Lung Cancer Center

As the leading cause of cancer mortality in men and women, lung cancer results in more deaths than the next three leading causes of cancer combined.
But...it doesn't have to stay that way.

While great strides have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, it remains a complicated disease with complex solutions. Hearing the diagnosis generates a feeling of being besieged...by the physical and emotional ramifications of the disease, by the complexities of the treatment and by the often-overwhelming processes patients and their families must navigate.

Offering a comprehensive program of prevention, diagnosis and advanced multidisciplinary treatment for men and women with lung cancer and people with a high risk of developing the disease, the staff at Winthrop-University Hospital's Lung Cancer Center also understands the nature of patients' anxiety and focuses on alleviating their stress.

How the Lung Cancer Center Works

The Lung Cancer Center is committed to providing patients with a multidisciplinary team approach to diagnosis and treatment. From the very first visit, the efforts of Winthrop's many lung cancer specialists are coordinated and tailored to meet the unique situations and needs of every patient and family. This is reflected in their close collaboration as they offer patients the full spectrum of standard and innovative treatment programs.

The activities of the Lung Cancer Center are managed by a full-time Cancer Care Coordinator, whose mission is to help patients and families move as easily as possible through the appropriate oncology disciplines by:

• Facilitating information retrieval
• Presenting patients to the Winthrop multidisciplinary lung cancer team, including physicians and surgeons with expertise in the diagnoses and treatment of the disease
• Ensuring that the team's recommendations flow efficiently back to the patient and referring physician in an organized, timely manner
• Providing patients with convenient appointments for procedures as expeditiously as possible
• Supporting patients and families during their difficult times through constant communication with the Lung Cancer Center's medical, nursing and social work staffs

The Lung Cancer Center Team

• Cancer Care Coordinator - A registered nurse responsible for keeping patient and staff lines of communication open and promoting patient satisfaction, the Coordinator works closely with the Lung Cancer Center team and Medical Director to direct and organize patient care and program activities.
• Medical Oncologists - Physicians specializing in the medical management of lung cancer, Winthrop's medical oncologists were among the first to offer cutting-edge "targeted" therapies now considered standard practice. They continue to remain at the forefront of lung cancer treatment, conducting extensive research and providing patients with ground-breaking therapies, including the opportunity to participate in exciting clinical trials.

  Winthrop's Medical Oncologists have wide-ranging experience with the latest cancer therapies, including:

  • The newest forms of chemotherapy
  • Targeted agents
  • Anti-angiogenesis agents
  • Radiation sensitizing treatments
  • Anti-nausea drugs
  • Palliative medicines to minimize the troublesome effects of lung cancer and its treatment
• Radiation Oncologists - Cancer specialists with advanced training and expertise in radiation therapy, Winthrop's radiation oncologists are experienced and skilled in the use of the most sophisticated treatment technologies, including:
  • Linear Accelerators capable of delivering a wide variety of radiation energies, depending on individual patient needs (Winthrop has three linear accelerators.)
  • CT Simulator (ACQSim), the most advanced 3-D simulation system that has set the standard for radiotherapy planning
  • IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy), which uses very sophisticated computer technology to deliver carefully calibrated radiation beams to targeted tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue
  • CyberKnife®, a revolutionary radiosurgery technology with high-dose beams that can be used to treat deeply embedded, complex masses once considered inoperable (Operational in August of 2005, Winthrop was the first hospital in the New York Metropolitan area to offer a CyberKnife program.)
• Thoracic Surgeons - Surgeons who perform complex surgical procedures (open and minimally invasive) of the thoracic cavity, including the lungs, esophagus, chest wall and mediastinum. Winthrop's thoracic surgeons perform a wide range of surgical procedures including:
  • Lung cancer resections
  • Video thoracoscopy
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Mediastinoscopy
  • Esophageal resections for cancers and other disorders
  • Diagnosis and surgical treatment of mediastinal disease
  • Removal of chest wall tumors and chest wall reconstruction
• Interventional Radiologists - Physicians highly trained in radiologic imaging, interventional radiologists use small needles, guidewires and catheters to diagnose and treat disease. At Winthrop, they use:
  • Radiofrequency Ablation, a minimally invasive tool for local lung tumor control, that involves the placement of a needle probe (electrode) within the tumor. Generating heat via an electrical current, the probe destroys the mass.
• Pulmonologists - Physicians who diagnose and treat all lung diseases, including lung cancer. They perform many procedures that facilitate the diagnosis and initial management of lung cancer, including:
  • Bronchoscopies with direct visualization of the lung airways to obtain tissue for biopsies
  • Evaluations of lung function
  • Rehabilitation of lung function in order to determine if patients will be able to tolerate the surgical removal of a portion of a lung
  • Treatment of respiratory symptoms and complications of lung cancer patients
  • Consultations on lung cancer screenings
  • Implementation of smoking cessation programs
• Pathologists - Physicians who diagnose medical problems by studying cells and tissue samples under a microscope. They analyze tissue removed for lung biopsies.
• Radiologists - Physicians who diagnose medical problems by conducting and interpreting imaging studies produced with X-rays, computed tomography (Cat or CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) scans and ultrasound. They play an important role in determining a lung cancer diagnosis.
• Social Workers - Available to assist patients and families with supportive counseling and cancer support groups, Winthrop's social workers also provide valuable information and referrals to community and financial resources.

Other Services Provided Through the Lung Cancer Center

• Patient and Family Support Groups: 516-663-9062
• Access to Clinical Trials: 516-663-9569
• Tobacco Cessation Program: 516-663-2579

Information and Appointments

For more information and to schedule an appointment, please call the Lung Cancer Center at 516-663-4637.