Q&A
Discussion on cancer rates and operating room needs
1:16:08
·
127 sec
Council Member Lynn Schulman questions the projected increase in cancer rates and the need for additional operating rooms. Jeffrey Drebin from MSK responds, explaining their mission to cure and prevent cancer while acknowledging the current reality of cancer treatment.
- Schulman mentions the Healthy NYC program aiming to increase life expectancy and reduce chronic diseases
- Drebin explains that surgery remains a crucial part of treatment for most solid tumor cancers
- The discussion highlights the tension between goals for reducing cancer rates and the current need for expanded treatment facilities
Lynn Schulman
1:16:08
Hi.
1:16:09
Thank you for the presentation today.
1:16:12
As council member of Menin mentioned, I am the Chair of the Health Committee.
1:16:16
I'm also a breast cancer survivor.
1:16:19
And so a couple of questions.
1:16:23
Council amendment and asked some of them in terms of the reduction in cancer rates.
1:16:29
I'm part of a program that the mayor launched called Healthy NYC, which is to increase life expectancy by the 2030 to the age of 83, and part of that has to do with the reduction of chronic diseases and cancers.
1:16:43
So, again, I want to just mention that we should be reducing cancer as opposed to, I know you said it's increasing.
1:16:54
And again, in relation to how many operating rooms you do need.
1:17:00
So can you talk about that a little bit?
1:17:03
I know you'd meant you've answered it, but if you can respond to it.
Jeffrey Drebin
1:17:09
Well, we certainly share your hope.
1:17:12
I I think one thing at MSK that comes through loud and clear whenever I've been there for 8 years as care of surgery.
1:17:19
And the sense of mission that every member of our staff, from Christine, who cleans my office at night, to the CEO and everybody in between, is about curing cancer and preventing cancer.
1:17:31
So we're we're aligned completely in that.
1:17:34
The reality is we have a number of areas looking at screening, molecular testing, things we're pioneering may ultimately be the way that we have with straightforward blood test way to say, you know, you have a problem, and let's get to it early.
1:17:48
But right now, most of cancer patients who are long term survivors for solid tumors have surgery as part of their treatment.
1:17:57
The vast majority liquid tumors are different story leukemias and such.
1:18:01
But for solid tumors, surgery along with chemotherapy radiation, immunotherapy targeted agents is for most patients, the road to cure.
Kaitlin Griffin
1:18:10
Right.
Jeffrey Drebin
1:18:11
And so that's really what we're focusing on.