Published: October 29, 2009 09:35 am      

Help is here — at home

CLINTON — When someone is diagnosed with breast cancer, one of the first things addressed is what treatment will be best.

The Radiation Oncology Department at the north campus of Mercy Medical Center provides treatment to a variety of cancer patients, including those diagnosed with breast cancer.

In the 1990s, the University of Iowa and Mercy formed a partnership to have a full-time radiation oncology outreach clinic. For several years, the department had a rotation of doctors from the University of Iowa before deciding it wanted a permanent radiation oncologist. Dr. Mark Dion, a radiation oncologist and an associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Iowa, has been working at Mercy through the university since 2000.

The department provides conventional radiation therapy to patients using a Varian 2100ex-d linear accelerator. Intensity modulated radiation therapy is also available to patients. Beth Wirth, an oncology certified nurse and the resource nurse for the department, said the department saw approximately 125 different patients last year, 26 of whom were diagnosed with breast cancer. Some patients receive treatments to attempt to cure them, while others receive them to control and treat symptoms of their condition.

Wirth said the therapy is delivered over a long period of time. Patients typically need 25 to 35 treatments, which are administered daily for approximately 15 minutes.

“It means we see those same patients 30 to 35 times, every day,” said Wirth. “So therefore, we have the opportunity not only to deliver our radiation therapy treatment with a machine, which is what they require, but also to take care of them in other ways too.”

Wirth said she feels they try to take care of patients on an emotional level, as well as a physical one. She said they treat the patients with compassion, respect and excellence. She said part of that goal is met by knowing the patient.

“We really get to know our patients very well. They come at a very vulnerable time in their life,” said Wirth. She said they remember information about a patient’s children, hobbies and pets.

“We know the whole person, because that's part of taking care of someone is to take care of the whole person. If there's some frustrations or some joys outside of here, we usually know it. And that's going to play a part in how well they respond to their illness and their treatment. So it's important for us to know that,” said Wirth.

“And actually, people think of oncology as being kind of a depressing, difficult thing to do. But it's actually very rewarding. And the patients are very nice to work with,” said Dion.

Wirth and Dion said they try to create a relaxed atmosphere. Wirth said that while they occasionally have to deliver sad news, the office is not all doom and gloom.

“I think to work in oncology, to me, is really a calling. If you think of the type of people that these folks care for every day, not everybody can do that. And I think they're just very dedicated and it's a special calling for them,” said Joan Noe, vice president of Mission and Professional services at Mercy. “So to be able to be compassionate to every single person and offer hope to every person who comes through the door is just a very special thing.”

Wirth said the department enjoys taking care of local patients, close to home. She said most patients do not have to travel anywhere else to receive the radiation therapy they need. She said many women with breast cancer continue through their daily routines — going to work or taking care of their families. She said these people might not be able to do these things if they had to travel an hour or more for a 15-minute radiation treatment.

“It's part of taking care of the whole person and realizing they have a life outside getting treatment,” said Wirth. To help make the process easier for a patient, the department also has developed a good relationship with Dr. Anoop Agaarwal, who provides chemotherapy treatments to most patients in the area.

“People could go to Davenport or the university or other places to get radiation, but why would you want to do all that? Stay right here at home and get every bit as good of care,” said Dion.

“It's (radiation) a very effective way to treat (cancer). The incidence of serious side effects and problems is very low. Most people are very satisfied with the cosmetic result afterwards,” said Dion. “It's taken breast cancer from being what was normally a very scary thing — considering the fact that you had a life-threatening illness and then you had a deforming surgery that was the only answer to the problem — to ‘We can take care of this very simply for you.’”

Dion said in the 1970s and 1980s, people diagnosed with breast cancer would have a mastectomy. He said this major procedure not only had cosmetic issues, but also had some problematic side effects. Then doctors considered just performing a lumpectomy. Dion said this procedure alone would only have a 50-percent success rate, with half of the women experiencing recurrence. Dion said it was not until the lumpectomy was paired with radiation therapy that the procedure had the survival rate of a mastectomy without some of the side effects. He said radiation therapy remains a much safer and more effective treatment method.

“As long as women will get their tests to find these tumors when they're small, and then we get them into treatment, get the lump out, get their radiation completed,” said Dion

Wirth said the Radiation Oncology team is comprised of several well-trained and certified professionals. Radiation therapists include Darla Olson, Linda Hull and Trista Weber.

Olson is also a Certified Medical Dosimetrist. She said this team provides skilled treatment, as well as compassionate support. She said they get very close to some of their patients and will often bump into them around town after the treatment is finished.

“And they think of us as a part of their family, just as we think of them as part of our family. So it's always a joy to see them out in the community,” said Wirth.