New cancer center treats more than deadly diseases

HIDDEN GEM: Gerald A. Colvin, director of the new cancer center in South County Hospital, discusses a patient's case with Lisa Willis, medical receptionist. In the background is Dawn White, medical receptionist. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
HIDDEN GEM: Gerald A. Colvin, director of the new cancer center in South County Hospital, discusses a patient's case with Lisa Willis, medical receptionist. In the background is Dawn White, medical receptionist. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Although South County Hospital has treated cancer patients for years, its new South Kingstown cancer center provides patient care in a more coherent, cohesive, collegial and efficient way, with all treatments and appointments under one roof, said Dr. James Smythe.

Before the cancer center opened in late November 2016, the three medical oncologists had offices in a nearby building, with the outpatient infusion unit in an area designed for inpatients, far from ideal for patients and providers.

“Our goal is to provide as much of the oncological care to this community that we can with a level of expertise, compassion and good care,” said Smythe.

More than half of the center’s patients do not have cancer, but need treatments for such hematologic conditions as anemia, high or low white blood counts and immunodeficiency syndrome, said center Director Gerald A. Colvin, a doctor of osteopathy. “I wish we could change the name … some patients get nervous when they come here.”

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Breast, lung and colorectal cancers and non-Hodgkin lymphomas are the cancers most frequently treated at the center, said Smythe, asserting that the small size of Rhode Island’s only independent community hospital is advantageous.

“We know you and love you better,” he said, noting that many patients complain of feeling like “a number” at larger institutions. “Our coherent, integrated and multidisciplinary approach to care involves board-certified, highly experienced and well-trained oncologists and an excellent infusion unit,” said Smythe, who noted that developing the new center, which has 34 employees, was several years in the making. A total of $6.6 million was raised for the center, which has a light, bright and nautical feel. Plaques adorning many offices and examining rooms are a testament to the broad community support.

“Our goal at South County Hospital … across all disciplines … is to know what we know how to do, do it well and know what we cannot do as well and refer those folks to other places,” said Smythe. Pediatric cancer patients and patients who need surgery for a brain tumor or other rare malignancies are referred elsewhere, he said.

The longstanding wellness oncology program now offers free massage therapy, acupuncture and Reiki for cancer center patients, who also may receive free psychological counseling, physical therapy and nutritional counseling from certified oncology nutritionists. When feasible, certain services are provided to patients during their infusion treatments, which may last up to eight hours.

The new center, which treats approximately 30 patients each day with infusions, has state-of-the-art technology, said Colvin, including a lab with a complete blood-count machine that evaluates patient’s blood results within a minute or two.

Colvin said that approximately 85 percent of the country’s hematology and oncology patients receive treatment from community hospitals, rather than from comprehensive academic/research institutions. Thanks to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a nonprofit alliance of 27 leading cancer centers developing scientific information on standards of cancer care, Colvin said, “You are getting the same treatment, whether you drive to Sloan Kettering or Boston or two miles away to this hospital … the same medication, the same dose in the exact same way,” said Colvin.

In 2013, Rhode Island’s age-adjusted incidence rate of cancer for all races and both genders was 479.4 per 100,000 people – the nation’s sixth highest, outpaced only by Delaware, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Why such a high ranking? Colvin noted the state’s older population, high incidences of radon and historically heavily industrialized sectors, while Smythe cited tobacco use, lack of exercise and living in heavily urbanized areas.

From 2009 through 2013, Rhode Island’s incidence rates for nine of the top 10 cancers exceeded national incidence rates; during that time, cancer rates statewide, with nearly 6,000 cases annually, and county-by-county, remained stable. Nevertheless, the cancer center reported a one-year 11 percent increase in new cancer cases between 2016’s 325 new cases and 2015’s 292 new cases. Colvin, who expects demand will continue to grow, said South County Hospital is committed to providing essential services to meet that demand.

“I’m proud to be here,” he said. “It’s a hidden gem.” •

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