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Dr. David Cooke

Thoracic Surgery
Sacramento, CA
24 years experience male

Locations

Office

Sacramento, CA

Address

2221 Stockton Blvd, Suite #2112, Sacramento, CA
Directions

Insurances accepted

BCBS Blue Card PPO

About

Bio

Dr. David Tom Cooke is an Assistant Professor in the Section of General Thoracic Surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of California, Davis Medical Center, and is the Section Head of General Thoracic Surgery, and Associate Program Director of the UC Davis Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency. In 2008 he completed a clinical fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Prior to matriculating at the University of Michigan, Dr. Cooke completed his general surgery residency in 2006 at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston. In 2004, Dr. Cooke completed a research fellowship in experimental lung transplantation in the Department of Cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford University. Dr. Cooke received his Bachelor's Degree in Molecular and Cell Biology, Emphasis in Immunology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1994, and his Medical Degree from Harvard Medical School in 1999. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Chest Physicians. He is a member of the board of directors of the American Lung Association in California. Dr. Cooke specializes in non-cardiac general thoracic surgery, thoracic oncology, surgical treatment of malignant and benign esophageal disease, and video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), including VATS pulmonary resection. Dr. Cooke's research interests involve clinical studies including oncologic trials, surgical outcomes research, translational research, surgical education and medical social media. He enjoys following down trodden sports teams, such as the Oakland A’s, Golden State Warriors and the Oakland Raiders. Twitter: @UCD_ChestHealth Blog: http://blog.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/chesthealth

Specialties
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.

Thoracic Surgery

Doctor Q&A

327 Answers
37 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
First line therapy: Physical therapy is the first line of therapy for true thoracic outlet syndrome, and it is often very successful. If other conditions have been ruled... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Not very common: Three manisfestations: 1. Pinching of the artery leading to the arm and hand (most common) 2. Pinching of the vein leading to the arm and hand, re... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Two main types: The two main types are adenocarcinoma (the most common, derived from barrett's metaplasia) and squamous cell carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is caused by g... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
No: There are stage specific approaches to treat a patient with lung cancer. For patients in good health and with stage i to iiia lung cancer, the expect... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
It depends: Depends on the number of lumps or metastasis. A limited number may be removed surgically. Often with minimally invasive means called video assisted ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
No: But people who quit smoking do reduce their risk of developing a lung cancer, and also slow the rate of progression of emphysema.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Yes: If the doctor has normal hearing.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Depends: For patients with emphysema mainly in the upper part of the lungs, and poor exercise capacity, emphysema surgery, otherwise known as lung volume reduc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Not a direct link: Breast cancer can spread to the lungs. Very rarely, lung cancer can spread to the breasts. Some lung cancers are estrogen or Progesterone receptor p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Best to wait: Untill after you have recovered from the acute episode of bronchitis.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
It can: It is not uncommon for patients to feel a little down after lung surgery. It is important to eat, even if you have no appetite, and stay active. Sta... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
No: Although herbal and homepathic medicine may help with some of the symptoms of the disease and the treatment, there is no evidence to support a herbal ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Depends on the type: Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus for the most part is casued by smoking, consuming alcohol, nitrosamines, such as pickled foods and smoked mea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Yes: Surgery for esophageal cancer, though challenging, can lead to cure and good quality of life. It is important to speak to a board certified thoracic ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
If medications fail: If medications fail, meaning the disease is refractor to maximal medical therapy, then a long esophageal myotomy, or cutting of the esophageal muscles... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Difficulty breathing: Although the diaphragm is one organ, both sides act almost independently, but they need each other for perfect breathing. A nerve on each side of the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Sympathectomy: The surgery can be performed minimally invasively through the chest, called video assisted thoracic surgery or vats. It involves the cutting the nerv... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Just the opposite: Priolosec and other proton pump inhibitors help limit acid reflux. Acid reflux is a risk factor for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Not necessarily: However, you should see your doctor and be evaluated with what is called a barium esophagram. This is a study that looks at the x-ray contours of you... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Potential surgery: If unresponsive to medical therapy, sympathectomy by thoracoscopy can be helpful.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Not very common: But postoperative infections can happen after any surgery.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Often cures: Surgery is the standard of care for stage i and ii lung cancer in the physically fit patient, and should be considered as an option in many patients w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 57-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Depends on details: In the medically fit individually, the standard of care upfront therapy for stage i -iib nsclc is surgery. For stage iiia either chemotherapy +/- rad... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Many things: >80% of lung cancer is caused by smoking. However never smokers (defined as <100 cigarettes in lifetime) can get smoking. Risk factors include radon... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Depends: Early stage lung cancer can be asymptomatic or no symptoms. Often it is found incidentally by chest xray or chest ct scan. Ct scan screening for hig... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Yes but rare: Barrett's metaplasia is a risk factor for esophageal cancer. Anyone with barrett's should be in a endoscopic surveillance program. Other risks facto... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
No: There is no data that home remedies are effective for curing bronchogenic carcinoma or lung cancer. Someone with that diagnosis should see a board ce... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
No: Cxr is not very sensitive. The best test for screening is low dose ct scan. Best staging tests are ct scan and pet scan.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Depends: Early stage lung cancer can be asymptomatic or no symptoms. Often it is found incidentally by chest xray or chest ct scan. Ct scan screening for hig... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Many: Difficulty swallowing solids and or liquids, pain with swallowing, weight loss, and other symptoms.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Yes: Thoracic out let syndrome is caused by narrowing of the space in the chest that contains the nerves (brachial plexus) and arteries (axillary artery an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Also: Close care is needed to track nutrition and following function. Inidviduals after esophagectomy may suffer from anorexia, and may need diet modificat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Several factors: These include acid reflux, smoking, alcohol consumption, vitamin deficiencies, achalasia, esophageal webs, chaga's disease, consumption of pickeled an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
After surgery: After an esophagectomy, or removal of the esophagus for cancer, your ability to eat large meals will be diminished. You will need to eat 6 small meal... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Depends on stage: There are 4 stages of esophageal cancer (with a and b subtypes for some). For stage i and iia, the upfront therapy is surgery or esophagectomy. For st... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Avoid: Having the whole lung removed is called a pnemonectomy. A pneumonectomy should be avoided in surgery for metastatic disease.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
For stage I and II: For stage i and ii lung cancer, the standard of care is anatomic surgical resection. This potentiall can be done minimally invasively.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Some Types: There is growing evidence that some types of lung cancer can be genetically inherited. These are types of adenocarcinoma that are linked to genetic m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Yes: Chronic kidney disease increases the risk of any surgery. Be sure to have the doctor who manages your kidney disease communicate with your surgeon.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Maybe: The answer really depends on whether you were able to jog before a pneumonectomy (removal of an entire lung). Certain pre-operative evaluations are u... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Depends on stage: Survival for lung cancer is stage specific. Early stage has better survivalmthen late stage. However if you are being treated for lung cancer, the i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
No: Surgery may temporarily cause anorexia as the body uses all resources to heal. This may cut appetite. The key is to fine foods that the patient real... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
No: Lung volume reduction surgery or lvrs is for patients with chronic emphysema, and not chronic bronchitis. Bronchitis is inflammation of the airways. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Slow or Fast: It can be slow or fast, but generally its a slow process. Esophageal cancer tends to be circumferential, like a donut. As it grows, the hole or lume... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Yes and no.: There is growing data that links heavy marijuana smoking to small cell lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is not believed to be as high as cigarett... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
No: However, if some one has a genetic predisposition to emphysema, such as alpha-1-antitrypsin disease, then they can develop emphysema. Also, people wh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
For certain patients: Lvrs is successful in regards to improved survival in a certain type of patient. It helps patients live longer who have their emphysema confined to t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Don't smoke: Smoking can cause many cancers, including lung cancer and squamous cell cancer of the esophagus.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 18-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
20 year lag period: There is generally a 20 year lag period between the development of cancer risk from smoking or second hand smoke and the development of lung cancer. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 18-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Cooke
Thoracic Surgery 24 years experience
Lag time: Only 15% of smokers get lung cancer. There is generally a 15-20 year lag time between smoking and lung cancer development. Some never smokers are ge... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

Testimonials
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.

7
Recommendations
628
Thank you notes
Jun 4, 2014
Dr. Cooke is an exceptional person! Caring and informative. We are all very fortunate to have him in this community!
Aug 27, 2013
Great Chest surgeon; highly recommended
I recommend thi physician
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! I know more imaging is needed maybe biopsy but after they found the shadow they want a breathing test which she's had and is never good. Why waste the time? Ty for your ...Read More
HealthTap member
This saved my life. Thank you. I cannot thank you enough Dr. Cooke. If you are ever in North Van. look me up...smile. I make a mean cup of coffee...
HealthTap member
Hi dear thanks for the advise but can you please let me know some tips to quit smoking as i am 24 male and used to smoke minimum of 10-15

Education & Training

Medical/Graduate school

Harvard Medical School, MA
Graduated 1999MD

Residency

Massachusetts GENERAL HOSPITAL

Awards

Most Influential, Second Place, Sacramento, CA - Winter
2013
Top Thoracic Surgeon , First Place, California - Winter
2013
HealthTap Founding Doctor

Affiliations

UC Davis Medical Group
University Of CA Davis Med Ctr
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
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