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A Challenging and Rewarding YearBrian PenceThis has been my third year as Executive Director of Oncology Servicesat St. Anthony’s Medical Center. I have had the privilege to work for athird year with a terrific group of physicians, nurses, therapists and manyother cancer care professionals as we work together to grow the program.This year we have been involved in a strategic process improvementfor St. Anthony’s. The tasks forces associated have successfully met thetargeted cost savings and financial improvements for the organization.This will place us in solid financial grown for future initiatives for thecancer program. An example of new initiatives has been the use of ournew High Dose Rate Brachy-Therapy (HDR) unit for the treatmentof lung cancers in the bronchus as well as certain esophagus tumors. Inboth situations we have an interdisciplinary team of physicians and staffcaring for the patient with quality and efficiency. Pulmonologists andGI doctors come directly to the cancer center to work with our radiationoncologists so we do not need to transport the patient from one clinic toanother. It is a terrific example of interdisciplinary care.The outpatient infusion center cares for more and more patients eachyear, delivering treatments for not just cancer but many other diseasesas well. Approximately 60 percent of our patients cared for in OPinfusion have a cancer diagnosis. The other 40 percent have other healthconcerns.Approximately 1,317 new cancers were diagnosed at St. Anthony’sMedical Center in 2011. This was a smaller number of patientsdiagnosed in 2012, which was 1,486. While the number of patientsdiagnosed declined, the number of patients who received treatmentfor cancer at St. Anthony’s increased. Our interdisciplinary care offersthe opportunity for patients to have a streamlined and efficient accessto all of the oncology therapies in order to tailor treatment to theirindividualized needs. The cancer center met all of its quality goals for2011 including excellent patient satisfaction and employee satisfactionscores.We look forward to working with our medical oncologists in 2013to create and implement clinical pathways for the Cancer Care Center.Clinical pathways are the stepping stone for outcomes-based medicineand our team of physicians will continue to be engaged in the creationof pathways for all of the primary cancers diagnosed in our community.This approach assures not just the success of treatment delivery butmeasures the positive effect of an inter-disciplinary approach to cancercare. The goal will be to provide patients and the community withmeasured results of the quality care this is provided.We look forward to meeting the oncology needs of our community.We are here to provide quality care in a compassionate and comfortablesetting. Warmest regards.Brian PenceExecutive Director, Cancer Care Center314-525-40636
A message from leadershipThe St. Anthony’s Colorectal Cancer Care Team is comprised ofa group of premier oncologic specialists with research-based expertisein colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the second most commoncause of death from cancer in the U.S. today. Cure rates are increasingyearly with improvements in treatment, but more Americans need tohave their colonoscopies performed on a regular basis to exert a biggerimpact on this disease.90 percent of colon cancers occur after the age of 50. Most of thesecancers evolve from benign polyps, which grow into benign adenomas(or gland tumors). Over time (usually 10 years or so), both raised andflat adenomas can turn into cancer. Early detection and removal ofthese pre-malignant tumors can prevent colon cancer and save manylives.Risk factors for colorectal cancers include smoking, eating redmeat, refined grains and sugar, plus alcohol and obesity. Avoidanceof these lifestyle choices, plus the intake of Vitamin D, folate, andVitamin B6 and aspirin can help prevent this cancer from occurring.The genetic risk for colorectal cancer is relatively low. However,persons with a family history of this disease should inform theirprimary care physician. If a colon cancer is diagnosed by colonoscopy,surgical resection is usually performed first. Surgery includes completeremoval of the involved colon segment along with the local bloodsupply and lymph nodes. Laparoscopic (minor fiberoptic) surgery forcolon cancer is frequently performed at St. Anthony’s Medical Center.Compared to open abdominal surgery, laparoscopic surgery is just aseffective and often provides a shorter hospital stay with less pain andsimilar cure rates. Laparoscopic procedures at St. Anthony’s can beperformed with the da Vinci® Surgical System.Colorectal cancer patients at St. Anthony’s are usually seen by amulti-disciplinary care team including specialists in surgical, medical,and radiation oncology. X-rays, scans, pathology and other data areoften reviewed and evaluated at a colorectal cancer conference, wherea “personalized treatment plan” is created by consensus. NationalCancer Institute clinical trials are sometimes available for therapyin qualifying cases. Early colorectal cancer at St. Anthony’s canoften be managed with the Oncotype DX Colon Cancer (Gene)Assay, which can help predict the value of adjuvant (or preventive)chemotherapy after surgery. The K-RAS gene mutation study can alsobe exceptionally useful in colon cancer cases with advanced disease todetermine treatment eligibility for cetuximab, a monoclonal antibodyand EGFR inhibitor.Treatment for colorectal cancer at St. Anthony’s is designedby stage, according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network(NCCN) guidelines:Stage I: Usually treated by surgery without adjuvantchemotherapy.R. William Morris, M.D., M.B.A.7
Page 4 and 5: Cancer committee membersCommittee L
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Page 10 and 11: etween 59 and 85 percent. However,
Page 12 and 13: Ronna F. Lodato, M.D.patients, rect
Page 15 and 16: find metastatic lesions. If suspici
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Page 22: Contact usSt. Anthony’s Medical C

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