Surgical Services >> Surgical Divisions >>

Oncologic Surgery
Director: Simon Fink, M.D.

Since the inception of its Tumor Registry in 1976, the cancer treatment program at New York Hospital 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.

Our large patient population and its varied demographic have provided us a very large experience in the treatment of a variety of cancers, including

Breast
The high rate of breast cancer in the New York and New Jersey areas is reflected in the volume of these patients seen at New York Hospital 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.

NYHQ 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.

Colon and Rectum
All standard colon and rectal cancer procedures are performed in high numbers at NYHQ. 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.

Esophagus, Stomach and Pancreas
Surgical resection and treatment for tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract are among the most challenging and complex problems in surgical oncology. Within our Division are found surgeons with particular interest and expertise in these areas. As a result, we have surgical outcomes which compare favorably with those achieved at the finest academic centers the world over. In part, this is the result of the skills of our support staff, anesthesiologists, and critical care colleagues.

Lung
The Thoracic Surgery section employs both open and thoracoscopic techniques for the resection of primary and metastatic lung tumors amenable to surgical ablation.

The most modern interventions for other tumors are available at NYHQ, including,

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. Rehabilitative services are provided by NYHQ's excellent Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as well as oncologic clinical nurse specialists and stoma specialists.

Our educational programs are geared to all involved in cancer are including staff, residents, nurses, other health care professionals, and patients. We have multidiscipline tumor boards in general oncology, gynecology oncology, thoracic oncology and breast oncology.