back to topics

Doctors

Dealing with cancer means dealing with doctors, oftentimes many doctors. So, selecting a network of people to be on your medical team, to include as part of your life preserver, is crucial for both your physical and emotional health.

Challenge: How do I find the right doctor(s) for me?

Solution: If you are reading this guide, most likely you or your loved one have already been diagnosed with cancer. In many cases a primary care physician refers patients to an oncologist, who is a physician specializing in the treatment of cancer.

The focus in this chapter is on doctors who treat cancer. Doctors who most often provide treatment of cancer are surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists. Radiologists may follow the treatment using CT scans, MRI, bone scans and PET scans to help monitor the patient’s progress. The most common forms of treatment for cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy (biologic therapy) and cell targeted therapies.

Surgery involves removing cancerous tissue/tumors from the body.

Chemotherapy is the use of a chemical agent to attack and kill cancerous cells. Chemotherapy can be administered intravenously and orally and may be received in a hospital, an outpatient doctor’s office or in the home.

Radiation Therapy is the use of high dose x-rays to kill cancer cells. Typically, radiation therapy is given on an outpatient basis in hospitals or radiation treatment centers.

Cell Targeted Therapy uses drugs that block the growth and spread of cancer by interfering with specific molecules involved in the process by which normal cells become cancer cells and tumor growth.

Selecting Your Medical Team
As you begin your search for a doctor, be sure to check his/her credentials. One way to do that is to ask your doctor if he or she is Board Certified. Becoming a licensed, Board Certified physician means meeting the most rigorous training and continuing education standards offered in the field of medicine.

Certification of physicians is done by medical specialty boards, recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and the American Medical Association (AMA).

This is a way to tell consumers that the doctors with these credentials have successfully completed approved training and have passed an evaluation process assessing their ability to provide quality patient care in their specialty.

Board certification is time-limited. To maintain certification, doctors are periodically reevaluated. They must present evidence of licensure and the scope of their practice and pass an examination every 7 to 10 years, depending on the specialty.

Board certification is a good indication that your doctor has made a commitment to continuing education and is keeping up with the latest findings in his or her field.

Check the “Physician Select” service of the website of the American Medical Association. This gives you lists of doctors, by specialty, who practice near you. You can also check on training and board certification at: http://www.ama-assn.org/aps/amahg.htm. (Source www.webmd.com)

You can also find oncologists through the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO). ASCO is a worldwide professional organization representing physicians who diagnose and treat people with cancer. The doctors of ASCO set patient care standards and lead the way for research and treatment of cancers around the world. ASCO recommends the following guidelines when choosing an oncologist and treatment facility:

• Choose an oncologist with broad experience in the treatment of your particular cancer.
• Choose a hospital/medical facility that sees a large volume of patients and conducts clinical research, including clinical trials.
• Choose an oncologist who belongs to ASCO or other professional societies as they are committed to continuing medical education and providing the best practices in patient care.

For further information about ASCO and its medical and patient programs, contact www.asco.org or 703-299-0150.

Tip #1 Your Medical Team
On the East End there are many outstanding“GPs,” meaning physicians who are in general practice. A general practioner also can be known as your “primary care physician.” The diagnosis of cancer can begin with your GP. During an annual checkup, for example, a GP may see something of concern and order further tests which may or may not confirm that a patient has cancer.

The treatments for cancer occur under specialists – such as the many exceptional oncologists listed in the Guide. They should have good communication with a patient’s GP and, together, these doctors form the core of a cancer patient’s medical team.

ONCOLOGY
Your oncologist will most likely be the central person on your medical team, helping coordinate all aspects of your treatment with other practitioners. The oncologist will often treat cancer by administering chemotherapy. Many physicians employ nurse practitioners who also can assist you with your treatment issues. Below you will find a listing of oncology practices as well as individual oncologists in your area.

Barry L. Strauss, M.D.
353 Meeting House Lane.............................................................631-283-6611
Southampton, NY 11968

Eastern Long Island Hematology/Oncology
Dr. Louis Avvento & Dr. Alexander Zuhoski
1333 East Main St.
Riverhead, NY 11901 .................................................................... 631-727-8500
www.eliho.com

North Shore Hematology Oncology Associates
285 Sills Road, Building 16
Patchogue, NY 11772 ................................................................... 631-758-7575
887 Old Country Road
Riverhead, NY 11901 .................................................................... 631-727-3215
For a complete Physican directory visit ........................................www.nshoa.com

Patchogue Medical Oncology
Dr. Stanley Ostrow
285 Sills Road, Building 16, Suite D ............................................ 631-758-7575
Patchogue, NY 11772

Peconic Regional Hematology Oncology
Dr. Marilyn McLaughlin
36 Osprey Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901............................................................................... 631-727-3000
54075 Main Road
Southold, NY 11971............................................................................... 631-765-4600

St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center
50 Route 25A, Smithtown, NY 11781 .......................................... 631-862-3000

Stony Brook University Hospital, The Cancer Center
3 Edmund Pelligrino Road
Stony Brook, NY 11794 ................................................................ 631-638-1000
www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org

Twin Forks Hematology Oncology, P.C.
Dr. Susan Emanuele
1267 East Main Street
Riverhead, NY 11901 ................................................................ 631-727-7100
201 Manor Place
Eastern LI Hospital
Greenport, NY 11944 ................................................................ 631-477-0025

Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy uses ionizing radiation as a “bladeless knife” to destroy active cancer cells in the body. The goal of radiation is to kill cancer cells without harming the healthy tissue. Below, you will find a listing of radiation therapy practices.

North Fork Radiology & Radiation Oncology
Dr. Renu Hausen
1333 Roanoke Avenue – Suite 102
Riverhead, NY 11901 ...................................................................... 631-727-2755 ext. 400

Patchogue Radiation Therapy Center
285 Sills Road, Building 17
Patchogue, NY 11772 ...................................................................... 631-207-2801

Radiation Oncoloy
181 North Belle Mead Road
East Setauket, NY 11733 ................................................................. 631-689-6776

Stony Brook University Hospital
Nicolls Road and Health Sciences Drive Intersection
Stony Brook, NY 11794 .................................................................. 631-444-2200

Tip #2 Planning for Radiation
Radiation is a time-consuming process; treatments typically last for six weeks, five days a week. There are not many radiation treatment centers on the East End – so think about transportation. It can be helpful if friends and family share the many days of driving. If the cancer patient is working, it is also prudent to consider a reduced or altered work schedule during the period of radiation treatments.

For more information about the practice of oncology, please visit the following websites.

American Cancer Society
Information, referrals, resources, guidance and educational material.
www.cancer.org..................................................................... 800-ACS-2345

Cancer.net
The American Society of Clinical Oncologists patient website.
www.cancer.net ..................................................................... 888-651-3038

National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Treatment guidelines for patients, listing of national cancer centers.
www.nccn.org ....................................................................... 888-909-6226

National Cancer Institute, Cancer Information Service
Accurate, up-to-date medical information.
www.cancer.gov .................................................................... 800-4-CANCER

TIP #3 NCCN Treatment Guidelines www.nccn.org
“NCCN” stands for National Comprehensive Cancer Network. It is a not-for-profit alliance of 21 of the world’s leading hospitals.

Recently, the NCCN and the American Cancer Society have teamed up to publish a simplified version of NCCN guidelines. Each pamphlet covers a different type of cancer. Available through the Fighting Chance Library. Also available in Spanish.

Successful Communication with your Doctor and Healthcare Team: A Two-Way Street.

As a cancer patient, you need a doctor who offers and interprets medical information, who coordinates your care, and with whom you can speak frankly. Today’s medical care is complex and technical. Communicating with a team of specialists including surgeons, radiologists and nurses offers you the benefit of their shared views and is important at all stages of cancer treatment and survival.

Tips/Suggestions for Effective Communication:
• Bring a family member or friend. This may help with asserting yourself and later reviewing the new information conveyed.
• Tape important discussions. Absorb information by listening to the tape at home when there is less stress. Be sure to get your doctor’s permission before recording him/her.
• Understand your treatment plan before you leave the office. Ask the doctor to clarify all information. What tests/medicines have been prescribed; how long will you be taking them; what are the risks and benefits of your treatment.
• Speak clearly and openly with your doctor/healthcare team. Describe and relate all symptoms, observations and concerns. Remember doctors cannot read your mind.
• Let your doctor know how much information you need to know or can tolerate. While there is much information to understand about all aspects of your condition, only you know if you feel overwhelmed or overloaded with statistics and information. It is important to let the doctor know if the information is too frightening. If you would like more information on your treatment, let the doctor and healthcare team know. Also, let your healthcare team know if you do not understand a particular medical term.

Finally, remember that physicians, nurses, and technicians are medical professionals who are committed to serve you. Try to be pleasant, courteous and appreciative. Understand that time is at a premium in todays medical environment. However, if you feel constantly hurried, or are not treated with respect or your questions are not being addressed, bring this up with your doctor. If all else fails, consider looking for another physician.

back to top

back to topics