NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.,
June 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/
-- Approximately 60,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer are
diagnosed each year in the US and less than 10 percent of those
people will survive. Among the most devastating of cancers,
it cannot be prevented, there is no definitive screening test and
symptoms don't occur until the cancer spreads to other areas of the
body.
Recognizing the complexity and expertise needed to care for
patients with this dreaded disease, the Northwell Health Cancer
Institute on Wednesday announced the opening of its new Pancreatic
Cancer Center, featuring a multidisciplinary team of surgical,
medical and radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists,
interventional radiologists, pathologists, endocrinologists,
genetic counselors, social workers, nutritionists, and pain
management and palliation specialists.
At Wednesday's news conference, Northwell clinicians leading the
program were joined by a Long
Island native who recently underwent surgery to remove a
tumor within her pancreas, as well as representatives from Cold
Spring Harbor Laboratory and the Lustgarten Foundation, which are
collaborating with Northwell in the fight against pancreatic
cancer.
"Diagnosis and treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer can
be very challenging because the cancer is usually detected late,
making treatment complex," said Richard
Barakat, MD, physician-in-chief and director of the
Northwell Health Cancer Institute. "Northwell has designed its new
center with renowned experts in all aspects of pancreatic cancer,
including diagnosis and staging, surgical, medical and radiation
oncology, as well as palliative care. We are 100 percent
committed to defeating pancreatic cancer."
As an integrated health system, Northwell is able to collaborate
with physicians in multiple specialties and handle any other
medical conditions patients may have. At the new center,
patients and their families work closely with an experienced nurse
navigator who facilitates communication and guides them every step
of the way, Dr. Barakat said.
Chicago resident Tonic Fabric,
50, who grew up in Atlantic Beach
on Long Island, shared the story
of her courageous battle against pancreatic cancer, which was
discovered in July 2017 after she
returned from a vacation to Spain
with her husband, Darren. While there, the then 48-year-old
experienced shooting pains in her stomach and back. Upon arriving
home and after a whirlwind of appointments and a battery of tests
(she was sure it was an ulcer), Ms. Fabric received the diagnosis
that would "rock" her world and that of her family's. Because the
tumor was in the tail of her pancreas and the cancer had spread,
her doctors in Chicago said she
would never be a candidate for surgery. They said the only
way for her to stay alive was to continue chemotherapy for the rest
of her life.
After 33 rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, Ms. Fabric
consulted with pancreatic cancer surgeon Matthew Weiss, MD, who was then at Johns Hopkins
Hospital in Baltimore.
Shortly thereafter in February
2019, Dr. Weiss was recruited to the Northwell Health Cancer
Institute as deputy-physician-in-chief and director of surgical
oncology, along with other pancreatic cancer specialists. Because
of Ms. Fabric's remarkable response to chemotherapy, which shrank
her tumors, Dr. Weiss suggested an aggressive approach to surgery –
he would remove the area of the pancreas where the tumor
originated, along with the spleen, a portion of the stomach and
omentum.
"After meeting with Dr. Weiss, for the first time I felt hopeful
again and confident in him and the procedure he explained," said
Ms. Fabric.
Underscoring recent advances in treating pancreatic cancer, Dr.
Weiss said, "Chemotherapy has now improved to the point where it's
possible for some patients who may benefit from surgery who would
never have been candidates before, even those with metastases."
Dr. Weiss performed Ms. Fabric's surgery in March 7 at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in
New Hyde Park -- the hospital
where she was born in 1969. "No two pancreas cancers are the same
and the goal in certain cases like Ms. Fabric's is to offer surgery
only as a cure," Dr. Weiss said. "Three months after Ms. Fabric's
surgery there is no detectable cancer right now."
As part of their strategic affiliation with Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory (CSHL), Northwell's pancreatic cancer specialists are
working closely with David Tuveson,
MD, PhD, director of the CSHL Cancer Center and chief scientist at
the Lustgarten Foundation, and one of the pioneers of organoid
research. Northwell and CSHL researchers are developing new
therapies, including the use of organoids (growing a tumor in the
lab from actual tumor cells in order to test treatments.)
"Our goal is to combat pancreatic cancer and to find a cure,"
said Dr. Tuveson. "We can only achieve that with cutting-edge
science, coupled with the best medical, surgical advances and
radiation oncology, and working
collaboratively."
On June 12, Ms. Fabric celebrated
her 50th birthday with husband, three daughters at a
huge gathering of family and friends. "Like so many others
who have fought this disease, I'm a fighter! We stare down cancer
and we will win," she said. "I am looking forward to walking into
Dr. Weiss' office two years from now and saying, `I am a
survivor.'"
Click here for more information about Northwell's Pancreatic
Cancer Center or call 833-762-7327.
About Northwell Health Cancer
Institute
Northwell Health Cancer Institute helps
patients throughout the greater New York
City area survive and thrive, both during and after cancer
care. Committed to cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis,
treatment, research and survivorship, the Cancer Institute's
disease-focused, multidisciplinary teams provide holistic care,
treating patients' cancer, as well as other existing medical
conditions. Our experts provide comprehensive, compassionate care
through innovative clinical trials, state-of-the-art medical and
radiation oncology treatments and leading-edge surgical techniques.
More people from Long Island,
New York City and Westchester choose Northwell for cancer care
than any other health system—which means you have access to the
most experienced cancer fighters in the state. To learn more, go to
Northwell Health Cancer Institute
Contact:
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Betty Olt
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516-321-6709/6701
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bolt@northwell.edu
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SOURCE Northwell Health