4 minute read
ASK THE DOCTOR
How will the new April Sampson Cancer Center change care for my loved ones?
Oncologist Joni Tilford, MD, of Cancer Partners of Nebraska says, “People deserve a leading-edge, progressive community cancer center, one that is designed and focused around the patient. At this site, we’ll have treatments, colleagues to collaborate with and research. And this will grow, adding subspecialists to elevate the level of care in Lincoln.”
Q: How is the new cancer center going to improve current challenges patients are facing?
The new center will help coordinate care for oncology patients. Patients will be able to meet with a collaborative care team from throughout the medical community at the same place, and potentially on the same day, at the early stages of their cancer diagnosis.
This care team will consist of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, geneticists, nurse navigators, social workers, nutritionists, physical therapists and occupational therapists (PT/OT) and other relevant providers.
This care team will devise a personalized plan for each patient and communicate alongside the patient throughout his or her cancer journey. Most of the cancer services will be
available within the center to reduce travel for patients and focus on good use of the patient’s time.
An onsite survivorship program and supportive services also will be available for all patients and their families, to assist in dealing with their illness.
What programming within the new center are you most excited about? What do you think things like the survivorship, genetics and appearance programs will mean to patients?
The long list of cancer support services we provide — such as genetics, rehabilitation, nutrition, mental health support and survivorship, to name a few — play a major role in their cancer care. The addition of appearance services is another welcomed addition to the center.
Our cancer patients soon will be able to get fitted for a wig and any other prostheses; they will be able to receive a massage, and have other spa services, all in the comfort of our cancer center with confidence about the quality of the service being provided.
Care will be for the whole person. Our support services make that possible.
Is there a correlation between improved patient experience and overall outcomes?
Research shows stress can inhibit the white blood cell response to infection, wound healing and cancer. If we can help oncology patients and their families reduce their stress to a very minimal level, then potentially, those patients could have an improvement in their outcomes. Part of that stress reduction involves creating a convenient environment that is very welcoming, positive and healing, while caring for each patient as an individual, and tailoring as needed.
How does research occurring in a center like we’ll have differ from research at facilities connected to academic institutions?
We’re members of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and the ALLIANCE networks, and we’re affiliated with MD Anderson Cancer Center, so the April Sampson Cancer Center will have access to national clinical trials. These are the same trials being offered at various academic institutions across the nation and even in other countries. The only difference is that our patients will be able to participate in these trials while remaining in the comfort of their home with their family and support systems.
What current research topics are you most excited about?
I am most excited about the multiple Phase III clinical trials available to us that are potentially practice changing.
These trials typically will compare the current standard of care to the current standard of care plus something else that has shown some improvement in earlier trials to patient outcomes. The information obtained from these trials will help mold the standard of care therapies for tomorrow. This is how medicine and cancer care in today’s world evolve.
We will offer trials in all cancer types (lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, gynecology cancers, etc.), and have the ability to open further trials as the need arises for our patients.
How will this new facility help us recruit other specialists to Lincoln?
Lincoln has an excellent medical community with many providers who take pride in the care that they give to their patients, and as such, these providers are driven to provide high-quality care.
The cancer center will enable Lincoln’s medical community to continue raising its level of excellent care and, consequently, will attract many oncology subspecialized providers to our community. These specialists can already see the vision we have in Lincoln for comprehensive cancer care to all that come to the cancer center.
It’s an exciting time to be a part of this momentous movement. n
