LEWISTON – St. Mary’s Regional Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders announces the formation of the first local chest oncology program.

It is designed to offer comprehensive care for patients with lung cancer, mesothelioma, esophageal cancer and other malignant diseases in the chest.

According to the medical director of the cancer center, Dr. Amir Modarressi, this service will provide a multidisciplinary approach from diagnosis to treatment and supportive care by involving a dedicated team of experts, including thoracic surgery, pulmonology, medical oncology and radiation oncology. The cancer center will also provide additional services such as patient and family education, palliative care, and experimental treatments.

Thoracic surgeon Dr. Maria Ikossi, who has an extensive experience in the surgical management of lung and esophageal cancers, is one of the key members of the program. Other physicians in the team are pulmonologists: Drs. Ralph Harder, Richard Kahn, Mark Lund, Modarressi and Elena Theodosiou; and radiologist Dr. James Place.

The program will be launched this month. For more information, contact the oncology program director, Karen Clark, at 777-4420.