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Article Category: Highlights

Preventing Cancer with Wellstar’s Genetics Experts

Published on April 09, 2021

Last updated 02:18 PM April 09, 2021

Image of medical professional with test tubes

While Wellstar’s expert cancer specialists are well-equipped to help their patients fight cancer, they’re also dedicated to stopping cancer before it starts.

Part of preventing cancer is knowing your risk and taking action early. Wellstar’s Genetic Risk Assessment Program helps patients determine whether they may be at higher risk for some cancers.

At Wellstar, our focus is PeopleCare—personalized healthcare tailored just for you. For cancer care, that means taking a close look at what makes you unique—your distinct genetic makeup that sets you apart. Genetic counselors use a compassionate approach to guide patients and their families so they can make informed healthcare decisions.

“We are the busiest genetic counseling program in Georgia,” said Wellstar's Chief Cancer Officer, Dr. Michael Andrews. “Cancer care now is very genetically-based, and the specialists in our program can look for certain abnormalities and adapt treatments based on what they find.”

Halting Hereditary Cancers

Genetic mutations play a major role in about 5–10% of cancers. A patient with a family history of cancer who learns they have specific genetic mutations can partner with their provider to be more proactive, whether that involves screening, lifestyle changes or medical treatments. Taking a few proactive steps could prevent cancer, even if the patient’s genetics may put them at a higher risk.

Genetic testing can also benefit cancer patients and empower their whole families with important information. If a cancer patient learns they carry a mutation, it can help relatives decide if they could benefit from genetic testing. Also, people who have certain cancers and also have specific DNA sequences may benefit from targeted therapies.

Some possible signs of hereditary cancer include:

  • Unusually early age of cancer onset
  • Multiple primary cancers in a single patient
  • Cancer in paired organs (such as in cancer in both breasts)
  • Multi-generational cancers
  • Rare tumors
  • An unusual presentation, such as male breast cancer
  • Belonging to an ethnic group known to be at high risk for hereditary cancers
  • No environmental explanation for the cancer

Some gene mutations can increase your cancer risk, so if your provider finds that you are affected, they may recommend increased screenings and other precautions to monitor your health.

  • TP53: This gene produces a protein that slows down tumor growth. Mutations in this gene can cause Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which puts patients at an increased risk for developing some cancers.
  • BRCA1 and BRCA2: Mutations in these genes increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer and male breast cancer.
  • PTEN: This gene also stops tumor growth. Mutations in this gene are associated with Cowden syndrome, a disorder that increases the risk of breast, thyroid, endometrial and other forms of cancer.

Take charge of your health—and maybe help out a family member, too—by learning more about how your genetics could affect your cancer risk. Call (470) 793-7472 to book an appointment with a Wellstar Genetic Counselor. Both in-person and virtual visits are available. Learn more at wellstar.org/cancercare.

Genetic Risk Assessment Helps Prevent Cancer

Tags

Michael Bryan Andrews Medical Genetics Cancer Care
Related Articles
Illustration of Ion system

Highlights

Lung Biopsy Technology at Wellstar Reduces Complications, Speeds Up Treatment

Innovative technology at Wellstar is offering patients a new, minimally invasive option for lung biopsies, reducing complications and helping expedite lung cancer treatment.

The Ion system is a robotic-assisted platform for performing lung biopsies. If a lung cancer screening or any other CT scan shows a suspicious nodule, providers will need to perform a biopsy to determine if the patient has lung cancer and how to proceed with care.

“Those nodules may not be cancer, but in certain situations we still need to know what it is,” said Wellstar Pulmonologist Dr. Timothy Udoji. “The Ion technology helps us biopsy those nodules to get an answer so that additional workup can be done immediately. If it is cancer, we want to catch it at an early stage.”

The system uses a three-dimensional spatial recognition technology that helps guide a catheter down the airway, deep into the lung, all the way to small nodules where biopsies can be performed. The robotic catheter maintains its shape and stability throughout the biopsy process significantly improving diagnostic yield compared to other modalities.

“The better the image and the more certainty we have of the spatial location of the catheter, the better we can avoid complications by making sure we are not too close to a blood vessel or the edge of the lung,” said Wellstar Thoracic Surgeon Dr. Daniel Fortes.

During the biopsy, providers can also use the Ion system to mark an area in the lung, making it easier to find later during surgery.

“If something is very small and hard to find in surgery, Ion can be used to mark that area with dye, or contrast, that allows us to find it in surgery,” Dr. Fortes said. “With this technology added to the surgical robotic system in the operating room, we can better identify those lesions and remove smaller portions of lung, also called segments.”

Technology to help provide peace of mind

The Ion system also has further reach than previous technologies and is able to more easily biopsy nodules in the peripheral areas of the lung. For many cancer patients, this will allow them to initiate care earlier and improve their outcomes, as well as give them peace of mind during the treatment process.

“Mental health impacts physical health. We are able to confidently biopsy and identify these nodules and that means a lot for our patients,” Dr. Udoji said. “Now, with this new technology we are able to get a biopsy done much earlier which has huge outcome implications for malignant nodules.”

At Wellstar, cancer care is tailored for each patient. In the Wellstar STAT Clinic for Lung Cancer, patients meet with multiple specialists at once to discuss their care options and create a personalized treatment plan. Specialists in the STAT Clinics, which are located at Wellstar Cobb, Kennestone, North Fulton and West Georgia medical centers, work with patients to determine the optimal course of treatment and will talk with patients and families about biopsy options, including the Ion system. The STAT Clinics give patients the opportunity to have their diagnoses managed right away, and literature shows that the clinics’ diagnostic and treatment model improves outcomes for patients.

The Ion system is currently in use at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center. Learn more about lung cancer care at wellstar.org/lungcancer.

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Illustration of a person receiving an advanced radiation therapy treatment.

Newsroom

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center Breaks Ground on New Radiation Technology

Wellstar Health System announced a multimillion-dollar investment to bring cutting-edge radiation therapy to Wellstar Paulding Medical Center in Hiram, Georgia on November 2, 2022.

“Our motto is ‘Neighbors Caring for Neighbors’ and these new technologies will enhance access to medical care for every neighbor in Paulding County,” said Ralph Turner, Wellstar senior vice president and president of Wellstar Paulding Medical Center. “Our team is focused on providing a patient-centric experience. Having a short drive and the comforts of home and family nearby helps the healing process.”

Breaking ground for groundbreaking radiation technology

The expansion will enhance the patient experience by adding a new radiation vault to house a second linear accelerator — the technology that delivers radiation therapy — and is slated for completion in early 2023.

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

During a recent press conference, a group of patients, physicians, healthcare leaders, team members, government leaders and community partners ceremonially broke ground on the major expansion of Wellstar Radiation Oncology. The facility is located on the ground floor of Wellstar Paulding Medical Center’s Outpatient Pavilion at 148 Bill Carruth Parkway in Hiram, Georgia.

The new machine will also bring a leading-edge cancer treatment called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to Paulding County for the first time. This radiation technology uses multiple X-ray beams to treat tumors with highly precise, high-dose radiation to any location in the body, preserving surrounding tissue, organs and nerves. The technology allows patients to have significantly fewer treatment sessions.

“This is a huge step forward for cancer care for the people of Paulding County,” said Dr. William Thoms, who has served as the radiation oncology medical director for Wellstar Paulding Medical Center since 2017. “This expansion will allow people to stay in our community for more advanced treatments with shorter wait times.”

The renovation will also modernize the dressing rooms and add more space to increase patient comfort.

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.

Hospital leaders hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking on a major expansion of Wellstar Radiation Oncology at Wellstar Paulding Medical Center. Here, a group holds shovels and wear hard hats at the site of construction.

A rendering of what the new LINAC radiation therapy machine will look like..

Learn more about Wellstar Paulding Medical Center.

Keep reading
Illustration of provider inspecting lung

Highlights

Wellstar Offering Saturday Hours for Lung Cancer Screening November 12

Lung cancer screening can detect cancer earlier, before symptoms show up. Earlier-stage cancers are more easily treatable and more frequently cured, so if you are at increased risk of developing lung cancer, you could benefit from regular low-dose CT scans to monitor your lung health. To expand access to these vital screenings, Wellstar will offer screenings at several imaging locations on Saturday, Nov. 12.

“Lung screening improves a person’s chances of detecting a lung cancer at an early stage and being cured of that cancer,” said Wellstar Thoracic Surgeon Dr. William Mayfield.

Wellstar is partnering with the National Lung Cancer Roundtable, established by the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology, the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer and the Radiology Healthy Equity Coalition to celebrate National Lung Cancer Screening Day on Nov. 12. While lung scans are always available at Wellstar’s conveniently located imaging centers during regular business hours, offering these Saturday hours will help patients fit screenings into their schedules.

Ask your provider about whether you meet the criteria for screening, or call (470) 793-4AIR (4247) to learn more about qualifying and to make an appointment for a scan. The following Wellstar imaging locations will be open Saturday, Nov. 12:

  • Wellstar Acworth Health Park. 4550 Cobb Parkway North NW, Suite 109 in Acworth. Open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Wellstar Avalon Health Park. 2450 Old Milton Parkway, Suite 101 in Alpharetta.Open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Wellstar Paulding Medical Center. 2518 Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway in Hiram. Open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Wellstar Imaging Services at Cobb Medical Center. 1625 Hospital North Drive in Austell. Open from 8 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
  • Wellstar Spalding Medical Center. 601 South 8th Street in Griffin. Open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. When you arrive, please check in at the Emergency Department outpatient waiting room.
  • Wellstar Vinings Health Park. 4441 Atlanta Road SE, Suite 101 in Smyrna. Open from 8 a.m. to noon.

In addition to these special hours on Nov. 12, low-dose CT lung scans are available at several Wellstar imaging locations. Call (470) 793-4AIR (4247) to learn more or schedule a screening.

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