Dr. Oz shares story of his cancer scare in Time Magazine
Mehmet Oz, MD, FACS, authored an autobiographical feature article in Time Magazine's Health Special: Cancer, published June 2, 2011.
In this personal account of his colon cancer scare, Dr. Oz shares his experiences as a patient facing frightening uncertainties associated with cancer — and what happens when test results are not what one hopes for.
His engaging story of how he became a 'bad patient' helps readers to understand just why many of us may put off cancer screenings, even when we know that doing so may be very risky.
With humor and compassion, Dr. Oz offers a blend of information, support, and encouragement to do what we know we need to do, should we fall into a particular age or risk group in which cancer screening would be advised.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement as Good as Open Surgery, According to PARTNER Results
Approximately 300,000 patients in the United States have aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic heart valve), and about one third of these patients are too sick or too old to undergo surgical replacement.
Under the leadership of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been under study as a less invasive alternative for these patients.
According to the most recent results of the landmark PARTNER study, TAVI is as good as open surgery in terms of long-term survival.
Craig R. Smith, MD, Principal Investigator of the PARTNER study, presented long-awaited results of cohort A to the American College of Cardiology 2011 Scientific Summit in New Orleans April 3, 2011.
This arm of the study compared long-term outcomes of traditional aortic valve replacement with the catheter-based method of replacing the aortic valve.
The study found the two methods equal in terms of long term survival. Patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement were at higher risk of stroke and vascular complications, while those undergoing open surgery were at greater risk of major bleeding.
Results of the first phase of the PARTNER trial, cohort B, were presented in December 2010.
This phase found that compared with medical therapy (including balloon valvuloplasty), patients who were too sick or too old for surgery had a 20% improvement in survival after one year with transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
In addition to living longer, patients also felt much better and experienced fewer hospitalizations.
The pivotal results from both cohorts of the PARTNER trial mean that patients with aortic disease now have a new therapeutic option that works exceedingly well.
Craig R. Smith, MD, who presented the newest results at a special showcase session at the ACC summit, said in a statement that transcatheter aortic valve replacement "is the most exciting new treatment for aortic stenosis in the past two to three decades."
At this time, transcatheter aortic valves are investigational devices in the US.
Already approved and on the market in other countries, it is expected that TAVI may gain FDA approval as early as late 2011, at least for patients ineligible for surgery.
Dr. Smith is Chairman, Department of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center; and Surgeon-in-Chief, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center/ Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center. Other PARTNER investigators at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital include Martin Leon, MD, Jeffrey Moses, MD, Susheel Kodali, MD, and Mathew Williams, MD.
Interviews with Craig Smith, MD, about Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Robert T. Grant, MD, FACS, Chief, Division of Plastic Surgery, is highlighted in the March 2011 issue of Town & Country Magazine.
"Dr. G and the Women" profiles the Life Stage Personal Enhancement Team he has built with nutritionist Brooke Alpert and stylist Jacqui Stafford.
Together, the trio work with patients to improve their appearances according to their unique needs and preferences.
Some patients choose to have plastic surgery followed by recovery at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan, where they can meet with Alpert and Stafford as they recuperate.
Other patients may opt to consult with Alpert or Stafford, without having any procedures.
As Dr. Grant says, "I am an interventionalist — I intervene at a specific point — but what Brooke and Jacqui do can help before, during, and after that point," he says.
"It just became clear that I needed more than surgery to help make my patients complete."
Sheldon M. Feldman, MD, is first author of a study published January 11, 2011 in the journal Cancer.
The article, titled A novel automated assay for the rapid identification of metastatic breast carcinoma in sentinal lymph nodes, reports the results of a study investigating a new method of detecting cancer in lymph nodes.
The novel method, called 'one-step nucleic acid amplification,' or OSNA, uses molecular testing to detect whether breast cancer has metastasized, or spread, to the lymph nodes.
Confirming whether breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes is an important factor in determining treatment and prognosis.
The study found this new method to be highly sensitive and accurate, paving the way for its use during breast cancer surgery.
This objective method allows a more complete evaluation of lymph nodes without microscopic evaluation.
Its technician-based automated platform can be utilized at smaller hospitals that may not have expertise in breast pathology, while still providing highly accurate results.
Sheldon M. Feldman, MD, is first author of a study published January 11, 2011 in the journal Cancer.
The article, titled A novel automated assay for the rapid identification of metastatic breast carcinoma in sentinal lymph nodes, reports the results of a study investigating a new method of detecting cancer in lymph nodes.
The novel method, called 'one-step nucleic acid amplification,' or OSNA, uses molecular testing to detect whether breast cancer has metastasized, or spread, to the lymph nodes.
Confirming whether breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes is an important factor in determining treatment and prognosis.
The study found this new method to be highly sensitive and accurate, paving the way for its use during breast cancer surgery.
This objective method allows a more complete evaluation of lymph nodes without microscopic evaluation.
Its technician-based automated platform can be utilized at smaller hospitals that may not have expertise in breast pathology, while still providing highly accurate results.
The March 2011 issue of Good Housekeeping will include an article about aortic surgery that features Allan Stewart, MD, Director of the Aortic Surgery Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia.
The article, titled Aortic Surgery: Getting to the Heart of Health, discusses innovative techniques that can preserve the natural anatomy of the aorta and aortic valve.
This article will also appear in Redbook and Woman's Day magazines.
Approximately 300,000 patients in the United States have aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic heart valve), and about one third of these patients are too sick or too old to undergo surgical replacement.
Under the leadership of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been under study as a less invasive alternative for these patients.
Dr. Smith is Chairman, Department of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center; and Surgeon-in-Chief, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center/ Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center. Other PARTNER investigators at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital include Martin Leon, MD, Jeffrey Moses, MD, Susheel Kodali, MD, and Mathew Williams, MD.
