mouth. They also may occur inside your cheeks, on your gums or on the roof of your mouth.

Peter Tork formally of the monkeys talks about his battle with cancer and promotes OHANCAW® 2012.

Read the Good Morning America piece on the HPV oral cancer link

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Posted in Head and Neck Cancer, Uncategorized

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New 5 Day Non Invasive Treatment for Breast Cancer

October 11th, 2011

As you might recall The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology was the first in NYC to treat patients with AccuBoost, an image-guided treatment for breast cancer. The process uses digital mammography for localization and surface applications for the delivery of radiation. Prior to AccuBoost, partial breast irradiation treatment was performed via invasive techniques such as employing multiple protruding catheters or with inflatable balloon devices implanted into the breast. AccuBoost is the first technology to allow High Dose Rate (HDR) treatment of breast cancer in a Non-Invasive way.

Now The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology will take part as a clinical site with Brown University Oncology Group in an AccuBoost Study designed to evaluate the toxicity, recurrence, and cosmetic outcome of AccuBoost as a form of non-invasive accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI). The faculty in the department of Radiation Oncology at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University is among international experts in partial breast irradiation and has had expertise in this field that spans several decades. We are proud to be working with them.

Whole breast radiation therapy as a standard technique for adjuvant RT following breast conservation surgery is typically daily treatments for 3.5 weeks to 6.5 weeks. The AccuBoost accelerated partial breast irradiation reduces the volume of breast tissue treated and surrounding organs (heart, lung), in a shorter treatment time (10 treatments over 5-10 days). Patients can be treated twice a day for 5 days or once a day for 10 days in place of whole breast radiation therapy.

We will be looking for patients to participate in the study that fill the following criteria:
Patients referred for adjuvant radiation therapy who are diagnosed as early stage node negative hormone receptor positive with:

1. A confirmed histological diagnosis of invasive breast carcinoma or DCIS
2. Age greater or equal to 50 years old
3. Treated by breast conserving surgery with axillary node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy

If you are interested in participating in the study please contact The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology at 212 300-0663 to schedule a consultation.

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Posted in Breast Cancer

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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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Almost Half of Older Post Mastectomy Patients Don’t Get Radiation

June 28th, 2011

Radiation treatment after a mastectomy for advanced breast cancer is part of the standard treatment guidelines. In the mid-1990s, several studies (Huang Study) concluded that mastectomy patients with advanced breast cancer have better outcomes if they undergo radiation after surgery. Initially, the medical community seemed to pay attention to the findings. As a result four organizations had issued guidelines about the value of radiation after mastectomy from 1999 to 2001: the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. From 1996 and 1998, the rates of radiation following mastectomy for women ages 66 and older increased from 36.5% to 57.7%. But in a review of data from 1998 to 2005, researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston found no further increase. But more than a decade after the lifesaving value of radiation was confirmed, about half of all women who should get radiation therapy aren’t getting it.

The new study, published in the journal Cancer, finds that 45.2% of older women found to have high-risk breast cancer between 1999 and 2005 did not receive additional post-mastectomy radiation treatment, despite the publication of major guidelines recommending the therapy. High risk patients were defined as Stage 3 breast cancers, patients with tumors 5 centimeters or larger and those where the tumor had spread to four or more lymph nodes.

What the study also found was that women who live in areas with a lot of radiation oncologists were 20% more likely to get radiation than women who did not. They contribute this to the particular challenge of older patients in getting daily radiation treatment for five or six weeks, especially those living in rural areas with limited access to transportation.

It is important for patients to have a discussion with their physician about the possibility of recurrence without radiation. It is important that the oncologist and breast surgeons have these challenging discussions to ensure the patient is aware of all the options and is getting the most appropriate care for them.

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Posted in Breast 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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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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Did you know that your Breast Reconstruction is covered by insurance?

March 11th, 2011

The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) of 1998 is also known as Janet’s Law, named after Janet Franquet, who was denied reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy. The Long Island, N.Y., woman was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 1997. Her insurance company denied her breast reconstruction because it considered the surgery cosmetic rather than medically necessary. During a lengthy appeals process, which Franquet eventually won, her doctor performed the surgery for free.
Meanwhile, Franquet’s drew the support of former New York Sen. Alfonse M. D’Amato, who sponsored WHCRA in Congress and helped pushed through the legislation, which was signed into law on Oct. 21, 1998.

WHCRA is a federal law that requires all sponsored group health plans, insurance companies, individual policies and health maintenance organizations offering medical and surgical benefits with respect to a mastectomy must also offer coverage for reconstructive surgery in a manner determined in consultation with the attending physician and the patient. WHCRA ensures that your coverage includes:
1. Reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy was performed.
2. Surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to create a symmetrical appearance.
3. Prostheses (breast implants).
4. Treatment for physical complications of the mastectomy, including lymphedema (swelling caused by an accumulation of lymph fluid in the arm).

WHCRA applies to three types of health insurance coverage, according to the Department of Health and Human Services:

1. Self-funded group plans
2. Fully insured group plans
3. Individual health insurance plans

How WHCRA works
WHCRA amended the Public Health Service Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). It is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). It does not require group health plans or individual health insurance companies to cover mastectomies. Instead, it requires those plans and insurers that already provide coverage for mastectomies to also pay for breast reconstruction surgery in connection with a mastectomy.
WHCRA does not prohibit plans and insurers from imposing deductibles or co-payments for benefits relating to breast reconstruction surgery following a mastectomy. However, these deductibles or co-payments must be consistent with those charged for other benefits under the health plan.

It’s against federal law for a health insurance company to deny you a policy or fail to renew your health insurance coverage solely for the purpose of avoiding WHCRA’s requirements. In addition, insurers must not penalize your doctor for complying with WHCRA or provide financial incentives to induce your doctor to furnish care that is not consistent with WHCRA rules.

Although WHCRA covers most women with group health plans and individual insurance, the law does not apply to everyone, according to the DOL. If your employer is a church or state or local school district, and the plan is self-insured, your employer is exempt from WHCRA. It does not apply to state high-risk pools either. Although these plans may indeed cover mastectomies, they do not have to cover breast reconstruction or implants.

Some state laws provide more protections than WHCRA. To learn more, contact your state’s insurance department.
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Posted in Breast Cancer, Uncategorized

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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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