Bassett Cancer Institute rolls out new treatment option

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — The Bassett Cancer Institute now offers Lutathera as a treatment for neuroendocrine cancer, also known as carcinoid tumor. 

Lutathera is a pharmaceutical radiation therapy that helps improve outcomes for patients with this rare cancer, according to Bassett Healthcare Network.

“First and foremost, this is great news for patients with this cancer,” Dr. Timothy Korytko, Bassett’s chief of radiation oncology, said in a release. “Until now, there’s only been one basic treatment for low-grade neuroendocrine cancer. If a patient’s case was unresponsive or had already spread, there was little to do. Lutathera is a powerful, effective new option.”

Before Bassett began offering it, patients seeking the Lutathera treatment had to travel to Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, or New York City to receive it. Bassett made accommodations in its facilities to receive approval to administer Lutathera.

“As other treatments in this class become available, we’ve already developed a process and a space to administer them,” Korytko said. “This could be the beginning of a bright future.”

The Bassett Cancer Institute has a team of nationally accredited medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists, as well as oncology-certified registered nurses, according to its website. Its support staff includes nutritionists, social workers, financial counselors, and nurse navigators. The Bassett Cancer Institute has locations at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, FoxCare in Oneonta, Bassett Herkimer Specialty Services in Herkimer, and Cobleskill Regional Hospital in Cobleskill.