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The Farber Center Monthly Newsletter
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Greetings!
Welcome to our monthly newsletter. We will be featuring a patient story each month as well as cancer facts and newsworthy events.
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PATIENT STORY OF THE MONTH
How do you thank someone who has given you hope? Due to its medical expertise and advanced equipment, The Farber Center provided me radiation treatments that no other radiation center said was possible.
A year and half ago I was diagnosed with stage 4b larynx cancer. I was told my voice box had to be removed and I would have to relearn how to speak. This was devastating, since I am a tax attorney working on Government projects to design and write the tax laws of foreign countries. I need to speak. I flatly refused to have my voice box removed. I believed that with God's help my body would be healed. I went through all the chemo and radiation and felt confident this illness was just a temporary set- back.
My prior radiation treatments with a center in New Jersey were completed in April 2011. I felt strong and positive. A pet scan was taken in July 2011 which discovered the presence of a residual tumor and the biopsy indicated it was malignant. Doctors told me I can no longer have additional radiation and chemo would not help, my voice box had to be removed.
I was so heart broken. My faith was shattered, but I refused to give up hope that somehow, someone would heal me without the removal of my voice box. My prayers were answered while visiting a holistic doctor, I was referred to the Farber Center. I was told it employed techniques that were uniquely state of the art. Its equipment can pin point the residual tumor. Could this be true, were my prayers being answered? My meeting with Dr. Farber provided hope. I was confident he could do that which other doctors told me was impossible. The radiation treatments are now complete. My ENT scoped my throat four weeks after treatment and did not see the residual tumor.
Thank you, Farber Center. The Farber Center is more than just a state of the art radiation center. Patients are not numbers and certainly not a part of an assembly line. The Center provides its patients with a whole mind body experience by supplementing its expert medical services with exceptional care and positive motivation. The center combines medical treatment with holistic yoga therapy, Reiki, essential oil therapy, classes on coping with cancer, nutrition and lifestyle.
Dr. Farber has assembled a dream team of caring, competent doctors, technicians and supporting staff. They collectively make each patient feel at peace knowing they are receiving competent medical treatment. It's like visiting family, all are so friendly and caring, even the toilets want you to wave at them. You have to be there to know what I mean.
Stephen Vasak
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EVENT DETAILS: For TFC patients Our Next Optimal Healing Environment (OHE) class will start: Monday March 12th 5:30- 6:30pm Topic: MAKE A CHANGE ............................................................ |
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"I certainly don't want to wish cancer on anyone. But seriously, could someone invent a reason to come here??" ............................................................ |
True or False?
Laryngeal cancer is caused by smoking?
True over 90 percent of laryngeal cancers are a type of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA), and over 95 percent of patients with laryngeal SCCA are smokers.
Alcohol is another important risk factor for laryngeal cancer, and acts as a promoter of the cancer causing process. The major clinical significance of alcohol is that it potentiates the effects of tobacco.
Other risk factors for laryngeal cancer include certain viruses, such as human papilloma virus (HPV), and likely acid reflux.
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NEWSWORTHY:
The Farber Center will treat Hotel Trades Council Patients
The New York Hotel Trades Council and Hotel Association of New York City, Inc. has a proud history of over 60 years of continuous service providing comprehensive coverage to NY hotel workers.
The New York hotel workers' plan provides coverage at its own health centers, including full dental and optical care, with no deductibles or co-pays and a core philosophy that emphasizes primary care, wellness, and prevention. Thanks to Dr. Robert Greenspan, Director of the union health plan, local 6 members have some of the best and most costs effective care in the country.
The five health centers exclusively serve unionized hotel and motel workers, their dependents and retirees. With over 88,000 eligible members, The Hotel Trades Council has chosen to allow The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology to become part of their network. We are proud to say that we will now provide radiation services to all their elligible members.
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FROM THE EXPERT: Focus on throat cancer
According to Dr. Jordan Stern, A board certified Ear Nose and Throat surgeon fellowship trained in Head and Neck Surgery; Early diagnosis and treatment of throat cancer is the best way to cure the disease. Fortunately there are some early telltale signs of throat cancer. An ENT surgeon should always evaluate hoarseness that does not go away. Other signs are difficulty swallowing, losing weight, difficulty breathing, or feeling a lump in the neck. Smoking is the number one cause of throat cancer so if you smoke, you should stop immediately. There are many smoking cessation programs that can help you quit smoking.
Here is what to expect during your evaluation at the ear nose and throat specialist:
A complete history of your symptoms, and a detailed examination of your head and neck that will include an endoscopy. This is an examination of your vocal cords using a very small and thin fiber inserted through your nose that allows a clear view of the deep part of your throat and vocal cords. This examination is done in the office after the nose has been decongested and numbed; it is really painless and takes only a few minutes.
If there is a suspicion of a tumor in your throat, then the next step will be a biopsy done in the hospital as an ambulatory procedure (in and out of the hospital the same day).
Small cancers of the throat can be cured by either radiation treatment, or limited laser surgery. If the tumor has spread beyond the vocal cords, then treatment may include a combination of radiation and chemotherapy. In most cases, the treatment of throat cancers today can preserve the voice. Only in cases of larger tumors, or treatment that has not responded well to radiation and chemotherapy is radical surgery recommended.
The latest advances in radiation and surgical technology have allowed more patients with throat cancer to be cured and be able to use their voice normally after the treatment. The two things you can do are: quit smoking if you smoke, and see the ear nose and throat doctor if you have any of the symptoms described above.
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