OCTOBER 2019 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 33
BREAST CANCER CARE TO LONG ISLANDERS
testing programs, genetic counselors,
and nurse navigation to its protocol
in order to best serve patients with
breast cancer.
NYU Langone Medical Center and
Winthrop-University Hospital in
Mineola united several years ago to
enhance their healthcare networks
on Long Island.
“We are able to provide the same
kind of care that is provided at NYU
Langone at the Perlmutter Cancer
Center on Long Island,” says Dr. Nina
D’Abreo, medical director for Breast
Health at Perlmutter Cancer Center at
NYU Winthrop.
Perlmutter aims to improve the multidisciplinary
approach to breast cancer
care and breast cancer survivorship.
Dr. D’Abreo chairs an annual breast
health symposium committed to
offering up-to-date care and the latest
innovations “right from prevention to
survival,” she says. This includes everything
from education and screening
to social work and navigation to
research and advanced treatments.
Perlmutter has dedicated breast surgeons
who are skilled in minimally
invasive techniques for breast surgery
reducing lymph node surgery,
as well as Savi Scout technology,
which uses radar technology to
guide a surgeon and target breast
tissue during a lumpectomy or biopsy
procedure, Dr. D’Abreo notes. Perlmutter
helped pioneer prone breast
radiation therapy, which minimizes
radiation damage to the lungs and the
heart, she adds.
The Perlmutter Center is researching
immune therapy for triple negative
breast cancer, participating in local
and national clinical trials, says Dr.
D’Abreo.
Located in Uniondale, Memorial
Sloan Kettering Nassau offers expert
cancer care including chemotherapy,
immunotherapy and radiation —
with greater convenience for Long
Islanders.
“At Memorial Sloan Kettering, we
have many clinical trials that are
available to patients in all stages of
Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip is opening its new 25-square-foot cancer center in October.
breast cancer treatment both up
front, as well as clinical trials that
have cutting-edge therapies for
metastatic disease,” says Dr. Tiffany
Troso-Sandoval, board-certified
medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan
Kettering.
“The role of DNA molecular profiling
gives a more comprehensive understanding
of the DNA mutations that
contribute to the cancers’ function,”
she says. “This test is run on every
patient that has recurring or metastatic
cancer. Results are placed in a
databank shared with physicians and
patients so if a clinical trial should
arise and a patient has that same
gene, our computers will pick that
up immediately.”
“MSK is considered to be one of the
top organizations with cutting-edge
evaluation and therapy for breast
cancer,” she continues. “Our facility
at Nassau has full-time social work,
nutrition, and physical therapy,
in addition to layers of supportive
nursing and multiple subspecialty
positions to help support the patients
physically and emotionally.”
Northwell Health is committed to
assuring that “patients are better
informed, more supported and experience
a better journey when they’re
diagnosed,” says Dr. Karen Kostroff,
chief of breast surgery at Northwell
Health. Northwell’s cancer centers
throughout Long Island — including
Huntington, Great Neck and the
Imbert Cancer Center in Bay Shore —
make expert care accessible and offer
everything from screening and diagnosis
to surgery to posttreatment,
which includes a breast survivorship
program.
Northwell’s multidisciplinary team
allows for consultation and discussion
to ascertain an appropriate plan
of treatment for individual breast
cancer patients. Treatment could
include radiation, chemotherapy,
surgery, etc., however, there is no
one-size-fits-all approach, explains
Dr. Kostroff, noting that genetic history
and testing is also valued.
Dr. Kostroff leads a systemwide
tumor board that addresses patients
whose cancer is uniquely “challenging
and complicated.” This forum
includes 12 sites throughout the
Northwell system.
“All of these physicians are learning
and discussing — sharing updated
information on new clinical trials
and education,” she explains. “We
are also involved in a tumor donation
program, where instead of the tissue
being discarded once it’s studied, it
is given to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories
so they to can research on a
fresh tumor.”
With Northwell Health’s Center for
Wellness and Integrative Medicine,
“patients can also focus on taking
care of their bodies through programs
such as reiki, Pilates, massage
and more,” says Dr. Kostroff.
Catholic Health Services offers patients
diagnosed with breast cancer
treatment and services throughout
Long Island. CHS’ six hospitals
include Good Samaritan Hospital
Medical Center in West Islip, Mercy
Medical Center in Rockville Centre,
St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center
in Smithtown, St. Charles Hospital in
Port Jefferson, St. Francis Hospital
The Heart Center in Roslyn, and St.
Joseph Hospital in Bethpage.
CHS offers early detection and imaging
services, utilizes minimally
invasive techniques for breast
disease, and also provides genetic
counseling for individuals who have
an increased risk for breast cancer.
Education and support groups are
offered to ensure patients are provided
with emotional as well as physical
care. Like the majority of, if not all
health care systems, CHS also embraces
a multidisciplinary approach
to breast cancer.
“Patients are better informed, more supported
and experience a better journey when they’re
diagnosed,” says Dr. Karen Kostroff.
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