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Monday, December 9, 2013

Asbestos Lung Cancer in New York

8:07 AM
After several decades of harmful exposures to asbestos, asbestos lung cancer emerged as a lasting burden on the state of New York. Weak safety constraints at asbestos-heavy worksites and illegal asbestos disposal procedures have placed a vast number of New Yorkers at risk for not only lung cancer, but also mesothelioma, asbestosis and other chronic respiratory illnesses. With about 13,500 new cases diagnosed in New York each year, lung cancer is the state's leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women.
However, isolating exactly how many of these cases can be attributed to asbestos exposure is difficult. Occupational data indicates a significant number of asbestos-exposed workers that are also smokers, which makes it challenging to determine whether a patient’s lung cancer was triggered by smoking or asbestos. That doesn't take away from the fact that New York has many worksites at which asbestos is a concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 4 to 12 percent of all lung cancers arise after occupational exposures to asbestos. This amounts to between 8,400 and 25,200 cases of asbestos lung cancer diagnosed in the United States each year.
Thousands of people who developed asbestos-related diseases filed lawsuits in New York to seek compensation for being exposed. Defendants in the cases are companies that failed to warn or protect the public from the health risks associated with asbestos exposure. In some cases, judges consolidate multiple plaintiffs with similar asbestos claims into a single lawsuit. As a group, the plaintiffs can seek compensation from upwards of 20 defending companies.
In addition to ample legal options, New York is a leading destination for lung cancer treatment. The fifth-ranking state for incidences of asbestos-related disease, New York boasts some of the nation’s most prestigious lung cancer treatment centers. These facilities are staffed by world leaders in the treatment of occupational diseases.

Asbestos Disposal

The vast majority of New Yorkers diagnosed with asbestos-related lung cancer were exposed to the toxic mineral while on the job. Asbestos insulation was used in the construction of buildings — office spaces and vendor locations for millions of New Yorkers – for decades. Asbestos still can be found within the walls of many aging New York structures.
Oftentimes, when dilapidated New York buildings require demolishment or repair, construction workers must handle and dispose of toxic asbestos building materials. Although state and federal safety regulations help protect workers and the general public from asbestos exposures, careless individuals sometimes illegally dispose of asbestos to save time or money.
In the state of New York, only licensed contractors are authorized to manage asbestos projects. Fraudulent contractors typically hire untrained workers for asbestos removal jobs, which seriously threatens the health of the workers and anyone else exposed to asbestos dust. If state or government officials observe such violations, hefty fines and prison sentences typically follow.
In 2004, for example, father and son owners of AAR Contractors, Inc., were fined more than $75,000,000 for illegally disposing of asbestos removed from 1,550 New York buildings. Further, they received the longest documented prison sentences for environmental crimes in the United States to date. Alexander Salvagno, was sentenced to 25 years in prison. His father, Raul Salvagno, was sentenced to 19 ½ years.
The asbestos in these facilities are usually fine unless they are disturbed or uncovered. Renovations, demolitions and other activities that disturb the asbestos can release airborne fibers. These fibers have been linked to the development of serious respiratory illnesses, including lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, for example, exposure among rescue and cleanup workers was a major concern, as the material was used extensively in the Twin Towers.

Dangerous Jobsites for Asbestos Lung Cancer

Workers at countless jobsites within the state of New York experienced harmful workplace exposures to asbestos. The majority of the state’s asbestos lung cancer patients developed the disease after being exposed to the toxic mineral on the job, most commonly while working in prominent New York industries like shipbuilding, manufacturing and power generation.
These industries incorporated asbestos heavily in both building materials and products, namely for the mineral’s value as an affordable and effective insulator from fire, heat, chemicals and electricity. Although medical researchers conclusively identified a link between asbestos exposure and the onset of various cancers by the 1960s, virtually all buildings constructed prior to 1980 furnished varying amounts of asbestos materials.
After the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001, hundreds of tons of airborne asbestos fibers descended upon Lower Manhattan. This put workers involved in rescue, recovery and cleanup efforts at risk for a number of serious respiratory diseases, including lung cancer.

Brooklyn Navy Yard

An active U.S. Navy shipyard from 1806 to 1966, the Brooklyn Navy Yard was once known as America’s premier shipbuilding facility. However, the site also gained notoriety for the widespread use of asbestos during America’s involvement in World War II.
The fire retardant properties of asbestos make it an excellent insulator with a variety of uses around the shipyard and onboard ships. The Brooklyn Navy Yard’s pipe shop used asbestos to make pipe wrappings for vessels, and the boiler shop and its power plant also used the material as insulation. In addition, foundry workers were issued protective equipment that contained asbestos, including gloves, aprons and leggings.
Evidence from litigation against the Brooklyn Navy Yard has shown that asbestos-containing products were used interchangeably on nearly every warship constructed on site.
Further, it was established that the jobsite was often dusty with asbestos fibers and that the Navy failed to warn workers of the danger of such conditions. Although the Navy knew of the health risks associated with asbestos exposure, workers were not told to take important precautions such as wearing respirators, properly ventilating work areas and wetting down insulation to limit the release of airborne fibers.

World Trade Center

Following the collapse of the World Trade Center in 2001, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry collected thousands of air samples in an effort to identify any hazardous substances. It was suspected that toxic particles and dust released from the buildings may have settled in residential areas posing considerable public health risks.
Because the World Trade Center’s North Tower was constructed with asbestos materials, the fall of the building released hundreds of tons of toxic fibers into the atmosphere. Residential air tests in lower Manhattan detected chrysotile asbestos in about 92 percent of the 23,126 samples. However, only 0.4 percent of the samples exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s indoor health-related asbestos benchmark of 0.0009 fibers per cubic centimeter.
Those involved with rescue, recovery and cleanup activities at ground zero are expected to be most likely to develop an asbestos-related disease. Workers at risk include police officers, firefighters, paramedics, construction workers and volunteers. In what may be the first known mesothelioma death linked to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the doctor and family of Debbie Reeve, a retired FDNY paramedic, insist that her disease was caused by asbestos exposure while working at the World Trade Center morgue.
One study revealed that about 70 percent of the World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers suffered new or worsened respiratory symptoms while on the job, but these symptoms may have been caused by substances other than asbestos. Because of the standard latency periodassociated with asbestos-related diseases, it may be some time before the damage caused by asbestos from the World Trade Center is fully realized.

Colonie Site

The Colonie Site is an 11.2 acre property that hosted a variety of industrial companies since 1923, including Magnus Metal Company and National Lead Industries. Located in Colonie, a large suburb of Albany, the site was investigated by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in 2002 after community members expressed concerns over the potential negative health effects of past operations.
Operations at the Colonie Site included a brass foundry, an electroplating facility and the use of radioactive materials to manufacture fuel, ballast weights and projectiles. In 1984, the New York State Supreme Court shut down the National Lead plant after airborne releases of uranium compounds were detected.
A follow-up investigation revealed the presence of asbestos, as well as former use of a wide range of chemical compounds. Record keeping on site failed to indicate how or where these harmful substances were disposed of.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) assumed responsibility of the remaining cleanup activities at the Colonie Site in 1997 by order of Congress. Remediation of the site and nearby properties included waste disposal and testing of soil and groundwater for lead, radioactivity and other contaminants. In 2012, USACE plans to investigate two vicinity properties and address potential contaminated dust while continuing ongoing groundwater sampling.

Former Zonolite Company/W.R. Grace Exfoliating Plant

Located on a 1.6-acre plot of land in Brutus, New York, the former Zonolite Co./W.R. Grace facility was a processing site for vermiculite between 1963 and 1989. Because of the site’s close proximity to the Village of Weedsport, it is also commonly known as the Weedsport facility.
Workers at this jobsite processed 148,485 tons of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from theW.R. Grace mine in Libby, Montana. Evidence suggests that Weedsport facility workers were exposed to dangerous levels of amphibole asbestos according to current workplace standards. The processing method used, called exfoliation, is expected to have released more airborne asbestos than other available methods. Though the site is currently fenced off and inactive, future exposures may occur with site renovations or disturbances of the soil.
The New York State Department of Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry continue to identify former employees of the Weedsport facility and strongly encourage them to meet with an occupational physician to receive a health evaluation.

Crown Cleaners

Crown Cleaners, a dry cleaning and laundry operation located in Jefferson County’s Village of Herrings, was the site of an EPA Superfund remedial investigation in 1998. Contractors with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation began waste removal that year, and it was later confirmed that improper disposal of cleaning solvents and old filters polluted not only the soil and groundwater on site, but also the village’s public water supply.
After asbestos building materials were found during cleanup in 2000, the site was referred to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for further action. The EPA removed all asbestos, as well as the remaining waste materials. Following the site’s addition to the National Priorities List in 2001, the source of water and soil contamination was investigated further.
Based on an approximation of how long Crown Cleaners operated, the EPA stated the maximum period of exposure did not exceed 11 years. Actions were taken to reduce further exposures to harmful substances, and the site is no longer considered a public health hazard.

Ramapo Landfill

The Ramapo Landfill is an inactive facility that was deemed an indeterminate public health hazard by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Located in the Town of Ramapo in Rockland County, the landfill operated from 1971 to 1984, though demolition debris was accepted until 1989. On-site groundwater, waste run-off and landfill gas are contaminated at levels of public health concern, but limited available data does not indicate any harmful exposure has occurred.
In addition to construction and demolition debris, which contained asbestos, other substances disposed of on-site include sewage and paint sludge, yard debris and industrial waste. The EPA believes the site may have also received waste from illegal dumping.
Following a public health assessment, the EPA created a Public Health Action Plan containing a list of actions to prevent future health hazards and harm to the environment. Because hazardous substances remain at the Ramapo Landfill, the EPA will conduct its fourth scheduled five-year review of the site in 2014.

Li Tungsten Site

The Li Tungsten Site is a 26-acre industrial area located in the City of Glen Cove on the North Shore of Nassau County. A variety of corporations operated the site from the 1940s until 1985, the most recent being the Li Tungsten Corporation. While occupied by Li Tungsten Co., the site was used to process ore and scrap tungsten to produce tungsten powder and tungsten carbide powder.
Prior to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Emergency Removal Action in 1990, the site contained large quantities of harmful substances, including asbestos, laboratory chemicals, radioactive slag and various waste chemicals.
Remedial actions were performed to prevent health issues related to the on-site contaminants, but only bulk samples of asbestos were removed. The site’s nine buildings are all in disrepair, and the EPA noted that deteriorating friable asbestos still remained after the initial cleanup efforts. Because trespassing has been an ongoing problem at the site for years, it is suspected trespassers may have been exposed to a variety of harmful contaminants.
By the summer of 2008, the EPA asserted that all substantive remediation at the Li Tungsten Site was complete. A five-year groundwater monitoring plan was put in place as the site is slated for future use once deemed safe.

Asbestos Lung Cancer Treatment Centers and Doctors

Asbestos lung cancer patients in New York have access to a range of options for treatment. Because the state is home to some of the nation’s leading lung cancer doctors and treatment centers, you should take several key factors into consideration before choosing the facility best suited for your unique situation.
Many of the state’s cancer treatment centers are located on Long Island, but there are also several quality centers in Western New York and Upstate. After deciding how far you are willing to travel, you should compare specific aspects of several treatment centers, including their ratings and accreditations, the availability of clinical trials, physician credentials and your personal preferences. One sure sign of a treatment center’s quality is a designation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which indicates that the facility meets the highest standards of cancer care, research and treatment.
The following New York cancer treatment centers are well-known for the high quality of care they offer to lung cancer patients and those most at risk for developing the disease. Patients diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer can choose from a wide array of exceptional cancer treatment centers in the state of New York. While patients should consider several key factors before deciding on the right center for treatment, one helpful indicator of a high-caliber facility is designation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
NCI-designation indicates that a treatment center meets the highest standards in cutting-edge research, treatment options and clinical trials. These centers gain access to federal grants which drive advancements in cancer care. New York offers six NCI-designated cancer centers, including New York Presbyterian Hospital, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute and NYU Cancer Institute.
New York’s impressive cancer treatment centers attract some of the nation’s most distinguished lung cancer doctors. Leaders in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of lung cancer prefer to serve at NCI-designated facilities, where access to advanced technology and innovative treatment methods is standard.

New York Presbyterian Hospital

New York Presbyterian Hospital
  • Name: New York Presbyterian Hospital
  • Address: 622 West 168 Street. New York, NY 10032
  • Phone: (212) 305-2500
  • Website: www.nyp.org
The New York Presbyterian Hospital is a world-renowned medical center comprised of two leading cancer treatment centers. The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center is recognized by the National Cancer Institute as an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, indicating the facility’s excellence in cutting-edge cancer research, education and patient care. Specialists at the Weill Cornell Cancer Center share the same dedication to cancer care, and conduct a wide range of clinical research to improve current lung cancer treatments while perfecting new and advanced therapies. Lung cancer patients at New York Presbyterian also have access to groundbreaking clinical trials, which offer new and experimental therapies like high-dose gated radiation, Cox-2 inhibitors and gene therapy.
Nasser Altorki, M.D.
Nasser Altorki holds two appointments at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center: Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Director of the Division of Thoracic Surgery. A highly acclaimed thoracic surgeon among his students, patients and colleagues, Altorki has a special interest in advancing lung cancer surgery and research. Some of his specific interests include lung cancer immunotherapy, developing a lung cancer vaccine, lung cancer prevention, lung cancer clinical trials and minimally invasive surgery for lung and esophageal diseases.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  • Name: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  • Address: 1275 York Avenue. New York, NY 10065
  • Phone: (212) 639-2000
  • Website: www.mskcc.org
The NCI-designated Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is dedicated to providing patients with the latest innovations in lung cancer care, from early detection to promising experimental treatment options. The world’s oldest and largest private cancer center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering boasts more than one hundred years of groundbreaking cancer research and patient care. This long reputation for scientific excellence has earned the center a Comprehensive Cancer Center designation by the National Cancer Institute. The hospital offers a Lung Cancer Survivorship Program, part of an institution-wide survivorship initiative that provides palliative treatments and lifelong follow-up care.
Valerie Rusch, M.D.
One of the first women in the nation to become board certified in thoracic surgery, Valerie Rusch has more than 25 years of experience diagnosing and treating patients with cancers of the lung, Rusch offers minimally invasive techniques like VATS (video-assisted thoracic surgery) and the latest in robot-assisted surgery to minimize patient discomfort and shorten the length of hospital stays. She also uses minimally invasive techniques like EBUS (endobronchial ultrasound) and EUS (esophageal ultrasound) to stage her patients’ lung cancer and determine the extent of their tumors without requiring an incision.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Roswell Park Cancer Institute
  • Name: Roswell Park Cancer Institute
  • Address: Elm & Carlton Streets. Buffalo, New York 14263
  • Phone: (877) 275-7724
  • Website: www.roswellpark.org
Located on a 25 acre campus in downtown Buffalo, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RCPI) is the only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in upstate New York. RCPI was founded in 1898 by Roswell Park, whose multi-disciplinary approach to cancer treatment became the standard of care for all modern comprehensive cancer centers. The Roswell Park Cancer Institute has distinguished itself as a leader in a variety of alternative and experimental lung cancer treatments, including surgical robotics, immunotherapy and vaccine therapy. The institute also offers the LIFE (Laser-Induced Fluorescence Endoscopy) imaging system, which has been proven to double your doctor’s ability to locate tiny surface cancers of the airway.
Todd Demmy, M.D.
As Chair of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Todd Demmy sets high standards for cancer care. Demmy’s areas of expertise include lung cancer, mesothelioma and esophageal cancer. His specific research interests include minimally invasive thoracic surgery, post-surgical pain management and quality of life issues, regional lung chemotherapy and the management of pleural effusions. Demmy has also earned nearly $1.5 million in research grants for his institution, more than $100,000 of which was contributed toward lung cancer research.

NYU Langone Medical Center

NYU Langone Medical Center
  • Name: NYU Langone Medical Center
  • Address: 550 First Avenue. New York, NY 10016
  • Phone: (212) 263-7300
  • Website:www.med.nyu.edu/department/cancer
The NYU Langone Medical Center is home for researchers at Cancer Institute (NYUCI), who excel at translating laboratory discoveries into groundbreaking innovations in cancer treatment and patient-centered care. Lung cancer patients at NYUCI, an NCI-designated cancer center, gain access to the latest therapies and clinical trials, as well as a variety of programs in cancer prevention, screening, diagnostics and supportive services. Teams of multi-disciplinary doctors meet weekly to discuss the lifestyle and needs of individual patients, allowing them to create highly personalized cancer care plans. The NYU Cancer Institute’s thoracic oncology team specializes in patients with almost any abnormality of the chest, specifically those who are ineligible for surgery and wish to participate in a clinical trial.
Harvey Pass, M.D.
A longtime innovator in his field, Harvey Pass boasts more than 30 years of experience as a board-certified thoracic surgeon. Pass is currently the Chief of Thoracic Surgery at NYU Langone, where he is known for his expertise in minimally invasive lung cancer surgery techniques like video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and robot-assisted thoracic surgery. For many years, Pass has helped raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos and the diseases it can cause. His laboratory at Bellevue Hospital houses the NCI-funded Early Detection Research Network Biomarker Discovery Laboratory for Mesothelioma, and the Clinical CORE for the Mesothelioma Pathogenesis Program Project, also funded by the National Cancer Institute.

Mount Sinai Hospital

Mount Sinai Hospital
  • Name: Mount Sinai Hospital
  • Address: One Gustave L. Levy Place. New York, NY 10029
  • Phone: (212) 241-6500
  • Website: www.mountsinai.org
The Division of Thoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital has countless contributions toward bettering our understanding of lung cancer and its safest, most effective treatments. The lung cancer division is led by Raja M. Flores, M.D., the creator of and leading international expert on a minimally invasive lung cancer surgery technique known as VATS lobectomy. Compared to traditional surgery techniques, this video-assisted procedure offers fewer complications and a shorter hospital stay with equal cancer recurrence and survival rates. Other cutting edge lung cancer treatments at Mount Sinai include robotic surgery, minimally invasive biopsies and targeted therapies based on the patient’s DNA. Flores also offers his expertise to Mount Sinai’s Sleikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, diagnosing and treating asbestos-related diseases like lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Raja Flores, M.D.
Flores is a renowned thoracic surgeon, well-recognized for his commitment to advancing the quality of lung cancer and mesothelioma treatments. Currently serving the Mount Sinai Medical Center as Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery and Ames Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Flores specializes in minimally invasive surgery techniques for lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care

Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care
  • Name: Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care
  • Address: 111 East 210th Street. Bronx, NY 10467
  • Phone: (718) 920-4321
  • Website: www.montefiore.org
The Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care is internationally recognized for its position at the forefront of creative innovations in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer. With the support of its research partner, the NCI-designated Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Montefiore strives for translational research that improves technology and develops more effective cancer therapies. The state-of-the-art facilities at the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care allow new breakthroughs to quickly transition from the laboratory to testing via clinical trials. New developments in effective and convenient therapies are commonplace. Montefiore is currently researching lung cancer treatments that can be administered orally, inhaled or directly absorbed by the lungs, new methods that could completely revolutionize the standard approach to cancer care.
Roman Perez-Soler, M.D.
A native of Spain, Roman Perez-Soler completed his fellowship in medical oncology at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and went on to become chairman of the Department of Oncology and chief of the Division of Medical Oncology at Montefiore Medical Center. Perez-Soler is considered an international expert in experimental cancer therapy. In an effort to advance the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, Perez-Soler has led a wide range of clinical studies focused on combining various chemotherapy drugs. Some of his discoveries have resulted in notable success, such as treating lung cancer with a combination of liposome-entrapped cisplatin analog and erlotinib.

North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute

North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute
  • Name: North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute
  • Address: 300 Community Drive. Manhasset, NY 11030
  • Phone: (516) 562-0100
  • Website: www.northshorelij.com
One of the largest cancer centers in the New York metropolitan area, the Cancer Institute at North Shore-LIJ is dedicated to offering the most recent advances in the prevention, early detection and treatment of all stages of lung cancer. The cancer institute’s thoracic surgeons are well-trained in minimally invasive techniques like radiofrequency ablation, which is known to decrease recovery time and extend the survival rate and quality of life for patients with inoperable lung tumors. It is also houses one of the most comprehensive radiation facilities in the nation. Advanced techniques like stereostatic body radiation therapy and image guided radiation therapy precisely target lung tumors while minimizing the side effects commonly associated with standard radiation treatments.
Kevin Hyman, M.D.
A member of North Shore University Hospital’s Division of Thoracic Surgery since 2007, Kevin Hyman offers his expertise in the latest lung cancer surgery techniques. Hyman has published articles in a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and the Journal of Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology. One of his articles touted a novel diagnostic technique known as electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy, in which electromagnetic guidance assists surgeons in the collection of biopsy samples and the staging of lung cancer.

Winthrop-University Hospital

Winthrop-University Hospital
  • Name: Winthrop-University Hospital
  • Address: 259 First Street. Mineola, NY 11501
  • Phone: (516) 663-0333
  • Website: www.winthrop.org
The Lung Cancer Program at Winthrop’s Institute for Cancer Care offers a range of traditional and innovative services for lung cancer patients and those at high-risk for developing the disease. A major focus of the institute is providing comprehensive care that takes each patient’s anxieties and fears into consideration. In addition to traditional lung cancer treatment options, Winthrop offers patients cutting edge therapies including radiofrequency ablation, robot assisted VATS lobectomy and high-tech endoscopic bronchial ultrasound (EBUS). Winthrop is also one of the few medical institutions in the country to offer the CyberKnife treatment, a targeted radiation therapy that can treat tumors considered otherwise untreatable or impossible to reach.
Alexander Hindenburg, M.D.
Since 1990, Alexander Hindenburg has served Winthrop-University Hospital as an attending medical oncologist. Noted for his contributions to both clinical and basic cancer research, Hindenburg has received more than $500,000 in research funds from the American Cancer Society throughout the course of his career. Before joining Winthrop, Hindenburg was an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Co-Director of the Oncology Unit at Colombia Presbyterian Medical Center.

Upstate University Hospital

Upstate University Hospital
  • Name: Upstate University Hospital
  • Address: 750 E. Adams Street. Syracuse, NY 13210
  • Phone: (800) 544-1605
  • Website: www.upstate.edu/hospital/
Upstate University Hospital’s Thoracic Oncology Program (TOP) is the only service of its type in Central New York. In just one appointment, patients can meet a team of specialists representing thoracic surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, thoracic radiology, pulmonary medicine and cytopathology. TOP patients can expect the latest in multi–modality treatments, with options including surgery for high-risk patients, advanced image–guided needle biopsy, robotic surgery and photodynamic therapy. Surgeons at Upstate University Hospital have performed more than 100 VATS lobectomies, which use video cameras and small incisions for lung cancer surgery. This treatment center also offers the shortest length of stay for major lung cancer surgery in Central New York.
Leslie Kohman, M.D.
Leslie Kohman has worked for the Upstate University Hospital for 28 years, serving most of her time there as a thoracic surgeon treating patients with surgical lung cancer problems. Kohman chose her specialty in thoracic surgery because it allows her to make fast decisions while treating patients, and in some cases completely cure lung cancer patients with one surgical procedure. Her research interests include all aspects of thoracic oncology and lung cancer. Kohman has contributed to nearly 100 peer–reviewed journal articles, 26 of which dealing explicitly with the topic of lung cancer.

Stony Brook Cancer Center

Stony Brook Cancer Center
  • Name: Stony Brook Cancer Center
  • Address: 3 Edmund D. Pellegrino Road. Stony Brook, NY 11794
  • Phone: (631) 444-2981
  • Website:www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org
The Lung Cancer Evaluation Center at Stony Brook University uses the latest in technology to provide patients with advanced diagnostics, comprehensive treatments and a full range of support and follow-up services. Stony Brook has also been granted a three-year Teaching Hospital Cancer Program accreditation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, a testament to the facility’s high quality of care. The Stony Brook Cancer Center’s expert Lung Cancer Team takes a coordinated multi-disciplinary approach to treatment. Five-year evaluations of the newest lung cancer treatments available at Stony Brook have recently become available, and the results are highly favorable. Some examples of these minimally invasive treatments include radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, image-guided radiotherapy and VATS lobectomy.

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