Cancer Care in Henderson

Western Kentucky Cancer Treatments

CoC Accreditation

The Methodist Health cancer program has been officially accredited by the Commission of Cancer (CoC). This means we have been recognized for offering comprehensive, high quality cancer treatment that focuses on patients. With our multidisciplinary team of medical experts, we do all in our power to help patients recover and live comfortably. With our affiliation with the CoC, we have access to important tools that allow us to better track how our treatments work as a whole.

Dealing with cancer is not a battle you need fight alone. In addition to the support from your friends and loved ones, the knowledgeable medical staff at Methodist Health is ready to help you take on this disease and maintain a high quality of life. We work with our patients through every stage of cancer, from diagnosis to remission. Our staff is honest and open, and provides patients with realistic expectations and upfront information about treatment side-effects. Knowing what it is you’re fighting and how you’re fighting it can be very comforting. Recent medical advancements have made the war against cancer much more optimistic, and Methodist Health has equipped itself with every advantage possible.

Cancer Diagnostics

Cancer can manifest in any part of the body, and there is no one primary method of diagnosing cancer. In many cases, cancer is diagnosed when a patient has a doctor examine a medical pain or abnormality, and they find cancer during their screening. Many patients are able to catch cancer early by visiting the doctor for routine health screenings like mammograms and Pap smears.

Some ways you can spot cancer early are:

• Regular visits to the gynecologist
• Prostate exams
• Performing self-breast exams
• Self-examining skin for discoloration or abnormalities
• Receive regular colonoscopies after age 50
• Visit the doctor for unexplained pains and illnesses

If you spot a cancer warning sign do not panic. Visit the doctor before jumping to conclusions and receive an official diagnosis. In most cases, cancer is much easier to treat the earlier it is found.

Cancer Surgery

If cancer is found before it has a chance to spread, doctors often recommend surgery to have it removed. Cancer is a group of deformed cells that reproduce and start taking over the body. In surgery, doctors remove the tumors housing the majority of these cells and use various methods to destroy any lingering remnants. Many patients who have cancer removed before it spreads make a full recovery, which is why early detection of the disease often makes such a significant difference in treatment.

Hematology

Hematology is the study of blood. Hematologists’ work often overlaps with that of oncologists’ because several forms of cancer begin forming in the blood. A hematologist is usually involved in diagnosing blood cancers and recommending preliminary treatments.

Cancers frequently diagnosed by hematologists include:

• Leukemia
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Bone marrow cancer

Oncology

Oncology is the primary branch of medicine involved in researching, diagnosing and treating cancer. Doctors specializing in various specialties can diagnose cancer, and in most cases they will refer you to a capable oncologist to begin treatment. Oncologists are typically responsible for prescribing chemotherapy, recommending surgery and tracking the patient’s responsiveness to treatment. Methodist Hospital works with numerous oncologists to provide optimum cancer treatments.

Infusion Services

Methodist Health opened its state-of-the-art infusion clinic in June of 2016. The unit is staffed by experienced registered nurses and operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Extensions to these hours are sometimes made for patients who require daily infusion services.

The facility is outfitted with comfortable chairs for patients to rest in as they are administered chemotherapy. During your first visit to the Unit, a knowledgeable nurse will educate you on how infusion works and what you can expect both before and after. Every nurse working in the Unit is required to pass a chemotherapy competency test every year.

Clinical Trials and Research Studies

Cancer clinical trials are research studies that find new ways to:

• Treat cancer
• Manage cancer symptoms
• Manage treatment side effects

Clinical trials are available for patients during any stage of cancer. Patients who participate in clinical trials or research studies may benefit from newer treatments. When you take part in a clinical trial, you may add to our knowledge about cancer and help improve cancer care for others.

For more information on clinical trials, visit the National Cancer Institute or the American Cancer Society. You may also contact Methodist Health at 270-827-7222 or 270-827-1234.

Integrative Therapies

Cancer is an unpredictable disease. Treatments that work very well on some, may have little effect on others. Doctors rarely recommend one method of treating cancer nowadays, instead opting to try a variety of methods and customize treatment based on what proves most effective. Integrative cancer therapy combines western medicine with alternative medicine. Many patients and doctors have found that combining traditional treatments with additional action that focuses on the patient rather than the disease can make a tremendous difference in the patient’s ability to recover.

Integrative therapy encourages interested patients to try things like acupuncture, specialized diets and alternative medicine to improve their mental and physical well-being. While these methods alone have little chance of curing cancer, using them in conjunction with standard treatments give patients a full arsenal for fighting their disease. Methodist Health does offer integrative therapies for interested patients.

When you need cancer care in Western Kentucky, visit Methodist Health for compassionate care from a proven medical team.