Maryland’s Health Matters - St. Joseph - Fall 2016 - 12

SPOTLIGHT: This most advanced form of proton therapy allows physicians to "paint" the radiation dose onto the tumor, layer by layer. Each appointment typically lasts less than an hour, but the actual time it takes to deliver the proton beam is only minutes. It is a painless outpatient treatment that typically takes place over the course of several weeks. Patients can continue with their daily lives, including going to work and school, while they are receiving treatment. MPTC emphasizes care that puts patients at ease, with staff going above and beyond to deliver a great patient experience. That includes providing free valet parking as well as a concierge program to help patients with nonmedical needs. In addition, a goal of the MPTC is to remain costneutral to insurance providers. This means that patients pay the same for proton treatment as they would for other more conventionally available radiation treatments at the University of Maryland. "It is important that everyone have access to this type of treatment," explains Dr. Regine. AMAZING WORK EVERY DAY The elevated NCI designation as well as the newly opened Maryland Proton Treatment Center are just two examples of how the University of Maryland is building on its prominence as a destination for cancer care. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan also helped bring recognition to UMGCCC this past year when he very publicly battled B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, proudly showed off his bald head and came out "cancer-free" after several months of chemotherapy. He often used Twitter and Facebook to share his experience. "I would like to thank the entire team at the University of MD Medical Center Greenebaum Cancer Center for their incredible dedication and the amazing work they do to save lives every day," the governor wrote on his Facebook page. AN EXCEPTIONAL PARTNERSHIP "The Cancer Institute at UM St. Joseph Medical Center has had remarkable growth as a result of our formal affiliation with the nationally renowned University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center," says Nader Hanna, MD, FACS, medical director of the UM SJMC Cancer Institute. "We offer patients immediate access to the network of university-level, advanced cancer services and specialists at the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center downtown," says Dr. Hanna, a surgical oncologist and professor of surgery at University of Maryland School of Medicine. "Patients have benefited from access to expanded clinical trials. Last year, we enrolled 90 patients, or 8 percent of our patients, in various clinical trials, exceeding the commendation requirement of 6 percent. Clinical trials often provide patients with the latest, state-of-the-art treatment before it becomes standard of care," Dr. Hanna says. Cancer management is a highly interdisciplinary area of medicine requiring a physician team with diverse expertise. The exceptional, compassionate care provided by our multidisciplinary clinical teams is reflected in the increased number of patients we treated last year-approximately 1,300-and the recognition of 13 of our cancer specialists as Baltimore magazine Top Docs last November. This distinguished honor validates that UM SJMC oncologists are the preferred specialists in their respective fields as voted by their peers. The vision of the UM SJMC Cancer Institute is to be a preeminent, creative and visionary cancer institute providing the highest quality of cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship to patients in our community in a faith-based environment honoring our healing ministry. Indeed, every day, lives are saved at the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center as well as the Maryland Proton Treatment Center. When someone asks you what Maryland is known for, you may be quick to answer, "Crabs." But hopefully now you will remember, too, that our state and the University of Maryland are known for tackling cancer. 12 MARYLAND'S HEALTH MATTERS FREE SEATED YOGA CLASS! Designed especially for breast cancer survivors. Starts Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the UM SJMC Cancer Institute in Towson. Call 410-427-2548 to register and for details.

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