Article Category: Highlights

Celebrate Cancer Survivors Day with Wellstar

Published on April 19, 2023

Last updated 09:23 AM June 01, 2023

Illustration of boat and ship wheel. Text reads "Survivorship, cruising through together"

Wellstar Health System supports people with cancer throughout their journeys, from early screening to diagnosis to treatment. However, our encouragement and dedication to delivering world-class, compassionate care doesn’t end in remission.

Across our system, Wellstar honors the bravery and strength of survivors every day, rejoicing in each milestone. This National Cancer Survivors Day, we are proud to pay tribute to people who have conquered cancer while offering hope to those still fighting. This year’s Cancer Survivors Day theme, “Cruising Toward Survivorship,” exemplifies Wellstar’s commitment to being a steadfast source of encouragement for cancer survivors and fighters across Georgia.

“Cancer Survivors Day gives us the opportunity to pause, reflect and cherish victories over cancer. It also provides an outpouring of support to people currently fighting cancer, so they know they are never alone,” said Nicole Centers, executive director of the oncology service line & nurse leader at Wellstar.

Several Wellstar facilities will host Survivors Day events — and you can be a part of the celebration.

Wellstar Cobb Medical Center
Imaging Center Parking Lot
1625 Hospital North Drive
Austell, GA 30106
Friday, June 2
Noon to 2 p.m.

RSVP by contacting Ashley Dapremont at (470) 732-4523 or [email protected]

Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center
Cancer Center
320 Kennestone Hospital Boulevard
Marietta, GA 30060
Saturday, June 3
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This location is at capacity. Please see the full list of events and RSVP to attend a neighboring Wellstar location or reach out to [email protected] or (470) 793-7436 for additional information.

Wellstar Douglas Medical Center
Surgery Center Entrance
8954 Hospital Drive
Douglasville, GA 30134
Saturday, June 3
Noon to 2 p.m.

RSVP by contacting Diane Harris at (470) 644-6613 or [email protected]

Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center
Enoch Callaway Cancer Center
111 Medical Drive
LaGrange, GA 30240
Sunday, June 4
1 to 3 p.m.

RSVP by contacting Sarah Hersey at (706) 845-3848 or [email protected]

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center
Cancer Center Parking Lot and Atrium
144 Bill Carruth Parkway
Hiram, GA 30141
Sunday, June 4
1 to 4 p.m.

RSVP by contacting Mary Hyde at (470) 644-8157 or [email protected]

Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center
Main Lobby
3000 Hospital Boulevard
Roswell, GA 30076
Sunday, June 4
2 to 4 p.m.

RSVP by contacting Pam Plasket at (770) 410-4556 or [email protected]

Expanded capacity & new cutting-edge technology

The expansion enhances the patient experience by adding a new radiation vault to house a TrueBeam linear accelerator — an advanced system that delivers radiation therapy. While the capacity to treat people with cancer doubled, new technology brings more cutting-edge treatments to Paulding, alongside a modernized dressing room area offering patients more space and comfort.

“This is a dream come true after seeing the growing need for cancer treatment in this area,” said Dr. William Thoms, Radiation Oncology medical director. “The new TrueBeam allows people to stay closer to home rather than driving outside our own community for radiation therapy."

The expansion enhances the patient experience by adding a new radiation vault to house a TrueBeam linear accelerator — an advanced system that delivers radiation therapy. While the capacity to treat people with cancer doubled, new technology brings more cutting-edge treatments to Paulding, alongside a modernized dressing room area offering patients more space and comfort.

New, advanced treatments in Paulding

Wellstar Paulding’s new linear accelerator also brings a leading-edge cancer treatment called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to Paulding County for the first time.

“SBRT will transform cancer care in our community,” said Dr. Rakendu Shukla, Wellstar radiation oncologist. “In the coming months, we will roll out new treatments previously unavailable in Paulding.”

SBRT is different from conventional radiation therapy because it delivers very high, precise doses of radiation directly to tumors that are traditionally difficult to treat. It is more powerful at killing tumors, and it decreases the amount of radiation that healthy tissue is exposed to, which decreases side effects. And the treatment can be delivered over a short course of time — around 1-5 days rather than weeks or months.

The renovated space is located at Wellstar Paulding Medical Center’s Outpatient Pavilion at 148 Bill Carruth Parkway in Hiram, Georgia.

Pictured l-r: Don Zarkou, VP, Oncology Service Line, Wellstar Health System; Ralph Turner, SVP, Wellstar Health System, President, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center; Dr. Michael Andrews, Chief Cancer Officer, Wellstar Health System; Dr. William Thoms, Radiation Oncology Medical Director, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center; Sandy Kaecher, Post II Paulding Commissioner; Nichole Rydahl, AVP, Operations, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center; Shawn Jackson, Manager, Radiation Oncology, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center; Dr. Rakendu Shukla, Radiation Oncologist, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center.

In the last year, patients received nearly 8,000 radiation treatments. The radiation oncology team (pictured) often extended hours from 7 a.m. until 7 or 8 p.m. to accommodate patients.

Physicians and team members from the Wellstar Paulding Medical Center oncology team gathered for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of a major expansion to cancer services.

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center’s new TrueBeam linear accelerator helps make cancer treatment more accessible to patients and brings a leading-edge cancer treatment called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to Paulding County for the first time.

Learn more about Wellstar Paulding Medical Center.

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Illustration of hands holding heart. Wellstar and Lown Institute logos

Newsroom

Lown Institute Recognizes Wellstar Among Most Charitable in the Country

A report by the Lown Institute ranking the value of nonprofit hospitals’ community investment found that Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center and Wellstar Cobb Medical Center are among the top 25 hospitals in the nation providing significantly more community benefit than they are receiving in tax exemption.

Wellstar Kennestone ranked No. 1 in Georgia, while Wellstar Cobb was No. 2. Wellstar is the only health system with two hospitals included on the national top 25 list.

As the top provider of charity care in the state and one of the top 10 providers nationwide, Wellstar is committed to bringing expert, compassionate health services to those who need them. Last year alone, uncompensated and charity care at Wellstar exceeded $1.2 billion, providing care for at-risk and underserved communities across Georgia.

In addition to Wellstar Kennestone and Wellstar Cobb, Wellstar Douglas Medical Center, Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center, Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center and Wellstar Spalding Medical Center were recognized for spending more on financial assistance and community investment than the estimated value of their tax exemptions.

Read the full report from the Lown Institute.

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Highlights

Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center Completes 250 Procedures Treating Venous Thromboembolism

The peripheral vascular care team at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, a leading facility in the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE), has completed its 250th venous thromboembolism (VTE) procedure.

According to the American Heart Association, VTE is the third most common vascular diagnosis after heart attacks and strokes, and affects between 300,000 and 600,000 Americans each year. There are two types of VTE:

Deep vein thrombosis is a clot in a deep vein. It usually occurs in the leg, but it can also appear in the arms.
A pulmonary embolism occurs when a clot breaks off the vein and travels to the lungs, blocking the blood supply.

VTE can be fatal and can cause lifelong disability. Early intervention is crucial. At Wellstar North Fulton, the heart care team was an early adopter of a groundbreaking treatment for VTE, which uses a catheter to remove the clot. The healthcare provider inserts the catheter through the groin and navigates it to the clot for treatment.

“This has been a game changer in the treatment of this disease,” said Wellstar Cardiologist Dr. Ahsan Achtchi. “We’re seeing a lot less long-term disability and a lot less deaths in patients who come to the hospital with a blood clot.”

Wellstar North Fulton continues to receive referrals from around the region for this procedure and is one of the highest volume hospitals for VTE care in metro Atlanta.

Previous treatment options included open chest surgery, blood thinners and clot-busting medications. These methods posed a higher risk of complications, especially for patients who have recently undergone another surgical procedure. Because a recent surgery can put a patient at higher risk for VTE, using a catheter to remove the clot is safer for many patients. This new treatment method has reduced patients’ hospital stays for VTE from an average of five to seven days to only one or two days, according to Dr. Achtchi.

“Typically with this procedure, patients feel better almost immediately, and their recovery outside the hospital is a lot more complete and brisk,” he said.

Recognizing and preventing VTE

If you or someone else is showing signs of VTE, seek emergency care as soon as possible.

Symptoms of VTE include:

Swelling of the legs
Lightheadedness or fainting
Shortness of breath
Chest pain

Risk factors for VTE include not moving for a longer period of time—such as when someone is on bed rest following surgery—as well as some medical conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, blood clotting disorders or kidney disease. Your Wellstar provider can help you evaluate your risk of VTE and manage your risk factors.

Learn more about cardiovascular care at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center.

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Celebrate Cancer Survivors Day with Wellstar

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Celebrate Cancer Survivors Day with Wellstar

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Wellstar Paulding Medical Center Transforms Cancer Care With Major Renovation

Expanded capacity & new cutting-edge technology

New, advanced treatments in Paulding

Lown Institute Recognizes Wellstar Among Most Charitable in the Country

Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center Completes 250 Procedures Treating Venous Thromboembolism

Recognizing and preventing VTE