Recent Study Shows Lung Cancer Patients Fare Better when Treated by Surgeons who Specialize Exclusively in Thoracic Surgery

St. Luke's Hospital & Health Network is the only hospital in the area with two specialty trained thoracic surgeons who devote 100 percent of their practice to non-cardiac thoracic surgery

Quakertown, PA (1-21-2009) – The statistics are alarming. Nearly 29 percent of all cancer deaths in the U.S. result from lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. This cancer claims more lives than any other cancer, among both men and women. Approximately 161,840 deaths nationwide were attributed to this disease in 2008 alone.

Focus on Lung Cancer and Other Lung Conditions

However, a recent study by Southern Thoracic Surgical Association has shown that patients fare better when lung cancer surgery is performed by a thoracic surgeon whose practice is dedicated to the care and treatment of lung cancer, according to Matthew Puc, MD. Dr. Puc, a dedicated thoracic surgeon, recently joined in practice with William Burfeind, Jr., MD, of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgical Associates of St. Luke's. These two fellowship-trained thoracic surgeons focus exclusively on patients with lung cancer and other lung conditions at St. Luke's Bethlehem and Quakertown campuses.

According to Dr. Puc, “In terms of outcomes, presented in November of 2008 at the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association by Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, the lowest rates of mortality and morbidity were achieved by surgeons who specialized in general thoracic surgery—whose practice was more than 75 percent dedicated to general thoracic surgery.”

In many hospitals, lung cancer is operated on by general surgeons or cardiac surgeons. Drs. Puc and Burfeind focus solely on malignant diseases of the chest and are 100 percent dedicated thoracic surgeons.

Comprehensive Lung Cancer Program 

Drs. Puc and Burfeind run the Comprehensive Lung Cancer Program (CLCP) at St. Luke's every week where they see patients with known lung cancer or undiagnosed lung nodules/masses which get presented in front of a multi-disciplinary group of physicians including general thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, a radiation oncologist, a pulmonologist, chest and interventional radiologists and a pathologist. Immediately following the conference, the patients are seen by Dr. Puc or Burfeind and a plan of care is discussed. Rather than one physician making treatment recommendations, patients receive a coordinated opinion from a team of highly trained specialists. Not only does this expedite care, but it also improves the patients' outcomes.

Referrals from Primary Care and Specialty Physicians

Patients may be referred to Dr. Puc and Burfeind from both primary care physicians and specialists from across disciplines. Referring physicians receive update letters about the progress of their patients after each visit. Drs. Puc and Burfeind also review second opinion cases. These patients may not be seen in the office after the conference necessarily, but their cases are discussed in front of the panel of physicians. A letter is sent to the referring physician who requested the second opinion.

“When it comes to the treatment of lung cancer, there is no option better than the expertise of St. Luke's fellowship-trained thoracic surgeons. Coupled with the Comprehensive Lung Cancer Program, Drs. Burfeind and Puc are providing the most advanced lung cancer treatment in the region,” states Tom Filipowicz, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs at St. Luke's Quakertown Hospital.

St. Luke's Quakertown Hospital benefits from its affiliation with St. Luke's Hospital & Health Network. Some of the brightest and most experienced doctors in the country are available to patients at St. Luke's Quakertown Hospital in numerous medical and surgical specialties including thoracic surgery, surgical oncology, vascular surgery, general surgery, cardiology and other disciplines.

About the Surgeons

Drs. Puc and Burfeind of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgical Associates of St. Luke's are the only fellowship-trained, dedicated thoracic surgeons in the region.

Matthew Puc, MD comes to St. Luke's from the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia where he completed a clinical/research fellowship in thoracic surgery. Dr. Puc is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He is a specialist in the treatment of esophageal cancer and complex lung tumors. He currently sees patients at St. Luke's Quakertown Hospital, 1021 Park Avenue, Quakertown, PA.

William Burfeind, MD serves as Chief of Thoracic Surgery, St. Luke's Hospital & Health Network. Dr. Burfeind previously served as a faculty member in the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Duke and speaks nationally on such subjects as thoracoscopic lobectomy and complex airway reconstruction.

Drs. Puc and Burfeind see patients at St. Luke's Hospital-Bethlehem Campus and St. Luke's Quakertown Hospital. Most major insurances are accepted. Call 610-954-3990 to schedule an appointment at either of these convenient locations.