For Dr. Christian Galvez, a Thoracic Surgeon at Berkshire Medical Center, the fight against lung cancer is ever present, and the latest screening methods and technology has given physicians like him an upper hand in detecting this deadly cancer early.
"In my own experience, a combination of technology and a major increase in the number of people who undergo lung cancer screening has produced a dramatic, encouraging flip," he said. "Ten years ago, two-thirds of the lung cancers we were finding through our screening program were in late stage, often too late for effective treatment. Today, two-thirds of the lung cancers we are finding through our screening program are in early-stage, when patients can have a nearly 90 percent survival rate five years following diagnosis."
The initial lung cancer screening that's universally recommended is a low-dose CT (computed tomography) scan. The CT scanner takes multiple, low-radiation X-ray pictures of the lungs. The scan can identify small nodules, spots or other abnormalities that may or not be cancerous but should be looked at further. Dr. Galvez and his colleagues recently began using another piece of state-of-the-art technology, which he calls the next level of diagnostic screening – robot-assisted bronchoscopy.
"It allows me to look at a patient's air passages with a tiny camera located at the end of a flexible tube inserted through a very small incision in the chest. The camera is connected to a video screen where we can actually view a 3-D image of the patient's lungs. The device is also able to collect small tissue samples or biopsies from even in the deepest areas of the lungs," he said. "Using the highly precise information gained through robotic bronchoscopy, we are able to detect early-stage lung cancer with greater accuracy than ever before possible, and that allows us to design and perform life-saving treatments."
Dr. Galvez joined BMC and Berkshire Surgical Services of BMC in 2010, and specializes in general, thoracic and vascular surgery. He received his medical degree from Francisco Marroquin University Medical School in Guatemala City, completed his residency in general surgery at Berkshire Medical Center and was fellowship trained in cardiothoracic surgery at Allegheny General Hospital. Dr. Gálvez is board certified in general surgery.
For more information, call Berkshire Surgical Services of BMC, 413-445-6420.
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Pittsfield School Committee OKs $82M Budget, $1.5M Cuts
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The school budget is less grim than the original proposal but still requires more than $1.5 million in cuts.
On Thursday, the School Committee approved an $82.8 million spending plan for fiscal year 2025, including a city appropriation of $80.4 million and $2.4 million in Chapter 70 funds.
The cuts made to balance the budget include about 50 staff reductions — some due to the sunsetting of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds.
"The final version does not answer all needs. It will be unacceptable to some or to many but I must say that tonight's final proposal is very different than where we started when we believed we would have a $3,600,000 reduction. I want to assure everyone that every effort has been made to minimize the impact on both students, families, and staff members while also ensuring that our district has the necessary resources to progress forward," Superintendent Joseph Curtis said.
"Nevertheless, there are incredibly passionate, dedicated staff members who will not be with us next year. This pains me as I've been a part of this organization for now 30 years so I want to assure everyone that our team, this has weighed very heavily in our hearts, this entire process. This is not a group of people that is looking at a spreadsheet saying ‘Well that can go and this can go’ and take that lightly."
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Kristen Behnke and other officials worked with the state Department of Secondary and Elementary Education to rectify an error in the Chapter 70 funding formula, recognized 11 more low-income students in the district, and added an additional $2.4 million to the FY25 budget.
Curtis commented that when he first saw the governor’s FY25 budget, he was "rather stunned."
"The extraordinary circumstances we face this budget season by the conclusion of the substantial ESSER federal grant and a significant reduction in Chapter 70 allotment caused challenges for this team and our school principals and our educators and our staff that have been nothing short of all-consuming," he said.
Downtown Pittsfield Inc. proposed angled parking on North Street and was pleasantly surprised that the city responded with an in-depth study and new plans — even if they don't include angled parking.
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Officials celebrated Arbor Day on Friday by installing a commemorative plaque next to the American elm sapling. This is a tree that James McGrath, the city's park program manager, said Presutti would have been particularly proud of.
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Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.
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