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Stephen Hahn, MD
StephenHahnMD (Physician - Oncology - Radiation (Verified) )| Communities: All Cancers | Answers: 7 |
| Member Since: Apr. 2012 |
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Professional Statement
Stephen M. Hahn, MD, is the Chair of the Radiation Oncology Department and Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
As a radiation and medical oncologist, as well as an NIH-funded researcher, Dr. Hahn brings his many skills and talents to lead one of the nation’s foremost academic radiation oncology departments. He is an active clinician, with particular expertise in treating lung and genitourinary cancers and in the use of photodynamic therapy. As Vice Chair for Research for the Department of Radiation Oncology and Principal Investigator of National Cancer Institute grants, Hahn has led the expansion of the department’s research base, which has consistently ranked first or second in NIH funding.
After joining Penn in 1996, Hahn served as an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology and Hematology/Oncology until 2001, when he was appointed Associate Professor. For the past several years, Hahn has served as Director of Penn’s Photodynamic Therapy program, which treats cancer patients through a minimally invasive process that uses a photosensitizer and concurrent laser light to selectively destroy tumors. He also directs the Farnesyltransferase Inhibitor Program for Treatment of cancer of the lung, head and neck and pancreas. In addition, Hahn is the Program Leader of the Radiation Biology Research Program in the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, and was recently appointed to the Cancer Center’s executive committee.
Board certified in Internal Medicine, Radiation Oncology, and Hematology/Oncology, Hahn received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and his undergraduate degrees from Rice University. In 1987, he completed his residency and served as Chief Resident of Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Hahn also completed a Medical Oncology Fellowship at the NCI in 1991, and a Radiation Oncology Residency at the NCI in 1994.
Hahn currently serves as board member of the Radiation Oncology Institute of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology. A long-standing member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Hahn is also an active member of the Radiation Research Society, the American Society of Photobiology, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the University of Pennsylvania’s John Morgan Society.
As a radiation and medical oncologist, as well as an NIH-funded researcher, Dr. Hahn brings his many skills and talents to lead one of the nation’s foremost academic radiation oncology departments. He is an active clinician, with particular expertise in treating lung and genitourinary cancers and in the use of photodynamic therapy. As Vice Chair for Research for the Department of Radiation Oncology and Principal Investigator of National Cancer Institute grants, Hahn has led the expansion of the department’s research base, which has consistently ranked first or second in NIH funding.
After joining Penn in 1996, Hahn served as an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology and Hematology/Oncology until 2001, when he was appointed Associate Professor. For the past several years, Hahn has served as Director of Penn’s Photodynamic Therapy program, which treats cancer patients through a minimally invasive process that uses a photosensitizer and concurrent laser light to selectively destroy tumors. He also directs the Farnesyltransferase Inhibitor Program for Treatment of cancer of the lung, head and neck and pancreas. In addition, Hahn is the Program Leader of the Radiation Biology Research Program in the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, and was recently appointed to the Cancer Center’s executive committee.
Board certified in Internal Medicine, Radiation Oncology, and Hematology/Oncology, Hahn received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and his undergraduate degrees from Rice University. In 1987, he completed his residency and served as Chief Resident of Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Hahn also completed a Medical Oncology Fellowship at the NCI in 1991, and a Radiation Oncology Residency at the NCI in 1994.
Hahn currently serves as board member of the Radiation Oncology Institute of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology. A long-standing member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Hahn is also an active member of the Radiation Research Society, the American Society of Photobiology, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the University of Pennsylvania’s John Morgan Society.
Professional Info
Credential: MD
Primary specialty: Oncology - Radiation
Medical school: Temple University School of Medicine
Residency: National Cancer Institute
Internship: University of California
Fellowship: National Cancer Institute
Areas of expertise:
Radiation oncology
Lung cancer
Prostate cancer
Genitourinary Cancer
Photodynamic therapy
Sarcoma
Hospital affiliation: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Practice name: Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
Practice address:
3400 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA
19104
Practice phone number: 1-800-789-PENN (7366)
StephenHahnMD Activities
Photodynamic therapy is a cancer treatment in which a patient receives (typically by vein) a special light sensitive drug followed by the delivery of a specific type of laser light to a tumor. The drug in the tumor is activated by laser light which kills cancer cells. We can focus the laser light on a tumor and minimize the amount of laser light on the normal tissues thereby limiting side effects. Currently photodynamic therapy is approved by the FDA in lung cancer for the treatment of tumors within the trachea or bronchus (breathing tubes) that are causing obstruction. It is also approved for esophageal cancers that are causing obstruction of the esophagus (swallowing tube) and some precancerous conditions of the esophagus and skin.
Photodynamic therapy cannot be used for all cancers because it is not possible to delivery an adequate dose of laser light to some tumors. In other words, they may be inaccessible. At Penn Medicine, we have one of the largest photodynamic therapy research programs in the world and are currently studying its use in patients with a tumor the chest called mesothelioma.
Photodynamic therapy cannot be used for all cancers because it is not possible to delivery an adequate dose of laser light to some tumors. In other words, they may be inaccessible. At Penn Medicine, we have one of the largest photodynamic therapy research programs in the world and are currently studying its use in patients with a tumor the chest called mesothelioma.
New answer by StephenHahnMD (Physician - Oncology - Radiation (Verified))
1
Answer |
1 year ago
First of all, a patient should always let his doctor know when there are changes in symptoms that he or she is concerned about. When we treat the chest with radiation, a patient would want to watch out for fatigue, skin redness on the chest, and sore swallowing. Sore swallowing is more common when radiation is combined with chemotherapy. After radiation, there are side effects that can occur. Radiation pneumonia can occur 1-3 months after treatment is complete and can cause cough, fever, and shortness of breath. Other much less common late side effects include damage to the heart, thyroid gland, and spinal cord. Side effects from treatment are typically related to the site of treatment, the doses used and the amount of normal tissue in the radiation field. An experienced radiation oncologist with the most advanced equipment will design the radiation fields to maximize the doses to the tumor and minimize the doses to the normal tissues such as the lung, heart and spinal cord.
New answer by StephenHahnMD (Physician - Oncology - Radiation (Verified))
1
Answer |
1 year ago
Radiation therapy works over a period of time AFTER the radiation is delivered. We obtain scans typically 3 and 6 months after a course of radiation to look for shrinkage and/or disappearance of the tumor. The scans can be regular CT scans of the chest or a PET CT scan. A PET CT scan often gives us more information about a patient’s response to treatment. It can be difficult to distinguish treatment-related changes in the lung which are benign and related to the effects of radiation on lung versus tumor. Therefore, such studies should be carefully evaluated by experienced radiologists and radiation oncologists.
New answer by StephenHahnMD (Physician - Oncology - Radiation (Verified))
1
Answer |
1 year ago
There are a couple of ways that we maximize radiation dose to the tumor and minimize dose to the normal tissues. First, radiation Oncologists have a lot of experience with understanding the doses that are required to control tumors and the doses that could cause side effects. Therefore, most treatment regimens are designed with these doses in mind. Secondly, we use advanced imaging to help guide the treatments. At Penn Medicine, we have CT scans, MRI scans and PET CT to help determine exactly where the tumor is and exactly where the normal tissues are. Not only do we use these advanced forms of imaging to identify tumor and normal tissue, but we also use advanced imaging during the treatment to ensure that the radiation is delivered as precisely as possible. Third, it is very important that experience physicians and staff use the best devices to keep the patient in the same position every day for treatment. These are typically casts that the patient is able to comfortably lie in on a daily basis. Fourth, we select the correct type of radiation for the patient’s type of cancer and location. At Penn Medicine, we can choose among advanced conventional types of radiation such as SBRT and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or proton therapy. Proton therapy is a type of radiation beam that can allow a physician to reduce the dose that is delivered to normal tissues compared to conventional radiation therapy. It is a highly precise form of radiation. We are particularly enthusiastic about the use of proton therapy for lung cancer patients and are currently evaluating its use in this setting.
New answer by StephenHahnMD (Physician - Oncology - Radiation (Verified))
1
Answer |
1 year ago
Radiation therapy is a highly effective treatment for patients who need palliation. Some examples include the treatment of pain if the cancer has spread to the bones, reducing any bleeding that occurs when patient’s cough, and treatment of symptoms related to cancer that has spread to the brain. The course of such treatment typically occurs over 1-3 weeks and the side effects are mild.
New answer by StephenHahnMD (Physician - Oncology - Radiation (Verified))
1
Answer |
1 year ago
The biggest determining factor is whether surgery is safe for a patient. The safety of surgery is determined by a thoracic surgeon often in collaboration with the patient’s primary care doctor. More and more patient’s are electing to receive radiation (typically stereotactic radiation) for early stage lung cancer rather than surgery. Studies are being performed now to determine if radiation should be considered a routine treatment for early stage lung cancer.
New answer by StephenHahnMD (Physician - Oncology - Radiation (Verified))
1
Answer |
1 year ago
This is a good question and I am assuming by ‘spot radiation’ you mean very focused radiation to a tumor (what radiation oncologists refer to as stereotactic body radiotherapy or SBRT). SBRT is a highly effective and safe treatment for early stage NSCLC when the cancer is small and surrounded by normal lung. In patients with advanced NSCLC, the tumors are typically larger and more centrally located (toward the middle of the chest). When cancers get bigger and are located near the middle of the chest, we are limited in the dose that we can deliver because of the risk of serious side effects. Therefore, often in patients with advanced NSCLC, SBRT could be unsafe. Of course, every patient is different and therefore, each patient should be evaluated by a qualified radiation oncologist who has experience in using SBRT.
New answer by StephenHahnMD (Physician - Oncology - Radiation (Verified))
1
Answer |
1 year ago
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