On target: Cutting edge technology and treatment options at New York Methodist Hospital Photo courtesy of New York Methodist Hospital Hani Ashamalla, M.D., with a patient. 35 HOMEREPORTER.COM bROOKLYN’S TOP DOCTORS New York Methodist Hospital’s (NYM) Institute for Cancer Care has added several breakthrough radiation treatments that enhance a patient’s ability to fight cancer while enjoying a higher quality of life than with previous treatment options. A new external beam radiotherapy system offered at the hospital, called TrueBeam, can safely administer high doses of cancer-killing radiation during a pain-free outpatient radiotherapy session that last only minutes. And a new treatment for advanced metastatic prostate cancer, called radium-223 dichloride, targets cancer cells specifically in a patient’s bones while minimizing the risk of harm to healthy tissue. Hani Ashamalla, M.D., chairperson of radiation oncology at New York Methodist, leads the team that crafts each patient’s treatment plan. He explained the benefits of the hospital’s new external beam radiotherapy system. “External beam radiotherapy takes advantage of radiation’s ability to kill cancer cells, but precise administration of the therapy is crucial,” says Dr. Ashamalla. “An individual’s treatment strategy enlists the skills of a team of radiation oncologists, nurses, radiation therapists and even nuclear physicists who specialize in cancer treatment. However, during an external beam radiotherapy session, even a patient’s chest rising from a deep breath can cause a tumor to become a 'moving target.’ That is one of the key benefits of this system; it can automatically track a tumor’s location during these small movements, ensuring that it can safely administer a high dose with pinpoint accuracy. It can also dramatically reduce the time of each session." Like external beam radiotherapy sessions, treatments with radium-223 can be administered on an outpatient basis. This therapy involves a simple injection once a month for six months. Radium-223’s chemical properties allow it to “home in” specifically on prostate cancer cells that have metastasized (spread) to a patient’s bones. The chemical then quickly disappears from the body. Many patients who have undergone this therapy are not only living longer, but are also experiencing considerable relief from pain caused by metastatic prostate cancer. “When prostate cancer metastasizes, it is most commonly to the bones,” said Dr. Ashamalla,” “This is not only a very serious stage of the disease, but it can also be painful, with symptoms that severely impact a patient’s quality of life. As prostate cancer growth is often driven by male sex hormones, the standard course of action is hormone therapy, but bone cancer cells sometimes prove resistant. Now, thanks to radium-223 therapy, patients at this stage of the disease have not run out of effective options.” NYM’s radiation oncologists stress that these treatments, and the future of cancer treatment options, are not just designed to help patients live longer, but also to help them enjoy a better quality of life. "Whenever we consider adding new technologies or treatments, we first ask ourselves, 'Will this significantly benefit our patients?'" says Bahaa Mokhtar, M.D., vice chairperson of radiation oncology at New York Methodist. “As radiation oncologists, our field is highly reliant on technological advances, so when there's a new leap, we are enthusiastic, but that enthusiasm stems from our commitment to maximize a patient’s quality of life both during and after their treatment.” The Institute for Cancer Care at New York Methodist Hospital brings together a group of specialists and medical services to provide treatment for all types of cancer. To find a physician affiliated with the Institute, call 866.411.ONCO (866.411.6626) or visit www.nym.org.
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