Lung Center developed for cancer patients
 

Sharon Regional has announced the development of a new Lung Center, a multidisciplinary resource for consultation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with lung cancer or suspected lung cancer. The new Lung Center team includes physicians and specialists in the areas of pulmonary and critical care medicine, thoracic surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, chest radiology, and lung pathology. Medical director of the program is George Garrow, M.D., director of medical oncology for Sharon Regional's Cancer Care Center.

The Lung Center offers a comprehensive array of diagnostic services, including needle or surgical biopsies, bronchoscopy*, pulmonary function tests, PET-CT, MRI, standard CT, and numerous other medical imaging procedures. (*Pulmonologists use bronchoscopy to look through a patient's airways to locate suspected tumors. A bronchoscope is used to evaluate the extent of the cancer and remove tumor samples for lab analysis).

"We're extremely pleased to bring these services together to help expedite access to needed specialists for patients with lung cancer or suspected lung cancer," stated Dr. Garrow. "We've taken special steps to see that patients are promptly scheduled to see the appropriate specialists so they can discuss and review their treatment options," Dr. Garrow said.

Once a cancer is confirmed, the Lung Center provides a complete array of treatment options to eradicate the disease or manage its effect. Gary Marrone, M.D. and Ashraf Osman, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeons, have extensive experience in the use of both diagnostic and therapeutic VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery). This minimally invasive technique produces results similar to traditional pulmonary surgery, but may afford patients less pain, reduced hospital stays, and shorter recovery times.

Jeffrey Lazar, M.D., FCCP, and Kayal Sambandam, M.D., Lung Center pulmonary and critical care medicine specialists, assist patients in optimizing the management of their lung disease and related symptoms.

In the field of radiation therapy, Dennis Ulewicz, M.D. and other oncology team members utilize multileaf collimation therapy, three-dimensional conformal external beam radiation, and intensity modulated radiation therapy, all techniques that direct radiation to cancerous cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Lung Center medical director George Garrow, M.D., and fellow medical oncologists Cynthia Sile, M.D. and Jeffrey Gryn, M.D., utilize the most current protocols in chemotherapy administration as well as other treatment options through the Cancer Care Center in Hermitage. Both medical oncology and radiation oncology patients have access where appropriate to participate in national clinical trials.
In addition to the physician specialists, a team of lung cancer support staff consisting of respiratory therapists, social workers, physical therapists, dietitians, and other staff coordinate an overall comprehensive treatment program that involves both the patient and their family.

Click here for Lung information from our online Health Library

For more information about the Lung Center or to schedule a consultation with one of Sharon Regional's Lung Center specialists, please call 724-983-LUNG (5864) or email [email protected].