When you begin treatment at the Aspirus Regional Cancer Center you’ll be introduced to your cancer team, experienced cancer specialists to help you navigate the unfamiliar world of cancer treatment and provide support throughout the process. Your diverse and talented clinical team will provide you with the most effective treatment possible.
These cancer specialists are medical doctors who are experts in treating people with cancer and blood diseases. They will talk with you about the stage and extent of your cancer, explain treatment options, and decide with you on a personalized plan of care. They coordinate timing of referrals for radiation therapy and surgery, and continue to follow you through physical exams, lab work and scans after your treatments finish.
You may be referred to see a Radiation Oncologist if radiation is appropriate in your treatment. A radiation oncologist is a cancer expert who specializes in using radiation to treat cancer. The radiation oncologist prescribes the treatment to a specific area and works with other team members to develop a treatment plan best suited for you. The radiation oncologist communicates with the physician who referred you throughout your treatment.
These nurses possess a wide range of skills and help implement the plan of care that you and your doctor have agreed upon. They will teach you about your chemotherapy, radiation therapy, side effects you may experience, and how to deal with those side effects. Nurses will answer your phone calls when you call with questions. Most of our nurses are Oncology Certified Nurses, which means that they have passed an examination proving their proficiency in the field of oncology.
Pharmacists in the Aspirus Regional Cancer Center oversee chemotherapy preparation, help you with medication instructions and fill prescriptions written by Aspirus Regional Cancer Center cancer experts.
These cancer specialists have specialized training to deliver radiation therapy as prescribed by the radiation oncologist. Radiation therapists position patients to receive their radiation at each treatment, monitor the patient’s progress, and refer the patient to other team members for care as needed.
These cancer specialists do their work “behind the scenes,” developing a computerized treatment plan to give the radiation dose that the physician has prescribed for each individual patient. Extensive planning and calculating is done and approved before a person can start radiation treatment.
These specialists are responsible for installation of new equipment, establishing the planning systems utilized by the medical dosimetrists, and developing and directing quality control programs for equipment and procedures. They work closely with the radiation oncologist in treatment planning, the radiation therapists in delivering treatment, and they oversee the work of the medical dosimetrist and the service engineers who work on the equipment.
These specialists provide nutrition information and education to patients and their family members. This service ensures that individuals receiving treatment understand their unique nutritional needs and have the information and guidance for good nutrition throughout their treatment.
An integral part of your treatment team, they draw your blood and perform your blood tests, which often determine whether or not you can safely receive treatment. They also assist the physicians with procedures that help in diagnosing and evaluating your condition.
Available to help you deal with the stress and uncertainty of your diagnosis, social worker can offer help with coping, home care arrangements, financial concerns and advance directives. Ask your doctor or nurse if you would like to speak with a social worker at your appointment.
Spirituality means different things to different people. If you are having difficulty adjusting to your illness, you can ask to speak with a Pastoral Care Representative, who can help you deal with issues of spirituality, anxiety about your illness, problems communicating with your family and friends, coping with grief and concerns about death and dying.
Patient Reflections & Support Group
Aspirus Regional Cancer Center patients and their families share their stories of courage, life and hope as they reflect on their personal journey with cancer.
The Aspirus Regional Cancer Center typically has 30 to 40 Phase II and Phase III clinical trials available for patient participation. For a complete list of the clinical trials available at the Aspirus Regional Cancer Center, see our online listing of clinical trials, or contact our research nurse at Aspirus Regional Cancer Center 715.847.2353 or toll free at 1.877.405.6866.
