| Cancer Care |
 |
CMMC Cancer Care History |
Though it was first established in the mid-1950s, Central Maine Medical Center's cancer service didn't begin the transition to a regional program until the late 1970s when two medical oncologists joined the CMMC medical staff. In 1983 the cancer program took a quantum leap forward with the opening of the Cynthia A. Rydholm Cancer Treatment Center, which brought the services of a radiation oncologist to the region.
Since the program's initial expansion it has grown considerably. Donna K. Thompson, M.D., one of the first medical oncologists to practice in the region, has been joined by three other physician specialists. The Rydholm Center now offers the services of three radiation oncologists. CMMC's medical staff has grown to include a number of surgeons uniquely qualified to provide surgical care for cancer patients.
Other program enhancements include the addition of a second linear accelerator, an integrated CT-treatment planning computer, an MRI scanner, and enhanced diagnostic services. With the creation of the Sam and Jennie Bennett Breast Care Center, CMMC consolidated and improved its service to women with breast disease, most notably breast cancer. Among its many services, the center offers mammography and stereotactic breast biopsy, a procedure that allows physicians to take breast lump samples without the need for surgery.
In the years since the cancer program was first established, the number of patients seeking cancer-related services at CMMC has grown to between 12 and 15 percent of all patients served annually at the Medical Center.
But despite the increasing numbers of cancer diagnoses, the news isn't all bad. Significant advances have been made in the battle against the disease. Some cancers have a relatively high cure rate, others can be controlled for long periods of time. Many people stricken with cancers that in the past were usually fatal are today living productive lives.
Cancer is a group of many diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 8 million Americans alive today have a history of cancer. Last year some 1.2 million new cancers were diagnosed in the United States. One of every three Americans will develop cancer sometime during their lives.
Medical researchers say the cancer rate will continue to grow largely because people are living longer, which gives the disease more time to develop. However, despite the growing incidence of cancer, prevention, early detection and better treatment methods are combining to improve the cancer patient's chances of beating the disease. In the early part of the century, people with cancer usually had little hope. Since the 1930s the chances of surviving cancer for more than five years - the point at which a cancer is considered cured -- have more than doubled.
The first line of defense against cancer is prevention. Lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking, good nutrition, and limiting exposure to sunlight, can reduce someone's chances of developing the disease. Early detection can greatly improve chances of survival for those who have cancer. Through surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy -- the three cancer treatment modalities -- many cancer patients can be cured.
Since beginning its efforts to establish a comprehensive cancer program in the late 1970s, CMMC has been aided by several other hospitals in creating a truly regional program. Oncologists from CMMC now offer cancer care clinics at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, Rumford Hospital, Bridgton Hospital, and Parkview Hospital in Brunswick.
CMMC also has affiliations with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, a national leader in cancer care and research. This affiliation provides some cancer patients with the opportunity to participate in promising experimental treatments without the need to travel to cancer centers in major cities.
For many years CMMC has sponsored various cancer conferences with the intent of optimizing patient care. The conferences include a multispecialty array of physicians, nurses, social workers and ancillary service providers who discuss individual cases in order to explore all care options. These forums promote an exchange of information regarding treatment while enhancing communications between various care providers. As a central aspect of CMMC's comprehensive cancer program, these conferences are held regularly.
The Medical Center has added several support programs to assist those coping with the disease. In addition to support groups, CMMC offers temporary housing to patients and their families/companions who travel long distances for care. The Comfort Care program was developed recently to help people better deal with the process of dying.
The quality of CMMC's Comprehensive Cancer Program was recognized again recently when the service was reaccredited by the American College of Surgeons as a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center — the highest level of accreditation granted to community hospitals.
As Central Maine Medical Center's regional cancer care program reaches the quarter century mark, the hospital's care providers continue to combine state-of-the-art technological innovations with compassionate, individualized patient.
|
|
|
