Private practice Medical Oncologists Support Oakwood’s Center for Cancer Care

These physicians are the “directors and managers” of the cancer patients’ medical needs as they relate to systemic cancer therapies. These therapies include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, management of treatment side effects, and management of cancer complications such as pain, malnutrition, and others. The medical oncologists actively support the multidisciplinary approach to cancer care by attending and contributing to Oakwood’s eight tumor boards.

Medical oncology services are offered at the Center for Cancer Care in the Oakwood Cancer Center Clinic and the Charlotte A. Woody Cancer Treatment Center. Services offered include chemotherapy, infusion therapy, blood transfusions, phlebotomies, antibiotic administration and several other non-emergent cancer related services. The nurses in the center are specially trained in oncology and in the administration of chemotherapy. In addition to the Center for Cancer Care, many of the medical oncologists offer cancer treatment services in their private offices.

Inpatient Cancer Unit
The 27 bed Inpatient Cancer Unit located at Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center is dedicated to the care of medical cancer patients and is the primary focus of inpatient cancer care for Oakwood Healthcare System. The community hospitals provide standard cancer care to the population of cancer care patients on their medical nursing units.

Oakwood Dedicated to Improving Overall Breast Health in Every Woman We Treat

Oakwood is dedicated to effectively treating women dealing with breast cancer, but we are also totally committed to generally improving overall breast health in every woman we treat. We are convinced that education and the earliest possible diagnosis are critical to the prevention and successful rehabilitation of this disease.

Women who are educated in breast health and trained in self-examination play an active and critical role in promoting their own health and minimizing affects from breast cancer through the earliest possible detection. Knowing what to look for and performing thorough self-examinations on a regular basis literally saves lives.

Oakwood Offers a Variety of Clinical Cancer Trials

The second leading cause of death in the United States is cancer. Clinical Trials are a leading tool in the process of controlling this disease. New treatment programs and medications are evaluated, old ones are refined; cancer prevention methods, techniques to ameliorate side effects are tested through these trials.

People who participate in clinical trials are heroes in their own right. Through their participation they benefit from treatment that is as good, if not better than, the current standard of care. They also pave the way for others yet to be diagnosed with this devastating disease.

Oakwood Healthcare System through its participation in the Community Clinical Oncology Program of the National Cancer Institute (CCOP) offers patients the opportunity to enroll in Cancer related Clinical Trials.

Genetic Risk Assessments For Cancer

One in three individuals will develop cancer in their lifetime. Family history is an important factor in determining a person’s risk of cancer. However, only 5 to 10 percent of all cancers are currently thought to be inherited, and sometimes the fear of cancer may outweigh the reality of one’s cancer risk. A Genetic Risk Assessment for Cancer provides you with information regarding your risk of cancer based on your personal and family history. You will learn whether or not you are at an increased risk and, most importantly, what you can do about it.

Who would benefit from a risk assessment?

• Anyone with a personal history of cancer
• Anyone with a family history of cancer
• Anyone concerned about his or her risk for cancer

During a cancer genetic risk assessment for cancer, you will meet with a genetic counselor and/or medical geneticist for approximately 60-75 minutes. Consultations take place in the Oakwood Cancer Center at Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center in Dearborn.

Oakwood’s Center for Cancer Care Reaccredited by the American College of Surgeons

Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center (OHMC) notes that their Center for Cancer Care continues to be accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (visit http://web.facs.org/cpm/CPMApprovedHospitals_Search.htm and search for “Oakwood” in Michigan).

The survey that resulted in this designation consisted of an overall review of OHMC’s Center for Cancer Care, including the diagnostic center, inpatient and outpatient treatment programs and Radiation Oncology program, with specific attention on prevention, early diagnosis, pretreatment evaluation, staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, surveillance for recurrent disease, support services and end-of-life care. Reaccredidation of OHMC’s Center for Cancer Care signifies that Oakwood provides a higher level of overall care than about 75 percent of cancer programs in the country.