Bennett Cancer Center annual report 2008/2009

Transcription

1 Bennett Cancer Center annual report 2008/2009 Transitioning Patients into Survivorship Research has shown that cancer survivors have unique medical and psychosocial needs, many of which go unserved once the patient s cancer treatment has been completed. At the same time, because of constantly improving cancer treatments, the U.S. is home to more cancer survivors than ever about 10.5 million in all, 120,000 in Connecticut alone. As this population continues to grow, so does the need to help survivors adjust to their new lives following cancer treatment. In response to this, the Bennett Cancer Center launched Transitions: Choices in Recovery, a post-treatment survivorship program for patients and their families. The first program of its kind in Fairfield County, Transitions seamlessly guides patients into a life of wellness, offering support and information along the way. Unlike other programs for cancer patients, Transitions focuses on survivorship. Through this resource, survivors are given the tools they need to regain energy, strength and confidence as they return to wellness. The offerings are designed to evolve according to the changing needs of this unique patient population. It is gratifying to see a patient return to good health after having endured difficult cancer treatments, said Medical Oncologist K.M. (Steve) Lo, MD, who helped spearhead the program. It is important that we do what we can to help our patients develop healthy lifestyle habits, and we find that it is immediately after treatment that they are most receptive and motivated to do so. Post-Care Planning Among Transitions many benefits is the ability to help patients understand their appropriate medical follow-up. An important aspect of this is the creation of an individual Survivorship Plan to outline the patient s diagnosis, treatment, treatment dates, and recommended follow-up. This plan can then be shared with the survivor s primary care and any other appropriate physicians. Post-Care Support The survivorship plan reinforces healthy living by including elements from the cancer center s Integrative Medicine and Exercise & Nutrition Programs. Nutrition consultation, post-treatment exercise, art and music therapy, family counseling, and special seminars are available to patients completing treatment. Additionally, they can access the expertise of physicians at Stamford Hospital s Center for Integrative Medicine and Wellness. Once cancer treatment is over, we need to continue to be there for our patients on their road to recovery, said Medical Oncologist Anne Angevine, MD, who also provided key support in creating the Transitions program. That is why after an initial consultation, cancer survivors will receive a list of resources they can use to address their physical and emotional needs in order to help them return to a healthful state. With this in mind, Transitions is a comprehensive program that considers every aspect of the patient s health and wellness beyond treatment. Serving the Unique Needs of Young Cancer Patients For most people, facing a cancer diagnosis is life-altering. But now imagine you re only 25 years old. You ve got a new job, your first apartment and you feel invincible with plenty of friends and a great new love interest your family adores. The last thing you re thinking about is getting sick, let alone hearing the words you have cancer. Since young people face a variety of unique issues following a cancer diagnosis, there is a special aspect of the Transitions program to address the needs of this group. Made possible, in part, by a $25,000 grant from the Connecticut Challenge, Moving On has been specifically designed for younger patients who are single, married or married with young children. The title of the program is appropriate because, for many young patients, survivorship means overcoming the effects of the disease and moving on with life. Research indicates that those under 40 make up approximately 40 percent of all cancer survivors. Based on our experience, some of the issues of particular interest to this population include: Fear of Recurrence Sense of Alienation Sense That Their Future is Forfeited Body Image Sexuality Intimacy Parenting Lingering Effects of Treatment Career Financial Possible Ongoing Health Issues The Transitions program addresses the unique medical and psychosocial needs of cancer survivors, ensuring that they receive comprehensive post-treatment care, said Robert Mazzone, Executive Director of the Connecticut Challenge, a non-profit organization that supports cancer survivorship programs across the state. We hope Transitions will inspire other hospitals to initiate similar programs that will consider every aspect of the health and well-being of cancer survivors.

2 Message from our President and CEO The Bennett Cancer Center continues to be one of the busiest and most active community cancer centers in the region. It provides quality and comforting care to nearly 1,500 patients and their families every year. While there have been many accomplishments, this year some of the highlights of the cancer program include: National Accreditation for the Women s Breast Center; extended use of the da Vinci surgical platform to maximize options for men with prostate cancer; the addition of a number of excellent physicians; and the expansion of our services to take care of patients once they have completed their therapy. Brian Grissler President and CEO Dr. Frank Masino Named Medical Director This year, Stamford Hospital named Dr. Frank Masino, Medical Director of Cancer Services. Dr. Masino, who joined the hospital in 1982 as its Director of Radiation Oncology, has more than 30 years of experience in radiation oncology. The New Canaan resident graduated from the University of Notre Dame before earning his medical degree at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He interned at the Medical College of Virginia and completed his residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was chief resident for therapeutic radiology. Dr. Masino is a former president of the Stamford Medical Society and American Cancer Society s Fairfield County Chapter. His diligent work has earned him several awards, including Connecticut Magazine s Top Doctors for Women, New York Magazine s Best Doctors in New York, and Castle Connolly s Top Doctors in the New York Metro Area and Best Doctors in America. In the pages that follow, we highlight one of the Cancer Center s many strengths its lung cancer program, which offers patients the latest in treatment and surgical procedures. With options such as advanced radiology imaging technology, CyberKnife therapy for non-surgical lung tumors, new chemotherapies and minimally invasive and robotic techniques with the da Vinci Surgical System, patients are presented with some of the most innovative options available, on par with many of the most prominent academic medical centers and cancer centers in the country. While we proudly offer leading-edge treatment, our staff and their intense commitment to each and every patient remain at the heart and soul of our service. All patients are treated with kindness and compassion, which makes the Cancer Center a special kind of healing environment, and certainly one that is well-deserving of the respect it receives throughout our community. Brian Grissler President and CEO New Cancer Cases 2008 Stamford Hospital Frequency Report Total New Cancer Cases: 1,019 Top Sites / Number of Cases Breast / 255 Prostate / 112 Lung / 84 Colon & Rectum / 90 Bladder / 77 All other sites / /2009 Cancer Committee Physician Members Robert Babkowski, MD Neil Cohen, MD Xiang Da (Eric) Dong, MD Timothy Hall, MD Divya Khandelwal, MD, MHA, MBA K.M. Steve Lo, MD Donna-Marie Manasseh, MD Frank Masino, MD Richard Santarosa, MD Ravi Thakur, MD Paul Weinstein MD Richard Weinberg, MD Non-Physician Members Kathleen Arcidiacono, RN Erin Ash, MS, CGC Fran Becker, LCSW, OSW-C Thomas Collins, MBA Deanna Derdelinghen, CTR Liz Manfredo, MS, RD Mary Miller, LPN Melissa Ronk, RN, OCN Kathleen Silard, RN, BSN, MS Karen Stanley, RN, MSN, AOCN, FAAN Deanna Xistris, APRN, MSN, CS, AOCN

3 Reflections on a Successful Year Liz Manfredo Cancer Service Line Director Frank A. Masino, MD Medical Director & Director of Radiation Oncology proved to be another strong year for Stamford Hospital s Oncology Program, following on the heels of last year s successful launch of several new programs and services, most notably, CyberKnife, da Vinci and the Transitions survivorship program. According to the numbers, our physicians served more than 1,300 patients both within Stamford Hospital and as outpatients in the Bennett Cancer Center. Over 20,000 patient visits were seen by physicians at the center. The program continues to hold multidisciplinary cancer conferences to discuss breast, lung, genitourinary, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, hematologic and general cancer cases, as well as oncology grand rounds. These are coordinated by the Cancer Registry, led by Deanna Derdelinghen, CTR, who this year was named National Tumor Registrar of the Year by Impac Software, part of the Elekta Group. Additionally, some of this year s most newsworthy highlights include: Extended Use of the da Vinci Surgery System The da Vinci surgery system gained usage among physicians and the sophisticated robotic platform has been used with success for prostate and gynecologic procedures. A Renowned Surgeon Selected for Robotics Program in Urology Dr. Ketan K. Badani was chosen to lead the Department of Surgery s robotics program in urology. Dr. Badani is the Director of Robotic Surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University, where he leads one of the largest and most comprehensive robotic and oncology programs in the country. He is one of only a few select surgeons in the world who have performed more than 1,000 robotic surgeries. Third Breast Surgeon & Radiation Oncologist Join the Cancer Team To extend the ever-growing capabilities of the cancer program, Stamford Hospital hired a third breast surgeon and another radiation oncologist this year. Dr. Sunny Mitchell joined the Women s Breast Center team, and Dr. Andrew Knight began seeing patients at the Bennett Cancer Center and CyberKnife Center at the Tully Health Center. National Accreditation for the Women s Breast Center The Women s Breast Center became the first center in the nation to be recognized as a National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC)-Accredited Center. To be designated as such, it has met stringent criteria in a variety of areas including imaging, pathology, medical and radiation oncology, genetic counseling, nursing and surgical care. Pilot Program for Colorectal Screening The hospital was one of several participating healthcare providers selected to pilot the Colorectal Cancer Screening Demonstration Program in conjunction with the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut and funded by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. The objective of the program was to promote, improve, and optimize the appropriate use of high-quality colorectal cancer screening and follow-up services, eliminate or decrease racial, ethnic or socioeconomic disparities in access to and utilization of such screening. The First HIPEC Procedure This year, Dr. Xiang Da (Eric) Dong helped the hospital become the state s first healthcare provider to perform a HIPEC procedure. Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy is used to treat advanced abdominal cancers. Clinical studies have shown that HIPEC is significantly more effective than surgery alone and, when performed, can improve both the survival and quality of life for patients who would otherwise have few, if any, options. New Website for The Bennett Cancer Center The Bennett Cancer Center launched a new website which is easy to navigate and offers information about different cancers treated at the center, as well as available services, clinical trials, facilities and staff. Implementation of Electronic Medical Record System To provide patients the best possible treatment with safety and effectiveness in mind, the medical oncologists implemented an electronic medical record system, which provides a state-of-the-art documentation and chemotherapy ordering program, as well as integration with the hospital s information system. Physicians are also taking part in e-scripting, the newest and safest way to write prescriptions. Kudos for Physicians Dr. Salvatore Del Prete was named Director of Oncology Research at the Bennett Cancer Center this year. He has a long-standing interest in research and has been the driving force of the cancer center s research program. Additionally, Dr. Xiang Da (Eric) Dong received a three-year appointment as Cancer Liaison Physician and, in this capacity, is responsible for providing leadership and direction to establish, maintain, and support their facilities cancer program. Finally, it was an award-winning year for Dr. Donna-Marie Manasseh, co-director of the hospital s Women s Breast Center. She was the recipient of the 2009 Melville G. Magida Award as well as the American Cancer Society s Star of Hope Award. We fully expect to build on these successes in the days and months ahead, and are proud to be such a vital and comforting resource for people diagnosed with cancer in our region. Annual Report 2008/2009 3

4 Salvatore A. Del Prete, MD Director of Oncology Research Robert C. Babkowski, MD Chair, Department of Pathology Research & Clinical Trials The Bennett Cancer Center is a major research center, involved in more clinical trials than any other area hospital. Our patients have benefited from access to leading-edge treatments that have made national news, including three major drugs (Raloxifene, Herceptin and Avastin) for breast cancer; Avastin for lung cancer; panitumumab for colon cancer, and the WINS (Women s Intervention Nutrition Study), showing that postmenopausal women with breast cancer may improve their chances of remaining relapse-free by reducing their dietary fat intake. Six to 10 percent of Bennett Cancer Center patients are enrolled in clinical trials, compared to an average of just three percent in many cancer centers. Involvement in clinical trials benefits patients, providing access to a wide range of new, experimental drugs without having to leave the community for treatment. Physicians determine which patients are suitable candidates for a study by reviewing data acquired during earlier test phases, compared against a patient s past treatments and current health. Once the patient has been briefed, he or she makes the final decision about whether or not to participate. As of September 2009, 16 new trials were approved for enrollment, with another 33 trials that are ongoing. Forty-eight patients have been enrolled in these new studies and over 250 patients are in long-term follow up after completing their research treatment regimens. Currently there are active trials for lung, breast and colorectal cancer. The length of these trials can range from a few months to two years. Pathology In , the Department of Pathology enhanced its ability to classify malignancies by expanding our immunohistochemistry antibody library to better characterize epithelial neoplasms and hematolymphoid malignancies. We continued expanding our Molecular Pathology services, and became the first institution in our region to perform mismatch repair protein evaluation of colorectal cancers. Working closely with our Colorectal Cancer Registry Program, our colorectal surgeons and gastroenterologists, we now test all invasive colorectal cancers for mismatch repair protein abnormalities (and, in select cases, direct full microsatellite instability testing, MSI) to identify patients with hereditary colorectal cancer. All lung tumors are evaluated by IHC to differentiate adenocarcinomas from squamous carcinomas of lung, and all adenocarcinomas are evaluated for KRAS mutation and EGFR status on resected specimens. We continue to be the only area hospital where breast cancers are immunophenotyped using image analysis, and all breast cancers are evaluated for Her2 gene expression by IHC and Her2 gene amplification by FISH. In 2009, we embraced a new diagnostic modality for evaluating 3q gain and amplification of TERC for predicting the progression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Gain of 3q is associated with progression from CIN1 to CIN2/3, and invasive cervical cancer. This cytology-based FISH test is used to identify LGSIL patients at risk of progression to cervical cancer Cancer Conference Calendar Topic Day / Time Location Frequency Breast Cancer Wednesday/7:30-8:30 am Whittingham Pavilion II Weekly Lung Cancer First Friday/12-1 pm Brace Auditorium Monthly Genitourinary Cancer Fourth Monday/12-1 pm Conference Room A Monthly Gynecologic Cancer Second Thursday/8:30-9:30 am Whittingham Pavilion II Monthly GI Cancer Second Tuesday/12-1 pm Brace Auditorium Monthly Oncology Grand Rounds First Thursday/12-1 pm Brace Auditorium Monthly General Cancer Fourth Tuesday/12-1 pm Brace Auditorium Monthly Hematology First Wednesday/12-1 pm Brace Auditorium Monthly Neuro-Oncology Fridays 1/8, 3/12 & 5/14/7:45-9 am Brace Auditorium As Scheduled Melanoma Tuesdays 5/4 & 10/26/6-7 pm 1st Floor Conference Room Twice yearly Please contact Deanna Derdelinghen at or dderdelinghen@stamhealth.org to confirm attendance at a conference or for additional dates for the Neuro-Oncology conference. 4 Stamford Hospital Bennett Cancer Center

5 Ravi Thakur, MD Interim Chair, Department of Radiology Xiang Da (Eric) Dong, MD Surgical Oncology Radiology Dr. Caren Greenstein, head of Breast Imaging and Co-Director of the Women s Breast Center, continues to lead one of the busiest women s imaging centers in Connecticut. This year, the Center earned the prestigious American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Center of Excellence designation, the first in Fairfield County. It was also the first in the country to receive accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. Dr. Elizabeth Glass joined the Women s Breast Center after completing a fellowship in body imaging and mammography at New York University. Dr. Glass performs all aspects of mammography including stereotactic biopsy, MRI and MRI procedures, ultrasound, and core biopsies. Drs. Kristan Zimmermann, William Caragol and Jim McSweeney are active members of the Breast Imaging Division, which offers all aspects of breast imaging and intervention including digital mammography with computer-assisted detection (CAD), stereotactic and ultrasound-guided biopsy, breast MRI and MRguided interventions. Interventional radiology remains an expanding part of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Minimally-invasive percutaneous biopsies provide accurate diagnosis of malignancy with minimal morbidity. Cancer treatment services include hepatic chemoembolization for primary and metastatic tumors, preoperative embolization of various tumors, and radiofrequency ablation of hepatic and renal tumors. Dr. Marc Hamet is now working closely with Radiation Oncology in placing fiducial markers for CyberKnife targeting. We continue to invest in the facility and equipment. This year we purchased a new Mobile Wellness Center to serve the underserved population and corporate accounts throughout Fairfield County. Digital mammography as well as bone density and cardiac screening are all performed in the mobile unit. The hospital also received a State of Connecticut grant for Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening in collaboration with Planned Parenthood and community health centers. The Tully Health Center completed phase 1 of its renovation of the Women s Breast Center. We have centralized all breast services and moved the stereotactic breast biopsy from the OR to the Breast Center. Additionally, the Darien Imaging Center has extended its hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays to accommodate patients for off-hour services. This has been extremely successful thanks to the current staff s willingness to extend their working hours. Surgical Oncology Cancer accounts for 562,000 deaths per year, second in incidence only to heart disease. However, despite this sobering news, the five-year survival rate for all cancers diagnosed between is 66 percent, up from 50 percent in This reflects advances in early detection as well as improved therapeutic options in the field of medicine. To that end, Stamford Hospital provides state-of-the-art treatment modalities for management for many types of cancer, including breast, GI, urologic and thoracic tumors. Regarding our breast cancer program, Stamford Hospital became the first NAPBC-accredited breast center in the nation, after having passed the rigorous review process and the standards necessary for that designation. Our team of specialists, including breast surgeons, oncologists, pathologists, and radiologists continues to expand and these experts review every breast cancer diagnosis at weekly conferences to ensure the best care possible for our patients. Our GI cancer program currently includes minimally invasive surgery, a budding program for managing metastatic peritoneal cancer, and the possibility of surgery for metastatic liver tumors. Ours is the only institution in Connecticut offering management of peritoneal carcinomatosis. We are also the only hospital in Fairfield County treating metastatic and primary liver tumors using innovative surgical techniques, radiofrequency ablation and chemoembolization by interventional radiology. The urologic cancer program continues to grow with the use of CyberKnife and robotic surgery for the treatment of prostate cancer. For patients, a robot-assisted prostatectomy can offer all the potential benefits of a minimally invasive procedure, including less pain, less blood loss and less need for blood transfusions. One of the most unique aspects of our lung cancer program is that patients have access to a comprehensive range of advanced therapy along with a very personal approach. The center has excellent surgical results with no mortalities, minimal complications and an average of a two-day stay. Further, a dedicated Thoracic Nurse Navigator offers support, guidance and education to patients and their families from the time of diagnosis to recovery. As the American College of Surgeons Cancer Liaison, my role is that of a physician volunteer, willing to help manage clinically related cancer activities at our center and in the community. I feel extremely proud to be part of this cancer program because we truly have the best of both worlds: world-class expertise and a very personal touch when dealing with our patients. Annual Report 2008/2009 5

6 Stamford Hospital Lung Cancer Program Achievements & Outcomes Introduction Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, and it is estimated that smoking is the principal cause of approximately 90 percent of lung cancer in men and almost 80 percent in women. In the United States in 2005 (the most recent year for which statistics are available), 107,416 men and 89,271 women were told they had lung cancer, and 90,139 men and 69,078 women died from it. The Lung Cancer Program at the Bennett Cancer Center includes: Treatment Services Surgery Chemotherapy Radiation Therapy Stereotactic Radiosurgery (CyberKnife) Advanced Airway Surgery Treatment for Mesothelioma and Pleural-Based Disease Neoadjuvant Therapy for Advanced Tumors, T4 program Treatment of Metastatic Lung Lesions Clinical Trials Lung Cancer Treatment Depending on the type and stage of the disease, lung cancer can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these treatments. Treatment is tailored to each patient, based on a consultation drawing upon the combined expertise of the multidisciplinary group. When applicable, clinical trials are also made available as a treatment option. Program Achievements 1. Excellence in Acute Surgical Outcomes Over the last several years, Stamford Hospital s Lung Cancer Program has seen significant increases in activity and has demonstrated excellent acute clinical results. Over the last five years, there have been no acute surgical mortalities, despite a predicted mortality of almost five percent (Figure 1). The median length of stay is 2.5 hospital days. All these results compare favorably to the best lung cancer programs in the country. Members of the Lung Cancer Program Team: (Standing) Pathologist Dr. Augusto Podesta, Pulmonologist Dr. Paul Sachs, Thoracic Nurse Navigator Melissa Ronk, Thoracic Surgeon Dr. Timothy Hall and Radiation Oncologist Dr. Sean Dowling. (Seated) Radiologist Dr. Ravi Thakur and Medical Oncologist Dr. Paul Weinstein. 2. Continued Improvement in Long-Term Survival Rates With changes in the Lung Cancer Program over the last four years, there has been continued improvement in long-term survival, which is comparable to national benchmarks for patients in the new program (Figure 2). These outcomes reflect the multidisciplinary approach of the lung cancer specialists, as well as their ability to apply the new drugs for targeted therapy, stereotactic radiotherapy and aggressive surgery, and laser therapy for airway infringement, chest wall problems or pleural effusions related to cancer (Pleurex catheters). 3. Minimally Invasive Surgery for Lung Cancer With an aging population of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients, minimally invasive (thorascopic and robotic procedures) are being used in diagnosis and treatment. Combined with both radiation therapy and new chemotherapy options, these procedures are providing potentially curative options to patients previously not thought to be surgical candidates. FIGURE 1 ACUTE SURGICAL OUTCOMES 6 Stamford Hospital Bennett Cancer Center

7 4. Multidisciplinary Approach to Lung Cancer including Genetic Testing & Targeted Therapy The Lung Cancer Program takes a comprehensive approach to cancer cases in a multidisciplinary conference that includes medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons to determine the best therapy for patients and if the patient is eligible for new research protocols. The team confers on the best approach for each, taking into consideration the wide range of services available, from diagnosis to treatment. This now includes Targeted Chemotherapy, which is based on genetic screening performed on all lung cancer tissue to allow for more effective chemotherapy outcomes. 5. CyberKnife Treatment for Lung Cancer A new program for the treatment of lung cancer is CyberKnife radiosurgery. This conformal ablative radiation technique uses a mobile linear accelerator, which is rotated around the patient to allow for a precise delivery of radiation therapy to the patient s tumor, thereby minimizing injury to viable tissue. CyberKnife offers a potent new treatment alternative for patients with primary lung cancer, particularly if they are not healthy enough to undergo surgery or for those with recurrent lung cancer, who are undergoing palliative therapy. For the past year, the program has been actively treating patients from across western Connecticut, many of whom have come to Stamford Hospital specifically for this new therapy. 6. Prevention, Screening & Nurse Navigator Support Our comprehensive lung care program begins with prevention, offering information, educational materials and support services. Two components of our prevention program include smoking cessation and screening computerized tomography (CT) scans. At Stamford Hospital, we are committed to caring for the whole patient from diagnosis through treatment and recovery. For additional patient comfort, a dedicated Thoracic Nurse Navigator is available to help through all phases of a lung cancer illness. Patients often present in an advanced stage of the disease and therefore may face additional challenges beyond their chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments. To ease the burden of living with lung cancer, Stamford Hospital offers a wide range of support services such as pulmonary rehabilitation, one-on-one counseling and support groups, as well as an Integrative Medicine program that includes Reiki, massage, reflexology, exercise and nutrition, art and music therapy, and healthy visualization. FIGURE 2 FIVE-YEAR OBSERVED SURVIVAL BY AJCC TNM STAGE Welcome Dr. Knight ANDREW KNIGHT, MD Andrew Knight, MD has joined the hospital s Division of Radiation Oncology and practices at the Bennett Cancer Center and CyberKnife Center at the Tully Health Center. He is experienced in IMRT, IGRT, Intracranial Stereotactic Radiosurgery & Radiotherapy, 3D and 4D Conformal Radiotherapy, and Brachytherapy. Dr. Knight received a bachelor of science degree from Stanford University and his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. He completed a residency in radiation oncology at the UCLA Medical Center where he served as chief resident. At that same institution, Dr. Knight was also actively involved in the development of UCLA s extracranial radiosurgery program. He has been published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics and has presented on a number of topics ranging from an introduction to radiation oncology to spine radiosurgery. Dr. Knight is fluent in Spanish and worked previously as an educator and clinician in rural El Salvador. Annual Report 2008/2009 7

8 Ida Draughn, RTT, Chief Radiation Therapist Ida is one of the newest members of the Bennett Cancer Center team, having worked at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia for the past 25 years. Growing up around people who had cancer helped her to choose her career path and she is proud to be part of a team that is so focused on patient-centered care. As chief radiation therapist, she works closely with physicians to coordinate therapy for patients and ensure the quality and consistency of their treatment. In addition, she oversees staff in the Bennett Cancer Center s Radiation Therapy Department and the CyberKnife Center at Tully. Ida received her associate s degree from Gwynedd-Mercy College in Pennsylvania and is currently working on her bachelor s degree at Fairfield University. Erin Ash, MS, CGC, Cancer Genetic Counselor Erin joined Stamford Hospital s Bennett Cancer Center in 2008 as a cancer genetic counselor. Patients who have a personal or family history of cancer can be referred to her by a primary care physician, oncologist or surgeon. She works closely and collaboratively with patients and their physicians to determine the likelihood of cancer due to heredity. She is also responsible for raising awareness and facilitating enrollment in the Cancer Center s Familial Colorectal Cancer Registry. The registry tracks and studies hereditary factors that contribute to this form of cancer, particularly in younger patients (50 years and under). Prior to coming to Stamford, Erin worked in prenatal and pediatric genetic counseling at New York Presbyterian Hospital. She received a bachelor of science degree in molecular and cell biology from the University of Connecticut. She completed a master s degree in human genetics at Sarah Lawrence College, where she currently serves on the faculty and now helps to supervise and train other master s students. Erin is certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Contact Information By bennettcancercenter@stamfordhospital.org Bennett Cancer Center/Reception Desk Hematology Oncology, P.C Radiation Oncology CyberKnife Center Department of Surgery Department of Radiology Department of Pathology Cancer Center Services Liz Manfredo, MS, RD Director, Cancer Service Line Erin Ash, MS, CGC Cancer Genetic Counselor Fran Becker, LCSW, OSW-C Manager, Support Services Clinical Trials Office (Research) Deanna Derdelinghen, CTR Manager, Cancer Program Sally Kneen, RN Nurse Coordinator, CyberKnife Michelle Palazzo Manager, Patient Services & Operations Melissa Ronk, RN, OCN Thoracic Nurse Navigator CARE (2273) Rev. Ann Schmidt, MDiv Director, Pastoral Care Michele Speer, RN Breast Nurse Navigator Dominique Srdanovic, RN, MA, OCN Genitourinary Nurse Navigator CARE (2273) Karen Wakeley, MPS, ATR-BC Art Therapist Women s Breast Center Shelburne Road P.O. Box 9317 Stamford, CT stamfordhospital.org