A Letter from the Director
Dear Colleague,
As we begin a New Year, we are filled with the promise of continuing to care for cancer patients in the Greater Baltimore area. It seems as though
we hear of new treatment options and innovative discoveries for treating cancer almost daily. Some of the newest technologies and treatments are featured in this issue of Greater Oncology Today. In addition, we featured several of our existing areas that continue to provide a high quality of patient care including the Lois Harvey Miller Infusion Center and the Comprehensive Breast Care Center.
Radiation Therapy remains an effective, non-invasive method for treating cancer throughout the body. Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is the latest version of radiation treatment, offering the promise of providing more lethal doses to cancerous tissues while sparing the effect on normal tissue. This therapy is featured as part of an overview of treatment options for prostate cancer patients.
Tumor markers continue to be a beneficial diagnostic technique for oncologists and clinicians. Robert A. Palermo, MD, provides a summary of the application of tumor markers and a glimpse at the future of more advanced diagnoses with molecular tumor markers.
An increased number of people now use genetics counseling to identify inherited conditions. Karen Wolf, MS, CGC, and Karen Stebner, MS, CGC from the Harvey Institute for Human Genetics, discuss the role of the genetics counselor and provide recommendations for those who may benefit from
such counseling.
The Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Rehabilitation Center combines the talents of several gifted clinicians to treat patients with cancers of the head and neck. Two of these individuals, MiMi Duggan, Senior Speech Language Pathologist, and Linda K. Clarke, MS, RN, CORLN, Head and Neck Rehabilitation Nurse, are featured in this issue and recognized for the outstanding work they perform every day. We also highlight the Dance Center's newest service: laryngeal electromyography. This places GBMC as one of only a handful of medical centers in the country offering this innovative test to determine nerve activity and recovery potential of the larynx.
GBMC's Comprehensive Breast Care Center recently opened the doors of its permanent space. The Center is multi-faceted in its offerings; medical oncology and surgical consultative services and imaging services including mammography, breast ultrasound and stereotactic breast biopsy. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to provide the continuum of care that answers the needs of the whole woman-physical, emotional and spiritual. An overview of the facility is featured along with a visual display of the new center.
Interventional Radiologists continue to play an integral role in cancer care. This month's issue features an overview of an Interventional Radiologist's role including cancer diagnosis, treatment and management.
Every cancer patient must contend with symptoms and side effects during treatment. The most common symptoms include nausea and vomiting, pain, infection and fatigue. Managing these symptoms can be a daunting task for even the strongest patient. In this issue, we feature the best symptom management approaches available at this time.
Immune related heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a potentially devastating complication for cancer patients on heparin therapy. Detecting and confirming exposure is essential to treating this condition and to reevaluating anticoagulation options. Robert B. Donegan, MD discusses detection and treatment options if HIT is suspected.
As we look to the future of cancer care, the progress and advances in research and treatment options encourage us. With the continued dedication of our clinical and support staff, we are confident that GBMC will continue to provide the highest quality of care to each patient.
Sincerely,
Gary I. Cohen, MD
Director of the Cancer Center at GBMC
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