Integrated and comprehensive cancer care

  • Published
  • By Mike Frangipane
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Cancer patients, both from the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, can be confident of receiving the best of cancer care at Wright-Patterson Medical Center. 

"Our intent is to pull together the various disciplines that are involved ... and to offer our patients an integrated approach to cancer care," said Dr. (Lt. Col.) E. Ronald Hale, Wright-Patterson's Chief of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Committee Chair. 

This approach to the treatment of cancer has contributed to the Wright-Patterson Medical Center Cancer Care program's accreditation by the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer.

This integrated and comprehensive approach begins with the Tumor Board which meets weekly. The Tumor Board is comprised of physicians from all of the cancer care disciplines -- radiology (diagnosis); radiation oncology (treatment); medical oncology (chemo-therapy); surgery; and pathology. This team of physicians meets weekly to review each cancer patient's case. From diagnosis forward, the patient essentially receives, by means of the Tumor Board review, second and third opinions on the diagnosis and plan of treatment for his or her illness.

The Tumor Board approach endeavors to eliminate physician bias toward treatment under a particular discipline, Dr. Hale said. It also facilitates the implementation of the right mix of state of the art treatment technology and physician skill, approaching each individual case as unique.

The board also factors the needs of the whole person into the patient's care. For example, board members will take into consideration a patient's ability to come for treatment. There may be dietary or nutritional needs, or possibly a spouse with special needs, that will have to be factored into the whole-patient treatment provided. 

"By coming here (for cancer care) we are able to pull all of these pieces together and deliver care in a coordinated fashion," Dr. Hale said.

Another factor which will contribute to the whole-patient comprehensive treatment is the new and soon to open Multi-disciplinary Cancer Center, located on the third floor of the medical center. The Multi-disciplinary Cancer Center will facilitate patient-physician conferences, having two conference rooms with large screen computer systems that will enable patients and their families to meet with their doctor, see a scan of the cancer, and meet with physicians of other disciplines to discuss the treatment approach.

The new cancer center will also have a patient reference library filled with informative materials on diagnosis, treatment and screening for the patient's cancer. The center will have a computer work station at which patients can search the Internet to research their cancer and learn what the National Comprehensive Cancer Network or other professional organizations might suggest is the best way to treat their cancer.