Welcome Cancer Center
From the Medical Director Cancer is a multi-faceted disease. Many patients need more than one modality of treatment, and Leslie J. Kohman MD every patient has individual needs and requirements in the management of his or her disease.
gastrointestinal medicine, nuclear medicine and interventional radiology.
Diagnosis, evaluation and treatment planning, therefore, require a multidisciplinary approach.
Currently, patients in our Thoracic Oncology (lung cancer), Breast Cancer, and Thyroid Cancer programs can meet with several specialists on the same day. Other programs -- including prostate cancer, liver and related cancers, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer and brain tumor -- may not see patients all at the same time, but patients are discussed at a conference with all specialists present.
Each patient with a new cancer diagnosis deserves input from all specialties and support services related to his or her cancer. These may include medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgery, radiology, pathology and medical specialties such as pulmonary medicine,
Patients at the Upstate Cancer Center have the benefit of close cooperation among all these specialists, who work as teams devoted to each type of cancer. This approach will be expanded in the new Upstate Cancer Center building, which has a clinical area devoted to multi-disciplinary practice.
Social workers, case managers and other specialists such as dieticians, speech and swallowing therapists, spiritual care advisers, palliative care and pain management specialists will be incorporated into the care team as these programs develop and expand. This results in optimal care, individualized for each patient. When our new building opens, every patient will have a nurse-navigator whom the patient can contact with questions at any time. We also hope to develop telemedicine and teleconference capabilities so patients at more remote sites can benefit from this comprehensive, individualized approach to care. Leslie J. Kohman, MD Medical Director Upstate Cancer Center n
From the Associate Administrator A ceremony was held in the Upstate University Hospital lobby on Feb. 5 to celebrate the Richard J. Kilburg, MBA last piece of steel that would eventually be placed for all to see on the Upstate Cancer Center. Kicking off the event were Upstate President David Smith, MD; University Hospital CEO John McCabe, MD; Cancer Center Medical Director Leslie Kohman, MD; and Cancer Center Campaign Co-Chair and Syracuse University Head Coach Jim Boeheim and his wife Juli, Upstate Foundation board member. Several pediatric cancer patients and adult survivors were present to sign the beam. The ceremony was phenomenal. In addition, the beam -- 23 feet in length and weighing 600 pounds -- remained in the lobby during the month of February
for all who have been touched by cancer to sign. Permanent markers were made available in a rainbow of colors representing various types of cancer. No one could have predicted the overall impact the display of the final beam would have on cancer survivors, cancer patients and their loved ones. After two days on display, the beam had to be turned over because it was so full of names. People were crying as they signed. Others were kneeling, praying, and so thankful for the opportunity to sign the beam. Families were taking their picture together while signing the beam. Word spread quickly via Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. Within a week, the entire beam was filled from top to bottom with well over 1,000 names, and still people squeezed letters into every nook and cranny, anywhere a small white space existed. A second beam had to be delivered to give more people an opportunity to sign,
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and it was displayed into March. The Rev. Terry Culbertson remarked at the sense of spirituality of this signing opportunity. It is clear that those touched by cancer have poured their hearts and souls into the names and notes they’ve inscribed on these pieces of steel. The names on these beams will be immortalized in the building, a permanent part of the structure. These beams, when erected in place, will symbolize the “heart and soul” of the Cancer Center. A placement ceremony was held on March 27 to watch the “heart and soul” of the Upstate Cancer Center be installed. The ceremony was dedicated to all people touched by cancer, and the main speakers were cancer survivors. The Cancer Center is slated to open in spring 2014. Richard J. Kilburg, MBA Associate Administrator Upstate Cancer Center n
Spring 2013