Central Region Cancer Center 212 ANNUAL REPORT
Central Region Cancer Center The patients at Cancer Center at St. Joseph s Medical Center have access to the best cancer care available close to home. The Center offers comprehensive care with state-of-the-art services, including clinical trials. Every week an interdisciplinary cancer team meets to form and review individual plans for patients. In addition to our medical staff, we offer a host of services, including imaging and image-aided biopsies, rehabilitation and physical therapy, endoscopy, spiritual support, grief support, social services, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a cancer care coordinator. The St. Joseph s Cancer Center, with help from the Foundation, earned two community grants from the Minnesota Chapter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure: Brining Pink to the Fields received $92,536 to promote free breast cancer screening tests and breast cancer education and awareness to rural women in north-central and northwestern Minnesota. The Pink Ribbon Cupboard received $3, to continue providing emergency financial assistance to women undergoing breast cancer treatment. From screening to diagnosis, treatment through survivorship, is here for you. Our team includes: A clinical patient navigator Medical oncologists Oncology certified nurse practitioner Radiologists Pathologists Surgeons A radiation oncologist Specialized nursing staff A clinical research nurse Genetic counseling Cancer registry Financial counselor Registered dietician Social worker Therapy services-certified Lymphedema Specialists Chaplain St. Joseph s Medical Center, Brainerd, MN Only four breast centers in Minnesota are accredited by the American College of Surgeon s National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. Essentia Health Cancer Center at St. Joseph s Medical Center is one of those four. The Cancer Center was recognized with a 211 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. 2 CANCER CENTER ANNUAL REPORT 212
Clinical Trials Patients at the Cancer Centers in Brainerd, Fargo, and Duluth have access to a number of clinical research studies, through an affiliation between the Institute of Rural Health and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), without having to leave their community. The cancer clinical trials program offers patients the opportunity to participate in studies for breast, prostate, colorectal, esophageal, lung, multiple myeloma as well as other types of cancer. These studies provide access to cutting-edge treatments earlier than most people can receive them. Our affiliation with the NCI brings the benefits of clinical research to patients in a region that would otherwise be without access to clinical trials due to the geographical distance from the nearest comprehensive cancer center. Our strategy is to provide patients in the region access to state-of-the-art cancer care through participation in NCI supported treatment and cancer control protocols. Clinical trial access is an important standard of care that needs to be available to anyone diagnosed with a cancer, regardless of where they may live, says Daniel Nikcevich, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator of the Duluth Community Clinical Oncology Program. Before agreeing to take part in a clinical trial, the patient will meet with the oncologist and cancer care team. At that time, patients will learn about all of the aspects of the clinical trial, including all the details about treatment, tests, risks and benefits. Barb Morris, RN, BSN, OCN Clinical Research Nurse Cancer Center St. Joseph s Medical Center 523 3rd Street North Brainerd, MN 5641 Phone: 218.828.748 Email: barbara.morris@essentiahealth.org Mandy Bartlett, RN, BAN Clinical Research Nurse Cancer Center South University Clinic 172 South University Drive Fargo, ND 5813 Phone: 71.364.6272 Email: mandy.bartlett@essentiahealth.org Anne Forsman, RN, BSN, OCN Manager, Oncology Clinical Trails Cancer Center Duluth Clinic First Street Building 42 East 1st Street Duluth, MN 5585 Phone: 218.786.3868 Email: anne.forsman@essentiahealth.org CANCER CENTER ANNUAL REPORT 212 3
W Patti joins breast cancer research hen Patti Field learned she had breast cancer, she didn t hesitate. She saw a surgeon two days after her diagnosis and had surgery the next week. A month later, Patti didn t hesitate when she was asked to participate in a research study on chemotherapy. I was all for it, she recalls. It s research and it could help someone. You know, it may help my grandkids or my greatgrandkids. Patti relied on the support of her husband, Butch, during her diagnosis and treatment.
I wanted to help somebody else. -Patti Patti, 63, had come to rely on the physicians and staff at the Cancer Center at -St. Joseph s Medical Center in Brainerd. So when her oncologist, Dr. John Harris, said she could be part of a national research study, she was eager to learn more. I wanted to help somebody else, says the Pequot Lakes resident. I was more concerned for someone else who was finding out that they have breast cancer. I didn t think about myself. Barb Morris, an oncology clinical research nurse, explained the study is testing the effectiveness of adding a drug to the standard chemotherapy regime for the type of invasive breast cancer that Patti faced. Barb answered every question I had, Patti says. You know those drugs they have those long names that you can t pronounce and have like 14 letters in each word. Barb took the time to explain how each drug works and what it is doing. Same with Dr. Harris. The whole team was that way. In August of 211, Patti joined a growing number of women in the national study and a growing number of patients in the Brainerd Lakes area participating in cancer research through the Cancer Center. As a Community Clinical Oncology Program of the National Cancer Institute, the center and the Essentia Institute of Rural Health can enroll patients in hundreds of studies on cutting-edge therapies and treatments. not receive the drug but underwent all the tests and exams to gather data. Her health will also be monitored for 1 years as part of the study. After surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, Patti learned last August that she was cancer-free. She reflected on when she got the first call that told her that she had Stage IIIC breast cancer. I babbled a bit when they called me, Patti remembers. Then I said OK, Patti, are you gonna be a boo-hoo or a fighter? There really was no choice for me. I was going to be a fighter. I just knew that I would be positive and I would be fine. Her positive attitude carries over to her participation in the clinical trial. They ve done so much research on cancer and that s how we ve come so far, Patti says. I know we ll find a cure for it. Some day I think there will be a shot to prevent cancer that you ll get when you re a baby, just like they did with polio. The chemotherapy clinical trial randomly divides women into two groups. One group receives the drug, called trastuzumab, and the other group receives just standard therapy. Patti did Patti shows off her homemade bread. CANCER CENTER ANNUAL REPORT 212 5
survival observed year Five 1 Observed Five Year Survival Rates for Breast Cancer vs. (23-24) Observed Five Year Survival Rates for Prostate Cancer vs. (23-24) 1 Survivial Rate 8 6 4 2 Survivial Rate 8 6 4 2 1 96.8 94.5 88.5 86.1 82.4 1 97.2 94.1 91 88.2 85.5 1 1 97.9 92.8 89.5 86.1 1 97.7 95.3 92.9 9.4 87.8 Five Year Observed Survival for Colorectal Cancer vs. (23-24) 1 Survivial Rate 8 6 4 2 1 88.5 71.2 65.2 63.3 55.4 1 84 74.8 67.8 62.3 57.6 Source: St. Joseph s Cancer Registry; Commission on Cancer, American College of Surgeons, Survival Reports, 212 Patti relied on the support of her husband, Butch, during her diagnosis and treatment. 6 CANCER CENTER ANNUAL REPORT 212
Survivial Rate Five year observed survival 1 8 6 4 2 Survivial Rate 1 8 6 4 2 Observed Five Year Survival Rates for Non-Small Cell Carcinoma of Lung vs. (23-24) 1 36.9 16.9 12.3 7.6 6.1 1 48.7 32 24.9 2.7 17.9 Observed Five Year Survival Rates for Small Cell Carcinoma of Lung vs. (23-24) 1 37.3 15.7 1.1 7.9 6.6 **Insuffienct Survival Data for Small Cell Lung Cancer in 23-24. Clinical Trial Accruals Data Number of St. Joseph s Medical Center Patients inrolled in Clinical Trials Patients enrolled 18 16 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 29 21 211 212 Patients inrolled at SJMC SJMC Patients inrolled elsewhere Source: St. Joseph s Cancer Registry; Commission on Cancer, American College of Surgeons, Survival Reports, 212 CANCER CENTER ANNUAL REPORT 212 7
Cancer Center St. Joseph s Medical Center 523 3rd Street North Brainerd, MN 5641 EssentiaHealth.org