News and Events
News
Joseph Sparano, MD, Named Vice Chair of Cancer Research Group
Biomedicine.org., May 17
Announcement of the appointment of Joseph Sparano, M.D., vice chairman of medical oncology, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, as the vice chair of the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group.
Understanding the Language of Cancer
DailyRx, May 17
Steven Libutti, M.D., vice chairman, Department of Surgery and director, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, comments on how cancer specialists should strive to use clear language in explaining diagnosis, prognosis and care decisions to patients, so they fully understand their condition and can make informed treatment decisions.
Insurance Law Tied to Increase in Breast Reconstruction
Reuters Health, May 3
Evan Garfein, M.D., plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Breast Cancer Program, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, was interviewed about a study that found an increase in breast reconstruction among breast cancer patients following passage of a 1998 federal law mandating insurance coverage for the procedure. Dr. Garfein, who drafted a NY state law passed in 2010 aimed at improving access to breast reconstruction, comments on the crucial role that reconstruction plays in a breast cancer patient’s recovery, and notes the obligation of hospitals treating breast cancer patients to provide access to breast reconstruction. The study also notes that the greatest increases in reconstructions were among women on Medicaid and Medicare, suggesting that before the law, the uninsured cost of the procedure was an obstacle for many poor breast cancer patients. The study was published in the current issue of the journal Cancer.
Early Detection of Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers is Critical
EverydayHealth.com, May 1
Adam Friedman, M.D., director of dermatologic research, Division of Dermatology, provides an overview of how to protect oneself from melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer; and discusses a recent study that connects non-melanoma skin cancers to increased risk of other types of cancer, in recent posts on his “The Skin You Are In” blog.
Timely Palliative Consult Affects End-of-Life Care in GYN Cancer Patients
Reuters.com, OncologyPractice.com, April 30
Nicole Nevadunsky, M.D., OB/GYN and Women’s Health, is interviewed about a study she led that found palliative care consultation within the last month of life improves a variety of end-of-life outcomes, including less aggressive events such as ED visits, chemotherapy and death in an acute care setting, in patients with end-stage gynecologic cancers. Dr. Nevadunsky presented the results at the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology.
Tumor Growth Depends on More Than its DNA
Reuters.com, December 13
Steven Libutti, M.D., vice chairman of Surgery and director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, comments on a study that appears to confirm that targeting DNA alone is not enough to develop effective cancer treatments.
Device May Detect Lymphedema at Early, Treatable Stage
CBS-TV News, December 12
Lisa Wiechmann, M.D., surgical oncologist, Breast Cancer Program, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, interviewed about a study of a new device for early detection of lymphedema, post-surgical arm swelling that can limit a woman’s daily activities and cause disfigurement. Oncology manager Estella Forbes and a patient enrolled in the study are also interviewed. The segment aired on numerous CBS affiliates around the country.
BOLD Buddies Provide Support for Cancer Patients When They Need it Most
NY Daily News, October 18
Alyson Moadel, PhD, Director of Psychosocial Oncology, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, discusses the BOLD Buddies program she introduced last year to provide support for cancer patients as they undergo treatment. The article also profiles Denise Mack, a breast cancer survivor who was paired as a “buddy” to breast cancer patient Betsy Gonzalez.
BOLD Buddies
News 12/Bronx, October 18
The Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care is helping patients build lasting friendships. Its BOLD (Bronx Oncology Living Daily) Buddies program pairs cancer survivors with cancer patients.
Choosing the Right Foods to Fight Cancer
The Gulf Today, October 9
Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care nutrition experts cited in this article about how “wholesome vegan foods” found in a plant-based diet can help to prevent cancer. The Gulf Today is an English-language daily newspaper published in the United Arab Emirates.
Lower Stress to Help Reduce Cancer Risk
CompletelyYou.com, October 9
Alyson Moadel, PhD, Director, Psychosocial Oncology, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, quoted on how reducing stress and making healthier lifestyle choices may help prevent cancer.
Nutrition, Weight Management Can Help to Lower Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence
Chicago Tribune, September 26
Joseph Sparano, MD, Associate Chairman of Medical Oncology, and Amanda Bontempo, MS, RD, ambulatory oncology dietitian, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, discuss how eating a plant-based diet and keeping weight at a healthy level can help lower a woman’s risk of breast cancer recurrence.
Long-term Follow Up Can Be a Lifesaving Measure for Breast Cancer Survivors
Chicago Tribune, September 26
Joseph Sparano, MD, Associate Chairman of Medical, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, emphasizes the importance of long-term follow up for breast cancer patients given varying risk recurrence rates for different forms of the disease.
Rye Physician Awarded NCI Grant
MyRye.com, September 24
Maja Oktay, MD, PhD, attending physician, Pathology, is on one of two research teams at Montefiore and Einstein to be awarded grants from the National Cancer Institute as part of their “Provocative Questions” program. Dr. Oktay’s team is focused on new approaches to investigating the biology of metastasis using breast cancer tissue samples obtained from patients at the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care.
Montefiore to Host Free Women’s Health Screening on Oct. 6
Bronx Times-Reporter, September 26
The Annual Dr. Edward S. Greenwald Breast and Cervical Screening Event will be held Saturday, Oct. 6 at Montefiore’s Wakefield Hospital. Free mammograms for women over age 40 and Pap smears for women 18 and older will be among the services offered.
Excess Weight Linked to Increased Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence
Chicago Tribune, Hartford Courant, August 29
A study led by Joseph Sparano, MD, Associate Chairman, Medical Oncology, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, found women who are obese or overweight who were diagnosed with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, the most common form of the disease, have a significantly higher risk of recurrence than their thinner counterparts.
NYC's First Proton Therapy Center May Be Coming to Harlem
Montefiore Medical Center is a member of the 5-hospital consortium teaming up with Florida-based 21st Century Oncology to open the first proton therapy center for cancer treatment in New York City. The group is exploring a location in East Harlem for the facility, which is expected to open in 2015 or 2016.
Radiation Oncologist Madhur Garg, MD, Presents Targeted Therapy Research at ASCO 2012
June 1-5, 2012
Physicians from the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care were among presenters at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) held June 1-5 in Chicago. Among them was Madhur Garg, MD, Radiation Oncology, national principal investigator of a study of targeted therapy for locally advanced anal cancer, an uncommon cancer with risk factors that include immunosuppressive conditions including HIV, and HPV infection.
“Anal cancer is a complicated malignancy, in part due to social stigma. Often, physicians see patients for the first time when the disease is already advanced,” Dr. Garg said. The study, a phase II trial of Cetuximab plus Cisplatin, 5FU and radiation, was undertaken by two major research groups: the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and the AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC). Dr. Garg was principal investigator for ECOG, and Joseph Sparano, MD, Vice Chairman of Medical Oncology, was principal investigator for the AMC. The study involved a pool of patients of which approximately 2/3 were HIV-positive. According to Dr. Garg, the targeted therapy, which involves no surgery, was found to be highly effective in the majority of patients enrolled in the study and allowed them to retain a good quality of life.
February 28, 2012, dailyRx
Unmasking Rare Cancers on Rare Disease Day
Steven Libutti, MD, Vice Chairman of Surgery and Director, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, quoted in an article about neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), which were spotlighted the previous year after they claimed the life of Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Dr. Libutti discussed how these rare forms of cancer can affect the body, how they can be diagnosed and what can be done to treat a NET. Dr. Libutti also promoted a Twitter chat for the following day in which neuroendocrine tumors were the subject.
October 17, 2011, Medscape News
Panel Issues New Irradiation Guidelines for Treatment of Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer
Madhur Garg, MD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, quoted in an article about the first-ever guidelines for re-irradiation of recurrent head and neck cancers. Dr. Garg and Richard Smith, MD, Vice Chairman, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, served on the national panel appointed by the American College of Radiology to develop the guidelines.
Read the article (registration required)
October 13, 2011, Ob/Gyn.net
Risk Factors for Osteoporosis in Reproductive-Age Women
Chaim Putterman, MD, Director of the Arthritis Clinic, Division of Rheumatology, authored an article emphasizing the importance of identifying risk factors for osteoporosis during the reproductive years to help patients employ preventive measures to retain bone density.
October 12, 2011, MD News
New Chemotherapy Agents to Treat Lung Cancer are Maximizing Benefit and Reducing Side Effects
Roman Perez-Soler, MD, Chairman of Medical Oncology, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, discussed new chemotherapy agents that are being used to treat lung cancer, in an article about the center's multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Program.
October 2011, Self Magazine
Tips to Keep Healthy and Help Ward Off Cancer
Alyson Moadel, PhD, Director, Psychosocial Oncology Program, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, quoted in list of things women can do to keep healthy and lower their cancer risk.
October 6, 2011, CNN, ABC News
Apple Founder Steve Jobs Loses Battle Against Rare Pancreatic Cancer
Steven Libutti, MD, Vice Chairman of Surgery and Director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, discussed pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, the suspected type of cancer that claimed the life of Apple founder Steve Jobs on Oct. 5.
October 5, 2011, Reuters , WebMD
Study Shows Less Toxic Chemotherapy Regimen for Aggressive Breast Tumors May Be Less Damaging to the Heart
Eleni Andreopoulou, MD, medical oncologist, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, comments on a study that shows a shorter, less toxic chemotherapy regimen including the drug Herceptin may be just as effective in women with HER2-positive breast cancer as standard therapy that can permanently damage the heart.
October 5, 2011, CTW Features
Handling Body Image Issues When You Have Cancer
Gloria Nelson, LCSW, Senior Oncology Social Worker, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, comments on how people with cancer deal with body image and other physical changes that can result from cancer treatment.
According to Steven K. Libutti, MD, Director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, "Nanotechnology are really, in essence, small platforms to deliver cancer therapies directly to the cancer that can be more effective against the tumor, and less damaging or toxic to our patients." Learn more by viewing this new TV commercial, airing on NBC, which highlights the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care's work with nanotechnology in order to help advance cancer care.
September 2011, MD News - "Breakthrough Chemotherapy Agents Bring New Hope in Treating Lung Cancer - Lung cancer continues to be the No. 1 cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care unites some of the nation's finest and most experienced surgeons, medical pulmonologists to form a highly skilled multidisciplinary team of experts."
August 2011, MD News - "The Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care is the first facility in the Northeast to provide three types of 'regional' chemotherapy treatments for cancer patients that go beyond standard surgical resection, but remain limited to and organ or region of the body."
August 25, 2011, Bronx Times Reporter - "Montefiore Is First on East Coast to Offer Three Types of Regional Therapy" - Steven Libutti, MD, Vice Chairman of Surgery and Director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, described the three types of regional therapy offered for people with advanced cancers. Montefiore is among a select group of centers in the country to perform these highly complex procedures.
August 11, 2011, Bronx Times - Montefiore Medical Center held a Minority Organ Donor Awareness Day celebration on August 3. Roxanne Watson who received a heart transplant at Montefiore a year ago and Lora Smith-Johnson, RN, a Montefiore nurse whose late husband was a multiple organ donor, shared their stories.
August 12, 2011, ABC News Radio - Montefiore Medical Center is among cancer centers mentioned as sites where hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is provided. Steven Libutti, MD, Vice Chair, Surgery, and Director, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, uses the procedure.
July 20, 2011 BronxNet - Men's Health and Prostate Cancer Awareness - Pedro Maria, DO, urologist, was interviewed live on the Spanish language talk show, "Dialogo Abierto." He discussed the importance of prostate cancer screening and the impact of prostate cancer on Hispanic men in particular.
Watch the interview on BronxNet Cable TV
July 2011, MD News - "Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care physicians are providing prostate cancer patients acces to innovative treatment modalities through the use of state-of-the-art technology and opportunities to participate in clinical trials."
July 1, 2011 WebMD : Joseph Sparano, MD comments on the Avastin Decision
June 22, 2011 GE HealthyImagination : Karthik Krishnamurthy, DO, interviews for an article on sun protection
Read the GE Healthymagination article
June 17, 2011 WebMD : Leslie Montgomery, MD interview for a WebMD article on targeted breast cancer therapies.
Steven Libutti, MD , Vice Chair, Surgery, Director, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, was interviewed about two new drugs that show promising treatment for melanoma. Studies were presented at this week's American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) meeting in Chicago.
Sophie Balk, MD , Pediatrics, was interviewed for a USA Today article on efforts to prevent exposure of adolescents to ultraviolet rays.
Montefiore's expertise in Melanoma was covered in the Bronx Times, with quotes from Steven Libutti, MD, Director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, and Petra Rietschel, MD, Director of the Melanoma/Sarcoma Program.
Read the article in the Bronx Times
In The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and other national daily newspapers, Joseph Sparano, MD, Vice Chair of Medical Oncology, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, is quoted on how obesity increases cancer risk.
Read the article in The Los Angeles Times | Chicago Tribune
Steven Libutti, MD, Vice Chair of Surgery and Director, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, is quoted in an American Medical News article about the increasing use of iPads in the clinical setting.
Read the article in American Medical news
Roman Perez-Soler, MD , Chairman of Medical Oncology, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, comments on weighing risk against potential benefit of giving the drug Avastin to patients with advanced cancer, in light of a study published in JAMA concluding the risk of death was higher with Avastin than chemotherapy alone. Dr. Perez-Soler is quoted in Reuters, the Wall Street Journal and on HealthDay.com.
Read the articles in Reuters | HealthDay.com
Mark Einstein, MD , Director of Clinical Research, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health, was quoted in NJ.com about the importance of HPV screening to protect women against cervical cancer.
A $16-million, five-year grant by the National Cancer Institute's nanomedicine initiative blends the expertise of five research institutions, including Albert Einstein College of Medicine, to focus an array of innovative nanotechnologies on improving the outcome of patients with ovarian or pancreatic cancers.
Reza Ghavamian, MD , Director of the Prostate Cancer Program, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care and Director of Urologic Oncology and Robotic Urology, comments in a WebMD article on a JAMA study of the benefits of "watchful waiting" vs. treatment in select cases of prostate cancer.
Linda Haramati, MD, MS, Director, CT Radiology, comments on the National Cancer Institute's decision to halt its trial of low-dose helical CT scans as a screening method for lung cancer after the scans resulted in a 20% reduction in lung cancer deaths to date.
Read the Crain's NY Business article
Richard Smith, MD, Vice Chairman, Otorhinolaryngology, and Evan Garfein, MD, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, interviewed about a novel robotic tongue reconstruction they performed on a Long Island man who's mouth was damaged by radiation therapy for throat cancer. The story has aired on CBS network affiliates across the country.
Roman Perez-Soler, MD, Chairman of Medical Oncology, comments on crizotinib, a promising new therapy for lung cancer, in WebMD and HealthDay News .
Read the HealthDay News article | Read the WebMD article
In the current issue of Oncology Times , Steven Libutti, MD, Vice Chair of Surgery and Director of the Montefiore-Einstein Center for Cancer Care, comments on how nanotechnology presents opportunities and challenges for oncology clinical researchers.
Read the Oncology Times article
Leslie Montgomery, MD, Chief, Division of Breast Surgery, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, was quoted in a Family Circle article on steps women should take when they've been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Steven Libutti, MD, Vice Chair of Surgery and Director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, discusses breakthroughs in cancer screening and treatment, on GE's HealthyImagination blog.
Petra Rietschel, MD, PhD, Director of the Melanoma/Sarcoma Program, Medical Oncology, discussed chondrosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer for which there are few viable treatment options, in a story on AOL Health.
A new state law ensures that breast cancer patients from all socioeconomic groups are informed about their breast reconstruction options. Montefiore surgeon Evan Garfein, MD, drafted the bill so women with breast cancer can make informed choices. Read more.
Read the New York Times article
Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, offering world-class cancer treatment backed by the power of research, is featured in MD News .
