Inside the ACI - Memorial Health

The Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial University Medical Center
Inside the ACI
Excellence in cancer care through research, education, and treatment. | FAll 2015
aci.memorialhealth.com
Frank Hester finds
peace in the midst
of cancer treatment.
Experience Excellence.
Innovation in cancer treatment
By Guy Petruzzelli, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, FACS
PHYSICIAN-IN-CHIEF, CURTIS AND ELIZABETH ANDERSON CANCER INSTITUTE
Not all cancer centers are created equal. At the Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer
Institute (ACI) at Memorial University Medical Center, we pride ourselves on providing
treatments and services that are on par with some of the finest cancer treatment centers
in the nation. In fact, in many areas, our patient outcomes are equal to or better than
our peers around the country. Strong outcomes are a result of exceptional physicians,
compassionate care teams, leading-edge technology, and effective support services.
We provide comprehensive services for all types of cancer and people of all ages.
The ACI offers numerous integrative services that help people feel better mentally and
physically. We believe that true healing involves not just a healthy body, but a healthy
mind and spirit as well.
Because the ACI is part of an academic medical center, we have the benefit of new
resident physicians training in the latest therapies working alongside attending
physicians with years of
experience. And, through
our affiliation with Mercer
University School of
Medicine, we have a
strong emphasis on
research and discovering
the cancer treatments of
tomorrow. All of these
elements combine to
make us the most
comprehensive cancer
treatment facility in
southeast Georgia.
We are proud to provide
this high level of care right here in Savannah. We believe nobody should have to leave
home to receive the best cancer treatment.
In many areas, our patient
outcomes are equal to
or better than our peers
around the country.
This issue of Inside the ACI introduces a survivor who has benefited greatly from our
integrative therapies. It examines some of the technology we use to treat cancer, and
provides tips on how to choose the right doctor. I hope you feel the same level of pride
that I do as you read about the services at the ACI. Our community deserves world-class
cancer care, and the ACI is happy to provide it.
2
Cancer care in the age of technology
Technology plays a crucial role in diagnosing and treating cancer. During treatment, you may
hear about MRI, CT, PET, IGRT, IMRT, IORT, and more. It can sound like an overwhelming array
of alphabet soup. But all of this new technology serves an important purpose—to identify and
remove cancer while minimizing damage to the rest of the body. New technology makes
many treatments faster and more convenient. That means patients can focus on recovering,
healing, and moving on with their lives. At the Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute
(ACI) at Memorial University Medical Center, we are passionate about bringing the latest
technology to our region. Here are just a few of the high-tech services we provide.
3D MAMMOGRAPHY
What it is:
A 3D mammogram uses X-ray technology
to capture multiple 3D images of breast
tissue in one-millimeter slices. It provides
greater detail and better accuracy than
traditional 2D mammograms.
What it means for you:
A 3D mammogram is performed just
like a 2D mammogram, and requires
only a few more seconds of your time.
Because it provides better clarity,
3D mammograms result in fewer
unnecessary call-backs and testing,
and less anxiety for women. The Breast
Imaging Center at Memorial University
Medical Center is the only facility in
Savannah to offer 3D mammograms
for every woman, every time, at no
additional charge. For an appointment,
call 912-350-PINK (7465). Saturday
appointments are available.
Deborah Cunningham, M.D.,
diagnostic radiologist and
fellowship-trained
mammographer at the
Breast Imaging Center
at Memorial University
Medical Center.
3
DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING
(MRI, CT, AND PET)
INTRAOPERATIVE
RADIATION THERAPY
What it is:
What it is:
Diagnostic imaging procedures allow doctors to look
inside the body without surgery. Imaging technology is
used to locate cancer, plan treatments, and monitor the
effectiveness of treatment. It may include ultrasound,
mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
computed tomography (CT), and positron emission
tomography (PET) scans. These processes use X-ray
imaging, sound waves, radiation, and/or radioactive
dyes to create detailed images of the internal organs.
What it means for you:
These procedures are noninvasive, meaning they don’t
require any surgery. Some may involve an injection of dye,
but patients are not required to stay in the hospital or
take significant time off of work for these procedures.
INTRABEAM intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT)
combines surgery and radiation into a single procedure
for the treatment of early stage breast cancer. In 2012,
the ACI became the first facility in Georgia to use
INTRABEAM IORT. The INTRABEAM applicator is placed
in the tumor cavity during breast-conserving cancer
surgery (lumpectomy). It delivers low-energy radiation
directly into the tumor bed for 20 to 30 minutes.
The radiation is absorbed over a 1- to 2-centimeter
depth, minimizing damage to surrounding tissue.
What it means for you:
IORT shortens treatment time, minimizes side effects,
and maximizes radiation therapy benefits. Breast
conserving surgery is often followed by up to six weeks
of daily radiation. With IORT, additional radiation time
can be significantly shortened or avoided altogether.
The IORT specialists at the ACI are (left to right): Caleb Price, Ph.D., medical physicist; Chantѐ Frazier, M.S., medical physicist;
Aaron Pederson, M.D., radiation oncologist; Elena Rehl, M.D., breast surgeon; William Burak Jr., M.D., breast surgeon; and
Michael Hasselle, M.D., radiation oncologist.
4
OPTUNE BRAIN CANCER
RADIATION THERAPY
LINEAR ACCELERATOR
What it is:
What it is:
Optune is a wearable treatment for a type of brain cancer
called recurrent glioblastoma. The ACI was the second
facility in the entire state of Georgia to offer the treatment.
Optune uses an electric field, called a tumor-treating
field (TTF), to disrupt cancer cells and prevent them
from dividing. Patients wear TTF pads on their head for
18 hours each day. They cannot feel the TTF waves and
there’s no pain.
A linear accelerator is a machine used to deliver radiation
treatment to the body. In 1983, Memorial Health purchased
Savannah’s first linear accelerator. The ACI was the first
facility in Savannah to acquire the Varian TrueBeam
linear accelerator in 2011. It provides advanced features
such as measuring minute tumor changes that might
occur with normal breathing. TrueBeam delivers radiation
therapy for more types of cancer with better accuracy,
What it means for you:
Optune has the same benefits as chemotherapy for
recurrent glioblastoma, but it does not lead to any of
the sickness or side effects caused by chemotherapy
and radiation. Optune has been shown to extend life
expectancy for people with recurrent glioblastoma.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE
AND ROBOTIC SURGERY
What it is:
Minimally invasive surgery involves using small incisions,
cameras, and special surgical instruments to perform
operations without making a large cut. Robotic surgery
is a form of minimally invasive surgery in which a highly
trained surgeon controls a state-of-the-art robotic
platform. The platform mimics the surgeon’s hand
movements through instruments that work inside the
body. This enables the surgeon to perform even the
most complex and delicate procedures through very
small incisions (1 to 2 centimeters), with unmatched
precision. The ACI uses the da Vinci Si Surgical System
for robotic surgery. It provides a high-definition, 3D,
magnified view of the surgical site, allowing for
increased control. Though it is often called a “robot,” the
da Vinci Si cannot act on its own. Instead, the surgery
is performed entirely by a surgeon with the assistance
of skilled nurses, surgical assistants, and technicians.
Standing next to one of the ACI’s new linear accelerators
are Caleb Price, Ph.D., medical physicist; Michael Hasselle,
M.D., radiation oncologist; and Aaron Pederson, M.D.,
radiation oncologist.
precision, and safety than any other radiation therapy
system. TrueBeam is used for image-guided radiation
therapy (IGRT), which takes real-time images of the body
during treatment to ensure the radiation is reaching its
target; intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT),
which involves angling the radiation directly into the
shape of the tumor to spare the surrounding healthy
tissue; and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), a
high-precision dose of radiation to treat brain tumors.
What it means for you:
What it means for you:
Robotic and minimally invasive surgery use tiny incisions.
This results in less pain, less blood loss, smaller scars,
less risk of infection, less risk of injury to surrounding
organs and nerves, faster recovery, a shorter hospital
stay, and better outcomes.
With TrueBeam, we can deliver stereotactic radiosurgery
and body radiotherapy in as little as five to 10 minutes.
With older technology, radiosurgery treatments could take
as long as two hours. More precise radiation treatment
helps to ensure that cancer cells are killed, but healthy
tissue around the cancer is not damaged.
Learn more about the technology available at
the ACI online at aci.memorialhealth.com.
5
Choosing a cancer doctor
Cancer treatment involves different therapies provided by different types of doctors.
It’s important to find the right specialists for your treatment team. You’ll have a
long-term relationship with your doctors, so make sure they are a good fit for you.
These tips from the Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute (ACI) at
Memorial University Medical Center can help you choose your cancer doctors.
P Don’t rush.
Even though you may feel a sense of urgency and
want to start treatment right away, there is usually
no harm in taking some time to meet with doctors
and choosing a treatment team that is right for you.
P Ask for referrals.
Talk to friends and family. Use the Internet to
research specialists in your area. Ask your primary
care doctor for recommendations.
P Seek a specialist.
Rather than a general surgeon, look for a surgeon
who specializes in the type of cancer you have.
Specialists perform a higher volume of specific
procedures and they follow the latest cancer
research. For example, William Burak Jr., M.D., and
Elena Rehl, M.D., at the ACI’s Center for Breast Care,
only treat breast conditions. They’re part of the first
practice in the region that specialized in breast care.
James Burke II, M.D., and Scott Purinton, M.D., Ph.D.,
were the first surgeons in the region to treat
gynecologic cancers. They have performed more
gynecologic oncology procedures than anybody
else in the region. Christopher Senkowski, M.D.,
specializes in minimally invasive surgery
techniques and performed the region’s first
scarless gallbladder surgery.
6
P Look for fellowship training.
Often, specialists are fellowship trained, meaning they
have completed an additional year or two of study in
their field after medical school and residency training.
All of the surgeons at ACI—Surgical Associates are
fellowship-trained. Deborah Cunningham, M.D., who
reads each mammogram at The Breast Imaging Center,
is a fellowship-trained radiologist. Guy Petruzzelli, M.D.,
Ph.D., MBA, is the only head and neck surgical
oncologist in Savannah who completed head and
neck and skull base fellowships at a National Cancer
Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
P Seek national recognition.
There are doctors at the ACI who are recognized
experts and researchers in their fields. Their work is
published in medical journals and they are asked to
speak at medical conferences around the country.
Guy Petruzzelli, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, head and neck
surgeon; and Martin Johnston, M.D., pediatric
oncologist, were included on the Newsweek© and
Castle Connolly© 2015 list of the Top Cancer Doctors
in the United States, and they’re both right here in
Savannah at Memorial Health.
P Expect a group effort.
Throughout the treatment process, your doctors need
to communicate with one another. The ACI has
disease management teams where groups of
physicians and other care providers meet regularly
to discuss cases and make treatment decisions.
In addition, doctors affiliated with the ACI use Epic
electronic medical records that allow them to access
your medical records, test results, and notes securely
and quickly online. This is especially helpful as
Newsweek©, in conjunction with Castle Connolly©, released their list of the “Top Cancer Doctors 2015” in the United States.
Two of those doctors are right here in Savannah at Memorial University Medical Center. Congratulations to Guy Petruzzelli,
M.D., Ph.D., MBA, head and neck surgeon, and Martin Johnston, M.D., pediatric oncologist. They’re the only doctors in
coastal Georgia to earn this exceptional recognition.
treatment progresses and you move from one
specialist to another.
P Make sure you can get there.
Cancer treatment often involves many appointments.
Make sure you can get to your doctor’s office easily,
find parking, and get in and out of your appointments
in a timely manner. To make it more convenient for
patients, the ACI has satellite offices in several towns
throughout the region. We also offer two locations
for radiation treatment—our main campus in midtown
Savannah and a second office on Eisenhower Drive.
When meeting your doctor for the first time, ask about
his or her outcomes, and experience in treating your
particular type of cancer. Make sure your doctor answers
your questions and explains your treatment options to
you. Most important, listen to your instincts and trust
yourself to make the right choice.
To reach ACI—Surgical Associates, call 912-350-2299
or visit acisurgical.memorialhealth.com. To find other
specialists at the ACI, visit aci.memorialhealth.com
and click “Find a Doctor.”
7
Nurturing the soul
while fighting cancer
Frank Hester of Savannah has a strong sense of spirituality.
His Roman Catholic faith is very important to him. He
meditates often. And he befriended a group of Tibetan
Monks who visit Savannah. Hester’s spiritual journey
has taught him three important lessons:
1. Live for the moment
2. Take responsibility for what you do
3. Enjoy life
But perhaps the most incredible part of Hester’s spirituality is that much of it has been acquired within the
last two years, while he simultaneously fought cancer
and endured more than 1,600 hours of chemotherapy.
Hester’s story began in 2013 when he was 62 years
old. He visited his family doctor because of stomach
issues. He was referred to gastroenterologist Charles
Duckworth, M.D., at the Center for Digestive and Liver
Health. When routine testing could not identify the
problem, Hester agreed to have a CT scan.
“I got home from the scan at 4:00. By 4:15, my phone rang.
Dr. Duckworth said, ‘Frank, I need to see you.’ I said ‘How
about tomorrow?’ He said ‘I’ve got a room at Memorial
with your name on it right now,’” said Hester. He was
admitted to Memorial University Medical Center that day.
After more tests and exploratory surgery, Hester
received a diagnosis: he had a rare form of cancer
called Signet ring cell cancer in his colon. It could not
be removed or cured, but doctors would work to
control it with chemotherapy. Hester began receiving
chemotherapy every three weeks at the Curtis and
Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute (ACI) at Memorial
University Medical Center, under the direction of
medical oncologist Barry Luskey, M.D.
Early in his treatment, Hester was referred to the
support services team at the ACI. They encouraged him
to take advantage of integrative therapies. These are
treatments that address issues such as mental wellness,
stress management, sleep issues, and pain management.
While medical treatments fight disease, integrative
therapies seek to strengthen the whole person—body,
mind, and spirit. The ACI has been offering integrative
therapies for nearly 15 years.
8
Hester was skeptical at first, but he was willing to try
anything that might help him heal. He started with
weekly massage therapy sessions.
“The massage therapy was wonderful. I would forget
my cares for days at a time, it felt so good,” said Hester.
Next, he was invited to try reflexology. Reflexology
massages specific pressure points on the soles of the feet
that correspond to different parts of the body. During
one session, Hester’s reflexologist touched a spot on his
foot and asked if something was wrong with his right
shoulder. Hester was indeed having shoulder issues, and
he was amazed that the reflexologist could identify
“I was so skeptical [of integrative
therapies], but now I would tell
anybody to try it. You’ll like it.
You may not understand it, but
you’ll like it. Don’t be afraid of it.”
that from his foot. From that point on, Hester was a
believer. He was open to new ideas and treatments
that might improve his well-being.
Wanting to try as many integrative therapies as he could,
Hester scheduled a visit with a hypnotherapist at the ACI.
He and his wife, Becky, attended together. They learned
how to use meditation and self-hypnosis to achieve a
deep state of relaxation and peace. Hester says the
effects of this therapy have been profound. “It puts you
into another world. It’s been a great, great experience.”
Hester also tried yoga and acupuncture through the ACI.
“I was so skeptical [of integrative therapies], but now I
would tell anybody to try it. You’ll like it. You may not
understand it, but you’ll like it. Don’t be afraid of it,”
said Hester. He adds, “I believe a big part of fighting
cancer is between your ears, and in your attitude.”
Today, Hester is 64 years old. He continues his rigorous
every-three-weeks chemotherapy regimen, but he
balances it with gentler healing therapies such as selfhypnosis, meditation, and yoga. His outlook is bright
and he is fully embracing every moment of life.
The ACI offers a variety of integrative therapies to help
people maintain wellness during and after treatment.
The ACI also participates in research studies to analyze
the benefits of integrative therapies. Some of the services
offered include art therapy, music therapy, massage
therapy, yoga, acupuncture, nutrition counseling,
hypnotherapy for relaxation and smoking cessation,
and cooking classes that promote healthy living.
To learn more, call 912-350-7845 or visit
aci.memorialhealth.com.
9
Go gold to fight childhood cancer
The Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer
Institute (ACI) at Memorial University Medical
Center works with The Children’s Hospital
at Memorial University Medical Center to
provide cancer treatment for children. So far
this year, 55 children are receiving cancer
treatment at The Children’s Hospital.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness
Month. In honor of that, the ACI held a
special ceremony and ice cream social
for families affected by childhood cancer.
Participants wore gold ribbons to raise
awareness about the disease and the need
for ongoing research to develop better
treatments. The event was sponsored by
the ACI and CURE Childhood Cancer.
The Children’s Hospital has three fellowshiptrained pediatric hematology/oncology
physicians: Martin Johnston, M.D., Andrew
Pendleton, M.D., and John Whittle, M.D.
In addition, The Children’s Hospital is affiliated
with the Children's Oncology Group (COG) to offer
clinical trials for children, adolescents, and young
adults with cancer. Research from COG members
has contributed to major treatment advances
and increasing cure rates.
Mary Herrin places a gold rubber duck in the
fountain at Memorial Health in honor of her
grandson, Carter Martin, who died after a
long battle with osteosarcoma. Herrin was
instrumental in organizing the childhood
cancer awareness event at Memorial.
The Children’s Hospital will move into its own standalone building on the Memorial Health campus in 2017.
The new facility will be called the Dwaine and Cynthia
Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah in honor of the
family that made a generous $5 million donation to the
facility. The Memorial Health Foundation’s $20 million
“Kids Only” capital campaign is raising funds for the
new hospital. To make this dream a reality, we need
the support of our community. For more information,
please contact Phoenicia Miracle, vice president of
the Memorial Health Foundation, at 912-350-2780 or
Jackie Rabinowitz, Kids Only campaign chair, at
912-604-1783. Or, visit memorialhealth.com/foundation.
10
Special event November 19:
Worth Fighting For a Cure
Lisa Niemi Swayze, wife of the late actor Patrick Swayze,
will be in Savannah November 19 to help raise funds for
patient care and pancreatic cancer research at the Curtis
and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute (ACI) at Memorial
University Medical Center. The “Worth Fighting For a Cure”
luncheon will feature Swayze as the guest speaker and
will honor grateful patient Jeff Kole.
Lisa Niemi Swayze is a film industry veteran and author
of the book Worth Fighting For, which chronicles her final
months with her husband of 34 years, actor Patrick
Swayze. Patrick Swayze fought a very public battle with
pancreatic cancer and died in 2009. Lisa is the national
spokesperson for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network,
working to bring attention to this particularly deadly
form of cancer.
WORTH
FIGHTING
FOR
A
CURE:
A Luncheon with
Guest Speaker
Lisa Niemi Swayze
and Honoring Grateful Patient Jeff Kole
Jeff Kole is president of Kole Management Company, a Savannah-based and
family owned property management
and investment firm. He is a pancreatic
cancer survivor and has been cancerfree for more than four years.
The event is chaired by Toby Hollenberg,
whose husband died of pancreatic cancer in 2004.
Elizabeth Anderson is the honorary chair. There will be
two separately ticketed programs at the Westin
Savannah Golf Resort and Spa:
• A VIP reception and book signing with Lisa Niemi
Swayze from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., $150 per ticket
• A luncheon featuring Lisa Niemi Swayze as the
guest speaker from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.,
$100 per ticket
The event is presented by Mr. and Mrs. Curtis G. Anderson,
Toby Hollenberg in memory of Steve Hollenberg, Mr. and
Mrs. Kenneth N. Larsen, and an anonymous donor. Gold
Sponsors are Mr. and Mrs. Donald Arpin Sr., Mrs. AM
Goldkrand, and The Kole Family Foundation. Silver
Sponsors are Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Allen, Byck-Rothschild
Foundation, William J. Donahue, Mr. and Mrs. Donald L.
Mayer, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Muller, Mrs. Barbara
Paull, South University, and Wells Fargo.
To order tickets, visit
memorialhealth.com/worthfightingfor
or call Beth Bethune at 912-350-1524.
the
Media Sponsors
11
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U . S . P O S TA G E
4700 WATERS AVENUE
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31404
PAID
SAVANNAH, GA
PERMIT NO. 499
Second radiation oncology facility opens
To make cancer care and follow-up more accessible
and convenient for our patients, the Curtis and
Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute (ACI) at
Memorial University Medical Center opened a
satellite facility in Savannah. We began seeing
patients at 310 Eisenhower Drive, Building 11, in
early July. The new location offers radiation
therapy and the same quality care that patients
receive at our main facility on Waters Avenue.
Radiation services are administered Monday
through Friday by Michael Hasselle, M.D., and
Aaron Pederson, M.D.
Our physicians work with medical physicists
Caleb Price, Ph.D., and Chanté Frazier, M.S. Price
is the only doctorate-level radiation physicist in
the region and his research on radiation dose
algorithms and intraoperative dose monitoring is
used internationally. The ACI’s radiation oncology
team also includes board-certified medical
dosimetrists Bill Shay, Gina Dickerson, Donna
Ghorbanpoor, and Dani Wilson. To request an
appointment, call 912-350-2550.