Cancer Conference

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Cancer care isn’t simple. 

When put together, there are thousands of diagnoses, treatment options and medications related to the disease. Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) recognizes that there are many choices to be made and working as a team is the best way to make decisions that will be most beneficial to our patients.

“Our weekly team meetings are a group effort aimed at providing the best outcome for each patient that is treated at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare,” said Thomas Ryan, MD, medical director for The Regional Cancer Program.

The weekly meetings, known as the “Cancer Conference,” are part of the Commission on Cancer, which accredits The Regional Cancer Center. Attendees include surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists and pathologists. All specialties are welcome and encouraged to attend, including non-physicians (mid-levels and allied health).

Physicians present active patient cases, providing details about diagnosis, health history and social status of the individual. Patient names are excluded to maintain their confidentiality. Through the use of blood test, biopsy, ultrasound, other imaging results from CT, PET and MRI, the physician presenting the patient’s case is able to provide great detail about the cancer.

“I am able to get input from every specialty in the room, gaining fresh ideas on how to best treat my patient,” said Oncologist Sultena Razia, MD. “The group gives me a valuable perspective on treatment, follow up or maintenance.”

The diverse group allows the “whole patient” to be considered, added Dr. Kevin Mathews, director of the Integrative and Palliative Care Program at FSLH. “It’s an opportunity for me to serve as the patient’s advocate and really think about things that give their life meaning as they move forward in their treatment and care.”

Coupled with the immense amount of medical knowledge and the technology used to gain insight into the disease, the Cancer Conference successfully allows us to think outside of the box when caring for our patients.

“Right here in Utica, our Cancer Center provides patients with medical expertise from more than a dozen experienced professionals who do this day in and day out,” said Carrie Pulaski, RN, Cancer Center administrator. “By giving our doctors the opportunity to discuss these cases and present their findings, we are better serving our community and the care patients are receiving.”