By Becky Wiese
“Cancer” doesn’t always produce the same
dire outcome as it did years ago. That’s not to say that hearing the
word “cancer” from your primary care physician isn’t frightening. But
the advances in cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, targeted
drugs, and radiation, along with the ever-increasing knowledge of how
certain cancers behave, have helped more and more patients survive and
go on to live full, productive lives. The physicians, nurses, and staff
at Mid-Illinois Hematology and Oncology Associates (MIHOA) work
diligently to utilize the latest treatment information along with
in-depth care to make sure each patient’s experience is the best it can
be every step of the way.
The Newly Diagnosed Patient
“Patients are referred to us by their primary doctor after a
pathologist has made the diagnosis of cancer,” explains Dr. Pramern
Sriratana, an oncologist who has been with MIHOA since its beginning in
1979. “We have a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, which includes
twice-weekly meetings with the oncologists, radiation oncologists,
surgeons, nurse practitioners, and any other interested party, including
the primary care physician, to review a patient’s case.”
They
review the diagnosis and results of tests and discuss the type of
cancer, where it originated, and how advanced it is. Pathology reports,
mammograms, X-rays, and other diagnostic tests are considered as well.
All of these factors influence the treatment plan and help determine
what steps will be taken, such as chemotherapy, radiation, hormone
therapy, or additional surgery.
“We do all we can to benefit the
patient,” says Dr. Sriratana. “Patients want to know what can be done,
so it’s important to include them in the decision-making process.” Even
when expertise from a third party is necessary, such as from a larger
cancer center like Mayo Clinic, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, or
Sloan-Kettering in New York, the desire of the patient and the patient’s
family weighs heavily in the decision.
In addition to treatment
options, educating the patient about what those options may involve is
also important. For example, information about chemotherapy, its side
effects, and things to watch for are all discussed so that the patient
knows more going in and has a better perspective about what may or may
not happen. Physical condition, age, and other personal factors are
taken into consideration so that the treatment becomes very
individualized, based not only on the diagnosis and standard treatment
protocol set forth by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
guidelines, but also on what the patient as an individual desires as
well as what he or she can and can’t tolerate.
“Patient
education is very important,” states Dr. Sriratana. It helps them
understand the nature of their disease, as well as the factors that come
into play throughout their treatment. The on-site library at the
Community Cancer Center offers excellent information for patients to
peruse; support groups and networks are other valuable sources of
information and often prove to be critical for patient care.
Reviewing information the patient has heard is important in making the
patient feel comfortable. Sabrina Petersen, a Certified Oncology Nurse,
explains that after the patient has seen the doctor and comes to the
infusion area, one of the nurses meets with the patient in order to help
them get acquainted with the surroundings. “Even before the first IV
stick, we introduce them to the area and different parts of the facility
to help them feel more comfortable.”
In addition, the nurse
will review the schedule of treatment and give an overview of the drugs
that will be used. “We make sure the patient understands that what was
discussed with the doctor is what will happen in the infusion area.
We’ll talk about lab work, the amount of time they should expect to
spend — the various things they can anticipate during each visit,” says
Petersen.
The nurses go through information in-depth so the
patient can feel confident at home, but nurses are also available 24/7
for questions and concerns as they arise. Patients also receive a packet
of information regarding their treatment and what to expect that serves
to reinforce what they’ve been told — that way they don’t have to try
to remember everything.
MIHOA and The Community Cancer Center
Another benefit for patients at MIHOA is that so many of the
services or resources they need are all under the same roof at The
Community Cancer Center. The four physicians, including Dr. Sriratana,
Dr. Hwan Gon Jeong, Dr. John Migas, and Dr. Bhanu Vakkalanka, a nurse
practitioner, and eight registered nurses, plus three lab technicians,
make it easy for a patient to see their doctor, have their blood work
done, get a CT scan, and receive chemo or radiation treatment all at the
same location.
Other supportive care that is available includes
a social worker, a dietary counselor, a chaplain, and information about
support groups in the community. These caregivers are important parts
of the support team.
“For example,” says Dr. Sriratana, “the
dietary counselor can discuss the adverse side effects such as diarrhea,
vomiting, and mouth sores that can happen due to chemo treatments and
help the patient choose foods that may be easier for their body to
handle during this time.” The social worker not only offers
psychological and social support, but is often very helpful regarding
financial information and finding drug programs that provide medication
at a lower cost to the patient. The chaplain provides support and
encouragement to patients of all faiths.
Three other essential
support personnel include a patient advocate called a navigator, a
genetic counselor, and a clinical research coordinator. The Community
Cancer Center offers a breast navigator who is trained to counsel
patients at the time of diagnosis regarding their options with surgery,
chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. “Navigators are an essential
part of the support team,” says Dr. Sriratana. The navigator is there
for the patient at every step throughout their treatment; the patient
can call the navigator at any time.
The genetic counselor is a
specially trained nurse who works to help determine the risk of a
certain type of cancer developing due to genetics. “Several cancers are
known to run in families and tests can be run to determine the risk,”
Dr. Sriratana explains. Breast cancer and colon cancer are two such
cancers that have screening tests that help determine potential risk.
The genetic counselor studies the family history and works with
insurance companies to obtain approval for screening tests, which will
reveal the genetic predisposition for developing cancer. This knowledge
helps the physician and patient determine a course of action as early as
possible.
A clinical research coordinator helps patients who
qualify and are interested get into clinical research trials. Jennifer
Peterson, the Clinical Research Coordinator for MIHOA, is quick to say
that participating in a clinical trial is not for everyone. “It’s not a
miracle drug,” she says, “and it is not necessarily better than the
current standard treatment.”
Clinical trials are usually
comparative studies that are available for most common cancers. The
opportunity to become a part of a trial is reviewed by the physician at
the beginning of treatment; an interested patient must go through a
consent and screening process. Acceptance depends on the stage and type
of cancer, performance status, and other eligibity criteria.
“The treatment is very regimented regarding timing and doses of
specific drugs or drug combinations as well as tests,” explains
Peterson. Patients also have to monitor side effects. “Many clinical
trials are looking at the effectiveness of a drug and its potential side
effects.” They serve an important role, as they have enabled drugs to
become more effective, such as target drugs that attack specific types
of cells and amounts of drugs that can be used effectively without being
as toxic to the patient.
Having all these resources, plus an
amazing network of volunteers, in the same facility is a huge benefit to
patients. And the benefits will be expanding as the Community Cancer
Center recently broke ground for a new addition which will double the
space for patient treatment, have more room for physician conferences,
increase the patient education area, add a chapel, and even allow
patients to walk outside in a beautiful, peaceful garden setting.
Mid-Illinois Hematology and Oncology Associates recently became a QOPI
(Quality Oncology Practice Initiative) certified practice. This
designation is given by the American Society of Clinical Oncologists and
is based on quality of care and chemotherapy administration standards.
Less than 10 percent of all oncology practices qualify for QOPI
certification, making MIHOA an excellent option for personalized,
compassionate care combined with advanced technology and treatment
options for patients.
Cancer patients in Central Illinois have
several compelling reasons to stay close to home as Mid-Illinois
Hematology and Oncology Associates offers the highest quality cancer
treatment, compassionate support, and on-going follow-up care. With the
advances in technology that diagnose and treat cancer earlier, better,
and with more success than ever before, the goal and increasingly end
result is to take you from cancer patient to cancer survivor.
For more information, you may contact Mid-Illinois Hematology &
Oncology Associates, Ltd. at 309-452-9701. They are located inside the
Community Cancer Center at 407 E. Vernon Avenue in Normal.
MIHOA Practice Profile
Staff:
- Four physicians
- One Nurse Practitioner
- Eight nurses
- Laboratory staff
- Research coordinator
- Office coordinator, and records, billing, and front desk staff
Pramern Sriratana, MD, Founded MIHOA in 1979
- Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology
- Medical degree from Ramthibodi Hospital Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Internship and residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at St. Francis Hospital, Evanston, IL
Hwan Gon Jeong, MD, Joined MIHOA in 1990
- Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology
- Medical degree from Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Taegu, Korea
- Internship
at Maryknoll General Hospital, Pusan, Korea; residency in Internal
Medicine at St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center, Youngstown, OH;
fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Hospital, Cleveland, OH, and University of California, Los AngelesJohn J. Migas, MD, Joined MIHOA in 1997
- Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology
- Medical degree from Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago.
- Internship
and residency at University of Minnesota Hospitals & Clinics,
Minneapolis, MN; fellowship at University of Iowa Hospitals &
Clinics, Iowa City, IABhanu Vakkalanka, MD, Joined MIHOA in 2012
- Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology
- Medical degree from Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada, India University- Andhra University
- Residency
at Metro Health Medical Center Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio and fellowship at Taussig Cancer Center Cleveland Clinic
Foundation Cleveland, OhioLyndi Alberts, APN, FNP-BC, Joined MIHOA in 2013 as a Nurse Practitioner
- Board-certified as Family Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing from Illinois State University
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Illinois State University