Members of Mount Sinai’s Center of Excellence for Pancreatic Cancer Multidisciplinary Team, from left: Deirdre Cohen, MD, Aimee Lucas, MD, Daniel M. Labow, MD, and Karyn A. Goodman, MD.
A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can be scary and overwhelming. And, it can be daunting and time-consuming for patients to figure out which physicians to see and arrange for all the needed diagnostic testing.
Mount Sinai’s Center of Excellence for Pancreatic Cancer Multidisciplinary Team is a “one-stop shop” that can help patients get everything they need, from expert opinions on cancer treatments to advice on nutrition. Located at Mount Sinai West, the team provides a comprehensive workup by a multidisciplinary team of leading experts, all in one day.
The full-day assessment includes any necessary diagnostic tests, physical exams, and consultations in one place—a comfortable, patient-centered setting. At the end of the day, patients receive a personalized treatment plan and understand the prescribed course of action.
“At the end of their visits, patients walk out with an easy-to-understand-and-follow treatment plan, put together by some of the best minds for treating and researching pancreatic cancer,” said Karyn A. Goodman, MD, Professor and Vice Chair for Research and Quality in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Associate Director for Clinical Research at The Tisch Cancer Institute. “It can take several weeks for a patient to get a treatment plan for a complicated cancer. We do it in one day.”
“Our team is available to all patients whether they are newly diagnosed, looking for a second opinion, or about to begin treatment,” Dr. Goodman added.
Patients benefit from the expertise of a full array of pancreatic cancer specialists including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, gastroenterologists, pathologists, radiologists, genetics counselors, oncology nurse practitioners, and pain management specialists.
Patients also have access to social workers, nutritionists, exercise therapists, and palliative care specialists. A nurse practitioner coordinates the care prescribed in the treatment plan and educates each patient about what to expect.
“Our multidisciplinary group reviews all of the patient’s information from examination and diagnostic testing,” said Deirdre Cohen, MD, Associate Professor, Icahn School of Medicine and Director of GI Oncology Program at Mount Sinai. “This close collaboration among specialists helps ensure that all elements of each patient’s treatment plan will work in harmony for optimal outcomes. It is an ideal setting where we can assess eligibility for clinical trials— we offer the latest treatment options to every patient we see, and we also make sure that every patient is treated as a whole person, taking into account each unique individual’s needs and preferences.”
“Pancreatic cancer is complex. It requires the integration of specialists from many medical and surgical disciplines,” said Daniel M. Labow, MD, Professor of Surgery at Icahn Mount Sinai. “Our approach allows us to quickly and efficiently design a personalized treatment plan for each pancreatic cancer patient.”
He added, “Importantly, we make time for patients to be heard—we listen, answer questions, and provide support. We make the overwhelming and daunting manageable.”