Harbin Clinic Medical Oncology

Harbin Clinic Medical Oncologists and Nurse Practitioner.

Our Medical Oncologists evaluate and treat patients with cancer and hematologic abnormalities. Harbin Clinic Hematology-Oncology has four board-certified specialists who are leaders in providing cutting-edge cancer care through the delivery of the latest treatments with professional expertise and exceptional personalized care.

No other field in medicine is changing as rapidly as oncology. Understanding cancer and, thereby, defeating it requires knowledge of cell and molecular biology, immunology, virology, physiology and genetics. New drugs and biologic agents are being introduced at lightening speed to treat cancer and control symptoms. Our physicians are utilizing the very latest treatment regimens.

Harbin Clinic Hematology & Oncology Staff

Our highly trained staff delivers compassionate, individualized care to patients and their families in our easily accessible center. Our cancer care staff consists of oncology-certified registered nurses, a nurse practitioner, licensed practical nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory and supportive staff.

Laboratory Services

Laboratory analyses play a vital role in the diagnosis and management of hematology and oncology patients. Our center has an on-site accredited lab which provides convenience for our patients and immediate results to our physicians. Our laboratory personnel is highly qualified with many years of experience.

Pharmacy Services

Harbin Clinic Hematology/Oncology has a full-time registered pharmacist on-site. She reviews the patient chart and dosages with the physicians; provides education when needed; and prepares chemotherapeutic agents under a vertical laminar flow hood for the oncology registered nurses to administer.

Chemotherapy and Infusion Therapy

Local students work in the Healing Garden.

Our patients receive outpatient infusion services in a large, open room with comfortable reclining chairs. The treatment area has a wall of windows that allow visual access to our outdoor courtyard and our Healing Garden. The Healing Garden was a labor of love created by local students and their teachers to provide a beautifully landscaped garden featuring a variety of blooming plants, water fountains and birdfeeders that attract birds and squirrels. This peaceful garden is a focal point for our patients and their families.

Our registered nurses are trained and certified to deliver chemotherapeutic drugs. Most are nationally certified through the Oncology Nurses Society. They also provide ongoing education and support to our patients and their families.

Bone Marrow Transplants

Bone Marrow Transplants can be an important in the treatment of some types of cancer. Transplants are not performed here in Rome, but our physicians have excellent working relationships with Bone Marrow Transplants centers in the Southeast and can refer patients who are candidates for this procedure.

Chemotherapy: What It Is, How It Helps
(Information provided by the American Cancer Society)

Introduction
The word chemotherapy was once used to mean any medicine for treating any disease. Even taking an aspirin would be chemotherapy. These days, chemotherapy is most often used to mean taking medicines, or drugs, to treat cancer. You might take these drugs before or after surgery, with radiation (x-ray) treatment, or you might take the drugs by themselves.

Cancer chemotherapy is not new. It has been helping people since the early 1950s. The chemotherapy drugs your doctor suggests have been tested again and again. Careful research shows they work. Partly because of chemotherapy, many people with cancer live full and happy lives.

Dr. Melissa Dillmon discusses treatment options with a patient.

How Chemotherapy Works
If your doctor wants you to have chemotherapy, it means something can be done to try to control, or even cure, your cancer.

Cancer is a group of cells that divide quickly and are growing out of control. The word cancer is just a broad name for many different diseases. They all affect your body in different ways. But these diseases have one thing in common: they involve cells growing out of control. Everyone's cancer is different and so is the chemotherapy that is given.

You and your doctor will decide on what chemotherapy is best for your cancer. Together, you will plan a schedule that works for you.

How Is Chemotherapy Given?
Most chemotherapy drugs are given in 1 of the following ways:

• You might simply swallow a pill. If your chemotherapy is a pill, just swallow it as your doctor prescribes.
• Sometimes chemotherapy is given like a flu shot. The shots may be given in your doctor's office, a hospital, a clinic, or at home.
• Sometimes drugs are given right into your veins through a needle. This is called an IV (intravenous) injection.

  You may take chemotherapy once a day, once a week, or even once a month, depending on the type of cancer you have and the chemotherapy you are taking. How long you take chemotherapy also depends on the type of cancer and what length of time research has shown produces the best treatment results.

How Much Does Chemotherapy Cost?
The cost of chemotherapy will depend on a lot of things, such as the kinds of drugs used and how often you take them. You can ask about the cost and where to get help in paying for chemotherapy if you need it. If you have medical insurance, check to see if it pays for chemotherapy. You may also want to ask a social worker at your local hospital to help you look into payment through government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, or other agencies.

What Are the Side Effects of Chemotherapy?
Some people have no side effects at all from chemotherapy. Sometimes, however, chemotherapy will make you feel sick. This is because the drugs being used are very strong. They go after any cell that is quickly dividing, whether it's a cancer cell or not. So some non-cancer cells in the body that divide quickly are also damaged.

Parts of the Body Affected by Chemotherapy

• cells in your hair (can cause hair loss)
• cells in your bone marrow (can cause a tired feeling and higher risk of infection)
• cells of the skin and mouth (can cause sores in your mouth and dry skin)
• cells in your stomach and intestines (can cause you to feel sick to your stomach)

  Dr. Gerald McCormick talks with a patient.

  Bone Marrow Changes
  Bone marrow is the inner part of some bones that makes your blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets). It is often affected by chemotherapy in the following ways:

  Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. During chemotherapy, the bone marrow may not be able to make enough red blood cells. Not having enough red blood cells is called anemia and can cause shortness of breath, weakness, and fatigue.

  White blood cells fight infection. Chemotherapy lowers your white blood cell count, which can lower your resistance to infections. Your cancer care team may recommend certain precautions to avoid infection, such as wearing a surgical mask, not being near people with colds, not eating uncooked foods, and washing your hands thoroughly.

  Platelets form blood clots that plug up any cuts or bruises. If your bone marrow cannot make enough platelets, you may bleed too much, even from small cuts. If your platelet count is very low, you will need to be very careful to avoid any cuts or bruises. Even brushing your teeth with a brush that has hard bristles could cause your gums to bleed, so you may need a special toothbrush.

  Hair, Skin, Mouth, and Stomach
  Cells in your hair, skin, mouth, and gastrointestinal tract (stomach and intestines) can be affected by chemotherapy. This can result in hair loss, sores in your mouth, dry skin, nausea, and vomiting.

Sexuality
Chemotherapy can affect sexuality in both men and women. Sometimes sexual desire is decreased for a period of time then returns. Some drugs given during chemotherapy may affect a woman's hormones, triggering hot flashes and dryness of the vagina. For more information on the sexual effects of chemotherapy, please see the American Cancer Society documents, "Sexuality & Cancer: For the Man Who Has Cancer and His Partner" or "Sexuality & Cancer: For the Woman Who Has Cancer and Her Partner."

Preventing and Treating Side Effects
The good news is that there are things you can do to lessen or to get rid of some of these side effects.

You can take some medicines at the same time as your chemotherapy to prevent vomiting or feeling sick to your stomach.

New drugs called growth factors can be given as injections to help the bone marrow recover from chemotherapy and start making new blood cells.
Transfusions of red blood cells or platelets from blood donors help many people.

Remember that not everyone gets the same chemotherapy drugs.

hemotherapy for some cancers may be much stronger and cause more side effects than other drugs. Also, everybody is different. Your general state of health and fitness will affect how your body reacts to chemotherapy. You may be able to go on with what you normally do while you are on chemotherapy. You may not have to stop working or be on a special diet. On the other hand, some people need to be in the hospital so that doctors can watch them closely and treat certain side effects. Ask your cancer care team what you'll be able to do while you're being treated.

Nurse Paige Shaw prepares chemotherapy medications.

Chemotherapy and Possible Effects on Your Family
Cancer isn't contagious, so you can go on being close to family and friends. Having chemotherapy won't "rub off" on anybody else either. Depending on how your body reacts to the treatment drugs, people may not notice you are on chemotherapy at all. If you do get unpleasant side effects, your family and friends can do things to help. When someone asks, "How can I help?" have a few suggestions ready.

You may not feel like eating very much, so ask family members to take turns cooking foods that you feel you can eat.

You might get tired after each treatment and need extra rest. Ask your family to do little jobs for you until you feel better.

Remember that your family cares very much about you, and they may feel nervous about your chemotherapy. Let your family and friends know how much their support means to you. Be honest about how you feel. Get into the habit of talking things over with your family and friends so they can share your ups and downs. There will be times when the people closest to you also feel tired or sad, and you can help them feel better by reminding them how much you value their help.

You and Your Doctor
Because cancer is different for everyone, your chemotherapy will be planned just for you. Work closely with your doctor to decide what's best for you.
Ask questions: Ask the doctor, nurses, social workers, and other professionals on your team as many questions as you need to. They know the most about chemotherapy and how it works.

Come prepared: Write down your questions ahead of time and don't be afraid to say you are confused, or want to ask the same questions over again. Nothing you say will sound "silly" or "strange" to your health care team, because they know you want to understand chemotherapy as much as possible. All patients receiving chemotherapy have questions.

Here are some questions you might want to ask:

How long will I be getting chemotherapy?
How will we know if it's working?
What are the usual side effects of the chemotherapy you recommended?
Is there any way to make these side effects less severe?
How long do the side effects last? Are any permanent?
How will this chemotherapy affect my prognosis (outlook) for cure or long-term survival?
Will I still be able to work (go to school) during treatment?
Is there anything I should do to prepare for chemotherapy?