Staten Island University Hospital recently brought on Doctor Adam Lackey to spearhead a program dedicated solely to thoracics which includes diagnosing and treating ecophageal cancer and lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States

"We're giving them a resource here right on the Island. To help take care of their diagnosis to screening, surgical treatment, nonsurgical treatment and follow up. So I think that's the benefit that I add, is I'm here on the island to give that for the patients," he said.

For patients who are at-risk and eligible, Lackey says cat scan screenings can sometimes help catch it while it's still treatable.