Oncologic Surgery
Since the inception of its Tumor Registry in 1976, the cancer treatment program at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens has grown to become one of the largest programs in the metropolitan New York area. Careful preservation of patient records has created an unusually rich source of cases for retrospective study, and since 1990, new patients have been added to the database as they came into the program, creating a prospective database as well. The registry maintains a greater than 90% follow-up rate for all cases, assuring a high quality of clinical study. Due to our demographics, we have one of the most culturally diverse patient populations and we have developed a special expertise in geriatric care.
The Surgical Oncology division has thrived in an environment where related services such as medical oncology, radiation oncology, and radiological imaging are also excellent. All patients treated by the Oncologic Surgery division benefit from the ongoing outcome studies which are continuously carried out by these cooperating departments. Examples of these are studies devoted to: colon cancer; prostate cancer treatment with brachytherapy; endometrial cancer; GI lymphomas; and comparison of surgery vs. radiation and chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer.
Tumor Registry information has been used to develop protocols for the systematic prospective study of treatment modalities for the breast, colon and rectum, lung, prostate, and others. Computerized data management is maintained by a large staff of tumor registrars, one clinical coordinator, and one data manager.
Download the Surgical Oncology, Hepatobiliary, and Pancreatic Surgery brochure
Our patient population and its varied demographic have provided us an extensive experience in the treatment of a variety of cancers, including
- Brain cancers
- Breast cancer
- Colon and rectal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Melanoma
- Oropharyngeal cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Renal and bladder cancers
- Sarcomas
- Skin cancers ( non-melanoma)
- Stomach cancer
In addition we are qualified to care for other less commonly occurred tumors.
Breast
The high rate of breast cancer in New York and New Jersey is reflected in the volume of these patients seen at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens. Due to the demographics of the immediate area served by our institution, we also treat one of the largest groups of women over 70 years of age.
Our approach to breast cancer is multidisciplinary, and the Breast Service provides comprehensive care utilizing the Divisions of Surgical Oncology and Medical Oncology and the departments of Radiology and Radiation Oncology. A full range of biopsy techniques are used, including sonographically guided and stereotactic biopsies.
NYP Queens has one of the highest rates for the use of breast-conserving surgery. For those patients choosing or requiring mastectomy we actively involve the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in order to make available all forms of restorative surgery to our patients. The Medical Oncology division provides active support through the development and administration of adjuvant and therapeutic chemotherapy regimens.
Prostate, Bladder, Kidney, Testis
Robotic surgery is the most recent technological advance in urologic surgery. The robotic system is used to perform surgery through a number of small, less than 1 cm, incisions, rather than the traditional open surgery through a much larger incision. Robotic surgery represents the state-of-the-art treatment for urologic cancer. If you or someone you know is diagnosed with cancer of the prostate, bladder or kidney, ask your urologist or internist for a referral to meet with a robotic surgeon who specializes in urology. Learn more information about the Robotic Surgery Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens.
Lung
The Thoracic Surgery section employs both open and thoracoscopic techniques for the resection of primary and metastatic lung tumors amenable to surgical ablation.
Surgical patients are admitted to units where specially trained staff provide comprehensive medical and nursing care. Those in need of particularly complex surgical procedures are supported in a state-of-the-art Surgical Intensive Care Unit which is manned by critical care specialists and the residency staff.
Esophagus, Stomach and Pancreas
Surgical resection and treatment for tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract is challenging and complex. At NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, our surgeons have the expertise to treat these cancers. As a result, our surgical outcomes rank us among the finest academic centers the world. This is due to the skills of our surgeons, anesthesiologists, support staff and critical care colleagues.
Colon and Rectum
All standard colon and rectal cancer procedures are performed in high numbers at NYP Queens. There is also broad experience in the use of sphincter-sparing procedures so that colostomy can be avoided where appropriate. Laparoscopic colonic resections are performed as well and our percentage of laparoscopic resections are up.