DIRECTOR’S LETTER FROM Steven T. Brower, MD, FACS
On behalf of my incredibly dedicated colleagues work- ing within The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center at Englewood Health and through- out our community, I am honored to present our can- cer care report for the years 2019-2023. The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center remains steadfastly committed to our mission of providing high-quality, accessible care, and playing a prominent role in our institution’s strategic plan for the next decade. Our goals seek to: 1. Expand our expertise and subspecialty cancer care to more people living within our region 2. Decrease the time from diagnosis to cancer treatment, which translates into more cures and better quality of life 3. Recognize lung cancer as the No. 1 cause of mortality and formulate a clinical program that leads to earlier diagnosis and treatment and im- proved survival 4. Deliver individualized precision cancer care for each patient specific to their disease and biology of the tumor The years encompassed by this report coincide with transformational changes in cancer care that have re- quired us to change the way we deliver services while supporting our patients and families throughout the con- tinuum of treatment and survivorship.
For instance, 2021 saw the largest single decline ever in annual cancer mortality rates in the United States. By 2025, 20 million survivors are predicted with a five-year survival rate of greater than 70 percent. Most of the re - duced mortality is the product of increased early detec- tion and prevention, although advances in treatment for some of our most difficult cancers, such as lung, lympho- ma, melanoma and renal, have benefited from amazing therapeutic advances. The year 2021 commemorated the 50th anniversary of the National Cancer Act. Much of the progress of these past 50 years in cancer research and care has been made possible through this act and the development of the Na- tional Cancer Institute (NCI), my own alma mater. The National Clinical Trials Network, established by the NCI, has contributed to the cure of cancers, led to the de- velopment of life-prolonging adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy for some cancers, and established the importance of patient involvement and advocacy. There is little doubt that the major contributor to declines in cancer mortality over the past five decades has been the reduction in smoking. Other successful risk-reduction strategies have included public health efforts covering hepatitis B and HPV immunizations and screening for cer - vical, colorectal, breast, oral, lung and skin cancers. Here at Englewood Health, we are increasingly diagnos- ing lung cancer at earlier stages, helping to reverse the course of this deadly disease because of an institutional commitment to our low-dose screening CT program.
Another major advance has been the expansion of the Human Genome Project and the Cancer Genome Atlas. These programs have produced a comprehensive de- scription of normal and abnormal human genomes that can give rise to cancer and are the key drivers of many cancers. This has led to a move from a “magic bullet” and generalized approach to targeted therapies and individu- alized medicine, precision and mechanism-based treat- ments that have been successful against some of our most challenging cancers. At The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, we have embraced molecular medicine with the addition of physician experts and the establishment of mo- lecular tumor boards. We offer what’s called “tumor agnos - tic care,” an innovative approach to cancer treatment that focuses on the genetic and molecular characteristics of a tumor, rather than its specific tissue of origin. Finally, the most compelling and sobering challenge to cancer care that we witnessed during the period of this report was the care of our most vulnerable patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Englewood Health took meticu - lous steps to ensure patient safety during this time. I am so proud of the entire team working within the cancer center who were diligent in their protection and care of our oncology patients. During the pandemic, disparities in access to health care—particularly among minority and older adults in the nation—became very apparent. It is estimated that mor - tality for individuals who delayed screening for common malignancies during this period will be responsible for an additional 10,000 deaths in the U.S. during the next five
to 10 years. Mortality for our most common cancers in New Jersey, such as lung, prostate, breast and colorectal, remain substantially higher within our Black, Latino and Asian communities. As we celebrate the enormous advances in cancer care made in the last 50 years and in the five years encom- passed by this report, we recognize that we have much more to achieve. Englewood Health is committed to con - fronting cancer with our highest commitment to technol- ogy and compassion, while recognizing our institution’s equally important role in examining and improving soci- etal deficiencies in healthcare determinants. We will con - tinue to perform this important work, as we build toward a world that is one day free from cancer.
Sincerely,
Steven T. Brower, MD, FACS Medical Director, The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center Chief of Surgical Oncology, Englewood Health
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