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Wellstar Cancer Care
Face cancer with confidence
Every person with cancer is unique, from your genetic makeup to your body, from your beliefs and lifestyle to the people in your life. You’re one-of-a-kind and so is your treatment plan at Wellstar.
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Cancer Care at Wellstar
Patients face cancer with confidence at Wellstar because of our multidisciplinary care model, the depth of our physicians’ expertise and access to advanced treatments close to home. In fact, we have more than 300 healthcare providers that focus on care for patients with cancer at nine cancer programs with convenient locations across Georgia.
Our multidisciplinary teams surround patients and their families with knowledgeable and compassionate support. Specialty programs for patients are led by physicians with advanced training. Here, patients see leading specialists who are experts in their fields. Additionally, our physicians have a direct connection to Mayo Clinic experts through the Mayo Clinic Care Network and can request detailed consultations and second opinions for complex cases, at no additional cost to the patient.
Wellstar invests in state-of-the-art technology and participates in clinical trials to give patients access to a variety of advanced treatments including minimally-invasive surgery, high precision radiation dosages by CyberKnife and TrueBeam delivery systems, intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemoperfusion (HIPEC) as well as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies based on the latest advances in biomarker testing. Patients who qualify for clinical trials have access to groundbreaking treatments, often years before they are FDA-approved.
Because of Wellstar’s integrated approach to cancer treatment, our programs are nationally recognized by The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer and the Care Continuum Centers of Excellence (CCCOE), a program of the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer, among others.
Catch Cancer Earlier, or Prevent It
At Wellstar, we believe in lowering risk and preventing cancer whenever possible. We offer screening programs and genetic risk assessment to help people understand their unique risk factors and catch cancer before or after symptoms appear with advanced diagnostic technology. When screenings catch cancer in earlier stages, patients can have better outcomes.
Breast cancer screening
Wellstar patients in the communities we serve have access to breast cancer screening. Click to learn more about where to be screened, our screening technology and what to expect when getting a mammogram—or images of the breast—which can help identify signs of cancer before symptoms appear, and can help catch cancer earlier for better outcomes.
Learn more about breast cancer screenings at Wellstar
Lung cancer screening
Patients who qualify have access to low-dose CT scans with low levels of radiation exposure, which help detect lung cancer early. While lung cancer is historically difficult to detect, it is highly curable when found in early stages. Click to learn more about lung cancer screening, such as who should be screened and how to schedule a screening.
Learn more about lung cancer screenings at Wellstar
Colorectal cancer screening
While colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States when men and women are combined, screening can completely prevent cancer by removing polyps found during a colonoscopy. Or, it can catch cancer earlier, which leads to better treatment outcomes. Click to learn about colorectal cancer screening options, and who should be screened.
Learn more about colorectal cancer screenings at Wellstar
Genetic risk assessment
People with a family history of cancer including breast and ovarian cancer as well as colon and endometrial cancers may also benefit from a genetic risk assessment and high-risk screening options.
Learn more about the Wellstar Genetic Risk Assessment program
Our Care Team
At Wellstar, patients have access to a personalized multidisciplinary care team who offers you comprehensive care from screening, diagnosis, and second opinions to treatment and support.
Patients have access to board-certified and world-renowned oncology specialists, the largest genetic counseling program in the state, and an incredible network of support for treatment and follow up care that may include nurse navigators, speech and physical therapists, oncology registered dietitians, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and financial counselors.
Leading cancer experts
Medical specialists collaborate with each other to create patient-centered care plans. Our multidisciplinary teams often include board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians who have the most advanced training and knowledge in their fields. Through Wellstar's membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network, our oncology specialists have a direct connection to Mayo Clinic specialists and can request consultations and second opinions at no additional cost to the patient. Our specialists include:
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Nurse navigators
Patients at many Wellstar cancer programs could not imagine care without their nurse navigator. In fact, patients say nurse navigators are a big reason why they can face cancer with confidence. Nurse navigators are registered nurses trained in specific clinical areas and bring a highly personalized level of guidance and support to each patient and family members from initial diagnosis through post-treatment follow up.
Registered oncology dietitians
Our registered dietitians specialize in oncology nutrition to maximize nutritional status before, during and after treatment with nutrition counseling and meal plans, educational programs and tube feeding management.
Oncology social workers
Our oncology social workers focus on strategies to empower and improve the quality of life for people with cancer and their families during treatment and beyond. Support from an oncology social worker can include short-term counseling, groups and connections to psychological therapy. Cancer can affect many different parts of life, and we can help you adjust to your diagnosis and provide guidance and education about how to share that information with your family, friends and community. We also assist patients by connecting you with community resources and helping you navigate financial programs and services that may assist you.
Psychological and psychiatric therapy
It can help patients to cope with the emotional side of cancer and treatment side effects with the support of an oncology psychologist, psychiatrist or counselor. Often, these specialists help people manage pre-existing conditions such as depression and anxiety too.
Psychologists and counselors specializing in cancer work with individuals, couples and families to encourage coping and problem-solving, relaxation, stress reduction and improved well-being. Many people with cancer experience depression, anxiety and fatigue and our psychiatrists assess symptoms and manage medical treatment of these symptoms.
Genetic counselors
Many people find that working with our board-certified genetic counselors can alleviate some of the anxiety associated with a cancer diagnosis. Information is a powerful tool that can help patients understand their disease and participate in treatment, including screening plans, lifestyle changes and medical and surgical options.
Palliative care specialists
Our palliative care physicians are specially trained in complex symptom and pain management for patients with cancer. We work with people throughout their treatment to manage pain as well as symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, nausea, sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, stress and any other symptom related to cancer disease and treatment.
Every member of your personalized care team at Wellstar is here to help you face cancer with confidence.
A Recognized Cancer Treatment Leader
Because Wellstar continues to pioneer innovative cancer treatments and technologies to improve outcomes and quality of life for patients, it is accredited and awarded by leading national organizations.
Accredited by the Commission on Cancer, Outstanding Achievement Award Recipient
Wellstar is the recipient of The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer (CoC) Accreditation and the Outstanding Achievement Award, the highest honor awarded to a cancer program in the United States. The CoC recognized Wellstar as the first Network Cancer Program in Georgia and the fifth in the nation.
Recognized by GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer
Wellstar is designated as a Care Continuum Center of Excellence by the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer. The foundation identifies community hospitals that meet rigorous qualifying criteria and demonstrate collaborative leadership across the lung cancer care continuum. CCCOE recognizes that by meeting their criteria, Wellstar is on par with leading academic and research institutions and provides patients with access to the latest innovations not typically found in community hospitals.
American College of Radiology Commendation in Lung Screening
Wellstar is one of the nation's largest and highest quality lung screening programs, allowing us to detect cancer earlier and customize the best treatment plan for each patient. That's why we are proud to have been designated as a Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology (ACR). When lung cancer is detected at its early stages, the chances of defeating it are higher, and this designation highlights our commitment to providing accurate and safe diagnostic care for our patients.
Cancer Research & Clinical Trials
The Wellstar Research Institute and Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers work closely with select local and national partners to enroll patients in clinical trials, often providing groundbreaking treatments years before FDA approval.
Groundbreaking Clinical Trials in Your Community
When patients qualify, they have access to groundbreaking treatments, procedures and technologies through clinical trials, often years before the FDA approves them. We are typically are involved in 50 trials at any given time, giving our patients access to advanced treatments close to home.
National Partners
The Wellstar Research Institute and Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers work closely with select local and national partners—including NCI (National Cancer Institute) and the Mayo Clinic—to give patients access to the latest clinical trials without leaving their communities.
Track Record of Success
Clinical research programs Wellstar patients have participated in have led to the approval of immunotherapy and targeted therapy for various diseases, most recently for breast cancer, gynecologic cancers, lung cancer and kidney cancer.
Because of clinical trials our patients have participated in, these therapies are now available more widely. Specifically, people with cancer who participate in clinical trials here have helped Wellstar oncology specialists and our partners accomplish the following:
- First FDA approval for immunotherapy for breast cancer and small cell lung cancer.
- Immunotherapy treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer for nearly five years before FDA approval.
- Gynecologic oncology clinical trials for patients in connection with the Mayo Clinic.
- With Morehouse School of Medicine, joined a network to develop a repository of data and bio-specimens to improve standards of cancer care through new clinical trials, technology, informatics solutions and personalized medicine.
- Approval of more than 20 medications by the FDA after trials involving Wellstar patients.
Thanks to Our Patients
Thanks to patients before you, many effective treatments are now available. And, there could be a trial that’s right for you. Patients who are interested in learning more should speak with an oncologist. To face cancer with confidence and to learn more about clinical trials and research at Wellstar Health System and Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers, call (470) 267-1470.
Patients Deserve Leading Treatments
When someone is diagnosed, cancer treatment and care should be delivered by oncology physicians with in-depth training and experience. Each person with cancer is unique, and your treatment plan will be created around your diagnosis and your life. Board-certified specialists recommend treatments based on what’s best for you.
Clinical Trials
The Wellstar Research Institute and Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers work closely with select local and national partners to enroll patients in clinical trials, often providing groundbreaking treatments years before FDA approval. When patients qualify, they have access to treatments, procedures and technologies through clinical trials, often years before the FDA approves them. We are typically are involved in 50 trials at any given time, giving our patients access to advanced treatments close to home.
Cancer Surgery
People with cancer have access to cancer surgery by specialists at Wellstar, who are often involved in research that lead to the development of innovative procedures, surgical instruments and technology. Our renowned specialists perform a range of advanced surgeries including minimally-invasive robotic surgery, laparoscopic surgery and Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS); Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemoperfusion (HIPEC); and intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), one of the latest surgical advancements that combines oncological surgery and radiation therapy.
Learn more about cancer surgery at Wellstar
Radiation Therapy
Patients at Wellstar who would benefit from radiation therapy have access to leading experts in radiation oncology, and some of the most sophisticated radiation therapy techniques and technologies available today. Some Wellstar locations now offer intraoperative radiotherapy, an intense radiation therapy performed during surgery. Wellstar is also the only healthcare system in Georgia that offers CyberKnife and TomoTherapy at a single location. Some Wellstar cancer treatment centers feature state-of-the-art stereotactic radiation therapy using TrueBeam technology.
Learn more about radiation therapy at Wellstar
Medical Oncology
Patients who are treated by a medical oncologist at Wellstar have access to the latest targeted therapies, immunotherapy and chemotherapy to fight cancer. At Wellstar, oncologists offer tailored medicine for the most precise treatments. Several drugs have been developed which target specific genetic abnormalities in the cancer’s DNA. With a set of biomarker tests, DNA sequencing can be performed on the previously biopsied tumor to determine whether one of these targeted therapies might be effective. Through clinical trials at select locations, oncologists can give patients who qualify access to new treatments before they are FDA approved and commercially available.
Learn more about medical oncology at Wellstar
Integrative Therapies and Rehabilitation
Some Wellstar patients benefit from integrative medicine, which can enhance quality of life for people during cancer treatment and beyond. Some people with cancer require cancer rehabilitation due to changes including speech and swallowing challenges, swelling (lymphedema), fatigue, muscle loss and pain after treatment. Therapists at Wellstar locations across Georgia specialize in areas including speech, lymphedema and pelvic floor rehabilitation to help patients people improve their quality of life.
Learn more about cancer rehabilitation at Wellstar
Survivorship & Support
Our survivorship and support programs help patients achieve optimum health and wellbeing from the time of diagnosis and beyond. Our support team helps patients navigate through all aspects of a diagnosis, treatment and care. Team members patients are supported by may include nurse navigators, oncology registered dietitians, psychologists, social workers and financial counselors.
Some people with cancer require rehabilitation due to changes including speech and swallowing challenges, swelling (lymphedema), fatigue, muscle loss and pain after treatment.
Education and support groups are also important to patients following a diagnosis. Learn from others and share your experiences to stay emotionally and physically healthy. Wellstar offers cancer-related support groups and educational opportunities including nutrition and fitness sessions on our events page.
Fight Cancer with Wellstar Foundation
As a not-for-profit, gifts to the Wellstar Foundation make it possible to provide patients with additional resources and amenities for a higher level of comfort and care. Every dollar donated supports Wellstar's vision of delivering world-class healthcare, which is carried out through patient-centered programs, advancements in technology and making reliable healthcare available close to home. Your generosity also makes it possible to provide free mammograms, lung screenings and diagnostic services to uninsured patients every year. For more information about how to support our fight against cancer, visit the Wellstar Foundation, email give@wellstar.org or call (770) 956-GIVE.
PeopleCare Stories
Cancer Types We Treat
- Anal cancer
- Bile duct cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Brain cancer
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Colon cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Sarcomas
- Skin cancer
- Small bowel cancer
- Spine cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Uterine cancer
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Related Articles
Highlights
Types of Stroke
For many people, the warning signs of a stroke — like numbness in the arm, confusion, loss of balance or trouble speaking and seeing — are unmistakable. But often, the underlying cause of these life-threatening medical events can be harder to uncover.
“Strokes are complicated because there’s no pain associated with it,” said Dr. Rishi Gupta, director of stroke and neurocritical care with Wellstar Health System. “Many people think they can sleep it off and they’ll be better in the morning.”
“However, if you are experiencing the signs of a stroke, the faster you get to the emergency room, the more likely it is that we can reverse disability.”
While the telltale symptoms may be similar to one another, all strokes are not alike.
At Wellstar, we know each and every stroke is different. That’s why our neuro team provides tailored care along with fast, life-saving treatment for all types of strokes, even the most complex cases.
Fight back against strokes and learn the difference between the three main types: ischemic, hemorrhagic and transient ischemic attack.
Highlights
New Wellstar Health System Initiative Strives to Improve Outcomes for Patients with Pulmonary Embolisms
When a patient has a pulmonary embolism, it’s crucial that they receive the right care, right away. A new team of experts at Wellstar brings together specialists from several disciplines to collaborate on care, quickly and accurately assessing patients and formalizing a personalized treatment plan.
The Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT), implemented systemwide at Wellstar, ensures that all our patients receive timely treatment for this serious condition. Pulmonary embolisms, or blood clots in the lung’s arteries, are the third leading cause of death among hospitalized people and the third most common cardiovascular cause of death. With this new initiative, patients have an entire care team dedicated to fighting those statistics.
The PERT includes interventional cardiologists, critical care specialists, pulmonary experts, emergency medicine physicians and hematologists, who look at the patient’s case from multiple perspectives.
“In emergencies like pulmonary embolism, time is of the essence in treating this potentially fatal condition,” said Dr. Salvatore Mannino, Medical Director of Invasive and Interventional Cardiology for Wellstar. “With our new multi-disciplinary, multi-hospital team, several specialists can weigh in at once, speeding up treatment and making sure the patient receives the treatment that will lead to the best outcome.”
If a patient needs to be transferred to another facility for treatment, Wellstar makes that transition seamless, with providers efficiently communicating between hospitals about the patient’s personalized care plan.
Learn more about how Wellstar’s cardiovascular providers can keep you healthy at wellstar.org/heartcare. To make an appointment, call (770) 956-STAR.
Highlights
Spotting a Stroke FAST
When someone has a stroke, it’s crucial that they get treatment right away.
If you think you or someone else is having a stroke, call 911 immediately. Ambulance crews can start treatment on the way to the hospital, speeding up care and saving brainpower.
“Many people think that they can sleep it off, or that they can go to bed and they'll be better in the morning,” said Dr. Rishi Gupta, Wellstar director of stroke and neurocritical care. “If you have a loss of sensation, you cannot move your arm or your leg, you have trouble speaking or you have trouble with your vision, the faster you get to the emergency room, the more likely we are to reverse your disability.”
Learn the warning signs of a stroke, and if you notice any of these in yourself or someone else, BE FAST.
- Balance — One sign is a sudden loss of balance or coordination. This can also appear as a sudden, severe headache or dizziness.
- Eyes — Blurred vision, double vision or loss of vision can be symptoms of a stroke. If you think someone else may be having a stroke, ask if they are having trouble seeing out of one or both eyes.
- Face — One side of the face may be drooping or feeling numb. Ask the person to smile and see if it appears lopsided or uneven.
- Arms — Look for sudden arm weakness or numbness. Check if the person can lift both arms without one drifting downward.
- Speech — Check for slurred speech or difficulty speaking. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence to determine if they are having trouble talking.
- Time — The more treatment is delayed, the more the brain is damaged. Don’t wait to seek care. If you notice any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
Reduce your risk of a stroke by living a healthy lifestyle. Your Wellstar provider can partner with you in creating a treatment plan to stay in good health. To learn more about Wellstar’s brain, spine and nerve health services, visit our neuro care page or call (770) 956-STAR (7827).
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