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Article Category: Highlights

High-Tech Cancer Care at Wellstar

Published on January 11, 2021

Last updated 11:36 AM January 19, 2021

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At Wellstar, we treat more than patients. We treat people—friends, family, neighbors—who are wholly unique. That’s why our cancer specialists never use a “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to your care.

As soon as you are diagnosed with cancer, we provide expert and tailored care that can make all the difference in your treatment and recovery. Our multidisciplinary oncology teams rely on the latest research, innovative treatments and world-class technology to target tumors with precision.

No matter your diagnosis or stage of disease, our cancer experts can create the best and most effective treatment plan for you.


Expert, Personalized Cancer Care

Our dedicated oncology team includes board-certified oncology physicians and surgeons, nurse navigators, registered dietitians and genetic specialists, who are ready to fight alongside you at the first signs of cancer.

Whether you live in the metro Atlanta or West Georgia area, Wellstar makes it easy to find expert care. We have specialized cancer treatment centers close to home, including the newly-renovated Enoch Callaway Cancer Center at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center and Specialty Teams and Treatment (STAT) Clinics at Wellstar Cobb Hospital, Wellstar Kennestone Hospital and Wellstar North Fulton Hospital.

Here, patients get a customized care plan for their unique cancer diagnosis quickly, instead of waiting weeks or months for treatment.

At the STAT Clinics, each patient has a face-to-face meeting with their oncology team on one day, at one appointment. This multidisciplinary approach helps you get the right treatment for your unique diagnosis as soon as possible.


Access to cutting-edge care

Wellstar offers a wide range of advanced and minimally-invasive treatment options, such as:

  • Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT): During this procedure, a one-time, concentrated dosage of radiation is administered during surgery. That means patients can finish their radiation in mere minutes, instead of weeks of follow-up appointments.
  • Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR): Using targeted beams of radiation, radiation oncologists can virtually cut out tumors without ever making an incision. This treatment can be crucial for people like John Cashen, who have cancer in more complicated areas in the body like the lungs.
  • CyberKnife robotic surgery: This state-of-the-art treatment delivers precise, high-dose radiation to tumors, while also protecting healthy tissues in the body.
  • Integrated therapies: Alongside conventional treatment methods, physicians may suggest other therapies—including acupuncture, yoga and meditation—to promote relaxation and improve quality of life.

As part of the Mayo Clinic Care network, your trusted Wellstar doctors can combine their understanding of your unique medical needs with Mayo Clinic expertise so that you get exactly the care you need, close to home.

Whether you have just been diagnosed with cancer or are looking for a second opinion, Wellstar’s expert oncology team can help you get back to life faster.

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Cancer Care
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Attendees celebrate at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Wellstar Spalding Cancer Center

Newsroom

Wellstar Spalding Medical Center Opens Cancer Center in Griffin

GRIFFIN, Ga. — Community leaders joined hospital executives Thursday as Wellstar Spalding Medical Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open its new cancer center, improving access to oncology and infusion services for patients in Spalding County and the surrounding region.

The 6,475-square-foot expansion nearly doubles the hospital’s cancer treatment space and includes eight exam rooms, 14 infusion chairs, two blood draw stations, a dedicated lab, triage room, waiting area and administrative offices. An on-site infusion pharmacy will support chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies and other outpatient treatments.

Care at the Wellstar Spalding Cancer Center is provided in partnership with Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers (NGOC), with additional support from an oncology nurse navigator who coordinates care and guides patients through treatment.

“People should be able to receive high-quality cancer care close to home,” said Kevin Smith, president of Wellstar Spalding. “By expanding both our cancer services and the specialties that support early detection and treatment, we’re making it more convenient for our patients to get the care they need.”

NGOC oncologist Dr. Dhivya Prabhakar has joined the Wellstar Spalding Cancer Center, further enhancing access to oncology care. She will be joined by a second oncologist this summer.

“What matters most to patients is feeling supported and understood throughout their cancer journey,” Dr. Prabhakar said. “With this expansion, people can stay in their community surrounded by a care team that knows them, listens to them and helps them navigate every step with clarity, compassion and hope. Our goal is to meet people where they are and partner with them in their care so they never feel alone in the process.”

Hospital leaders also highlighted growth in related services since the project began. Wellstar Spalding now offers endocrinology, which plays a key role in identifying endocrine-related cancers such as thyroid, adrenal and some pancreatic tumors. The hospital has also added a general surgeon specializing in breast surgery, expanding local options for evaluation and surgical care.

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Patient receiving test kit

Highlights

Helping Patients Screen for Colon Cancer Through ColoCare Connect

When caught early, colorectal cancer is much more treatable, yet many people face barriers that prevent them from getting screened. Through the ColoCare Connect Program, Wellstar is working to make preventive care more accessible for communities who need it most.

In 2024, Cobb & Douglas Public Health, with support from the Wellstar Foundation, provided funding to expand colon cancer screening across Cobb and Douglas counties with the launch of ColoCare Connect. The community-based program, led by Wellstar Center for Health Equity and the Community Health team, focuses on education, resources and supplying at-home screening tests with the help of trusted local clinics.

Meeting patients where they are

Instead of patients having to navigate additional appointments, ColoCare Connect partnered with community clinics that were already providing care. These included BWell Medical & Wellness Center, Someone Cares, Bethesda Community Clinic and The Rouse Foundation.

Our partners provided patients with fecal immunochemical tests (FIT kits) that allowed them to complete colorectal cancer screening at home. During the grant period alone, the program distributed 435 FIT kits.

A strong community partner: BWell Medical & Wellness Center

One example of ColoCareConnect’s impact is BWell Medical & Wellness Center, which distributed more than 100 FIT kits and continues to collaborate with Wellstar to help people get screened.

The clinic serves a diverse population that includes working families, the elderly, underserved residents and people living in assisted living or personal care homes.

“Our focus is on accessible, patient-centered care that emphasizes prevention and early intervention,” said Vivian Adu-Aboagye, director of BWell Medical & Wellness Center. “Many of our patients face barriers such as transportation challenges, time constraints or limited access to preventive services.”

The partnership stood out because it offered a practical and patient-friendly solution.

“Many patients delay colon cancer screening due to fear, cost concerns or scheduling challenges related to their colonoscopy,” she added. “The FIT kits provide a convenient option that fits naturally into routine primary care visits.”

Making screening part of everyday care

At BWell, team members speak with patients during their visits to determine if they need colorectal cancer screening. They provide education and distribute kits during appointments, then follow up about returning the kit.

Patients have said they appreciate the privacy and convenience of the kits. Many of them had previously avoided screening due to concerns about invasive procedures or difficulty taking time off work. By removing common barriers, like transportation challenges, scheduling conflicts and fear, patients who may have otherwise skipped their colon cancer screenings were able to get checked.

Building toward healthier communities

ColoCare Connect demonstrates the power of community partnerships in advancing health equity. By equipping trusted local clinics with resources and support, the program expanded access to life-saving screening.

As the program continues, partnerships like these help ensure that more individuals have the opportunity to participate in early detection and receive follow-up care when needed. This ultimately improves outcomes and strengthens community health across the region.

Connecting patients to ongoing support

Screening is an important first step, but access to information and support beyond the clinic is also critical. Community members can use Wellstar Find Help to locate colorectal cancer screening programs, patient navigation services and financial assistance resources available in their ZIP code. 

If your screening has an abnormal result, care teams can help coordinate next steps, answer questions about a colonoscopy and identify financial assistance options when needed. By pairing clinic-based screening with community-based support resources, Wellstar and its partners are working to ensure patients do not have to navigate the process alone.

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Highlights

How Wellstar’s Cardio-Oncology Program Protects Heart Health During Cancer Care

Cancer treatment can save lives—but for some people, it can also be hard on the heart.

Wellstar's Cardio-Oncology Program provides specialized care to address this risk. The program offers cancer-focused heart care that helps protect cardiovascular health before, during and after treatment.

Our cardio-oncology experts support people with cancer who have heart disease, are at high risk for heart problems or are receiving therapies that may affect heart function. By monitoring heart health and coordinating care, we help people receive the most appropriate cancer treatment while reducing the risk of heart complications.

Expertise in heart disease and cancer care

Researchers have identified a connection between cancer care and cardiovascular health, leading to the creation of cardio-oncology. At Wellstar, this specialized care is available in metro Atlanta and Augusta, expanding access for people across Georgia.

“Cardio-oncology exists because more people are surviving cancer and living long enough to face heart-related complications,” said Dr. Avirup Guha, a board-certified cardio-oncologist at Wellstar Georgia Cancer Center and the first designated fellow of the International Cardio-Oncology Society in Georgia. “For some patients, cancer treatments can damage their heart. For others, they may have existing cardiovascular disease that needs careful management during cancer care. That requires expertise beyond cardiology—knowing how to modify therapy without causing harm.”

Cardio-oncologists are cardiologists with advanced training in how cancer therapies affect the heart. They help guide treatment decisions and work closely with oncology teams to ensure patients receive safe, effective care.

“A lot of oncology treatments are very effective for cancer, but the heart can become an innocent bystander,” said Wellstar Cardio-Oncologist Dr. Nikolas Krishna, who also specializes in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology. “We advocate for these patients so their oncology and cardiology teams work together for the best possible outcome.”

Coordinated, team-based care

Multidisciplinary collaboration is central to Wellstar Cardio-Oncology. Cardiologists, oncologists, nurse navigators and other specialists communicate directly to align care and support both cancer outcomes and heart health.

“Our program helps address complications before they happen and streamlines care so people aren’t going back and forth between specialists,” Dr. Guha said.

Wellstar Cardio-Oncology teams partner with patients and families to understand risks and create a personalized plan. This may include imaging, blood tests and ongoing monitoring to detect early signs of heart conditions during chemotherapy, hormone therapy or radiation.

Additionally, Wellstar Cardio-Oncology nurse navigators—registered nurses with advanced training—provide compassionate guidance throughout the care journey.

“Nurse navigation plays a key role in educating patients and making sure they .understand their care plan,” said Dr. Guha. “It’s all about communication.”

Who can benefit from cardio-oncology care

Cardio-oncology care supports people from diagnosis through survivorship, especially when treatments or existing conditions may affect heart health.

You may benefit from cardio-oncology services if you have cancer or were treated for cancer within the past five years and you:

  • Have heart failure or another existing heart condition
  • Are at high risk for heart disease
  • Have experienced cardiovascular complications after cancer treatment
  • Require chemotherapy that may be cardiotoxic or radiation therapy to the chest

Some cancer treatments can weaken the heart muscle or alter heart function, making monitoring and early intervention essential. Therapies known to affect the heart include anthracyclines, platinum-based chemotherapy, HER2-targeted therapies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and fluoropyrimidines.

“Too often we see patients years after treatment when heart problems have already developed,” Dr. Krishna said. “By screening earlier and seeing patients upstream, we can prevent disease rather than treat it after it occurs.”

Support that extends into survivorship

When cancer treatment ends, Wellstar Cardio-Oncology teams continue monitoring heart health and providing preventive care tailored to each person’s history.

“Survivors may face accelerated cardiovascular risks years later,” said Dr. Krishna. “By continuing to screen and monitor, we can help catch any issues and protect their long-term health and quality of life.”

This ongoing care gives patients greater peace of mind as they navigate recovery.

“We want patients to know we are a layer of reassurance,” Dr. Krishna said. “They don’t have to worry about treatment hurting their heart—we are here to protect it so they can focus on healing.”

By combining advanced expertise, early monitoring and compassionate support, Wellstar’s Cardio-Oncology Program helps people face cancer with confidence.

Learn more about cardio-oncology services at Wellstar.

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