Archive for November, 2009
Technologic Advances at Holy Cross Hospital
We are proud to announce a brand new addition to The Department of Radiation Oncology at Holy Cross Hospital…..an Elekta Synergy® machine.
The Elekta Synergy® is the first advanced multi-functional linear accelerator with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image guided radiation therapy (IGRT). The Synergy® can obtain a CT scan to confirm optimal patient position prior to each treatment. This allows your physician at Holy Cross Hospital to achieve an unprecedented ability to confirm and adjust the patient’s position in order to ensure that the patient is in the exact correct position before each treatment. This results in an unmatched ability to deliver dose to the tumor while avoiding radiation to normal adjacent tissues. It helps bridge the gap to two of the biggest problems of the past: internal organ motion and errors in patient set-up.
The Synergy® incorporates cone beam CT scanner in the treatment process. Cone beam CT creates three-dimensional axial CT slices of a patient’s tumor, enabling therapists and doctors to compare these images with initial treatment planning images and make the appropriate adjustment prior to treatment. This leads to a more highly customized radiation treatment.
In cone beam, the CT scanner is attached to a radiation delivery machine. Prior to the actual treatment, a 3-dimensional CT scan image is obtained. This is compared to the conventional CT scan that was used for planning the patient’s radiation treatment. If there are any differences in the patient’s current position, this is corrected before treatment is actually given. This whole process only takes less than three minutes!!
Also coming soon to Holy Cross Hospital…Stereotactic RADIOSURGERY. In our next blog, I’ll discuss why many experts prefer Radiosurgery with Elekta Synergy® over Cyberknife®.
Survivorship Journeys
Cancer survivorship continues to be our topic of discussion because as I mentioned in my last blog post, there are over 12 million cancer survivors today and growing. The Bienes Comprehensive Cancer Center wants to be ready to deliver survivorship care as adeptly as other cancer centers throughout the United States. I continue to stress the fact that treating the patients’ disease is only a fraction of the care and that their psychosocial, spiritual, socioeconomic and social needs need to be addressed along with their physical needs.
We are working diligently on accomplishing our goal of setting up a survivorship program by July 2010 to routinely address the comprehensive needs of our survivors. We continue to partner with other cancer organizations to bring programs to our survivors and their caregivers such as the American Cancer Society’s “I Can Cope Program,” which was offered to the community this weekend on the second floor of the Bienes Comprehensive Cancer Center. We had approximately 40 participants in attendance and many wonderful educational sessions were presented. We also partnered with patients, their families and members of the community in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at their annual “Light the Night” walk this weekend. We are hoping to continue with our partnership with and for our survivors and their families. I would also like to hear your survivorship stories so don’t be shy, leave a comment about what your survivorship journey was like.
The Bienes Comprehensive Cancer Center offers several cancer support groups to meet the needs of our patients and families/caregivers. Click here to see the upcoming calendar of available support groups. We also offer weekly and seasonal bereavement (around the holidays) support groups. I am still soliciting thoughts on support groups or any other aspect of cancer support. What role has cancer support played in your cancer treatment experience?
Holy Cross Current Lung Cancer Clinical Trial List
This is an incredibly exciting time in our cancer center. Under Dr. Martin Gutierrez’ leadership our clinical research program is soaring to new heights. We have now opened numerous clinical trials for our enhanced lung cancer program. You will begin to see print ads, direct mailings and also hear ads on the radio to educate people about what new treatment options are available to certain cancer patients.
Listed below is a few of the trials in the Holy Cross Hospital Lung Clinical Trial List:
- A Phase III Randomized Trial Of Adjuvant Chemotherapy With Or Without Bevacizumab For Patients With Completely Resected Stage Ib (> 4 Cm) – IIIa Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
- The Impact Of Ethnic Origin On Patients Being Treated Second Line With Pemetrexed – An Observational Study
- Phase III Comparison Of Thoracic Radiotherapy Regimens In Patients With Limited Small Cell Lung Cancer Also Receiving Cisplatin And Etoposide
- A Phase II, Randomized, Open Label Study Of Figitumumab Plus Cisplatin (Or Carboplatin) And Etoposide, Versus Cisplatin And Etoposide Alone, As First Line Treatment In Patients With Extensive-Stage Disease Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Phase 1/2, Open-Label, Randomized Study of the Safety, Efficacy, and Pharmacokinetics of Erlotinib with or without PF-02341066 in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Adenocarcinoma of the Lung
- Phase II, open-label single arm study of the efficacy and safety of PF 02341066 in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring a translocation or inversion involving the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene locus
- Phase III, Randomized, Open-Label Study of the Efficacy and Safety of PF-02341066 versus Standard of Care Chemotherapy (Pemetrexed or Docetaxel) in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Harboring a Translocation or Inversion Event Involving the Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) Gene Locus
- Phase II Trial of Preoperative Chemotherapy and Bevacizumab in Patients with Stage IB (>4 cm), II, or Select Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Phase II trial for Stage IIIB/IV Non-Small Lung Cancer (NSCLC) with three arm chemotherapy study for Poor Performance Status patients
- Phase 1b/II Study to Determine the Recommended Dose, Safety, and Preliminary Efficacy of Belinostat (PXD 101), a Histone Deacytylase Inhibitor, in Combination with Carboplatin, Paclitaxel, and Bevicizumzb (BelcaP-B) in Patients with Untreated Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
This brings a whole new array of options for patients to be treated. If you are interested in learning more please call me at 954-267-7704. If you know of a patient who may be eligible for one of these trials please call our lung cancer program line at 954-351-LUNG (5864) to schedule an appointment to see Dr. Gutierrez.
More next month.
About the Center
The Michael & Dianne Bienes Comprehensive Cancer Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is the Cancer Care Leader in Broward County. Dedicated to providing patients with precise diagnosis, the latest and most advanced treatment and aftercare options, we offer a multidisciplinary approach to care, a compassionate and spiritual healing environment, and an affiliation with the National Cancer Institute. We are also working together with Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center to provide South Florida residents with rapid access to specialized cancer care and genetics counseling.
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