After Your Diagnosis

When a person is initially diagnosed with cancer, there are usually lots of questions.

Texas Health Fort Worth has a comprehensive, award-winning Cancer Resource Center designed to help patients and their families with all their educational needs. Located on the ground floor of the Klabzuba Cancer Center, the resource center includes a consumer lending library with numerous pamphlets and booklets on major cancers.

With an advanced degree in education and more than 25 years of oncology experience, Gayle Wilkins, R.N., M.S.N., O.C.N., is ready to assist individuals with questions about cancer and direct patients and family members to available resources in our community. The recent addition of boutique items in the center allows patients and their friends to shop for wigs, scarves, camisoles and other items designed to make the process of cancer treatment a little easier.

Education

Cancer Care Coordinator

Anyone whose life has been touched by cancer knows that the road to recovery can be a long one.

Battling the disease is tiring and stressful enough, and coordinating doctors, appointments and treatments can be very time-consuming and confusing for patients and their family members. The Cancer Care Coordinator at Texas Health Fort Worth assures that both patients and their family members are receiving the support and resources needed to navigate the often complex health care system.

Leanna Barrett, Cancer Care Coordinator at Texas Health Fort Worth, helps to reduce stress and the hours spent by patients and physicians making appointments and coordinating care so that both can focus on what is truly important — receiving and providing the care to promote healing and quality of life. Barrett also helps coordinate the cancer programs participation in special community events for survivors.

Nurse Navigators

Breast Navigator — Our breast cancer navigator, Dana McGuirk, R.N., B.S.N., is certified by a nationally-recognized breast cancer navigation program and is a breast cancer survivor herself who has been through the Texas Health Fort Worth breast cancer navigation program.

Upon diagnosis, McGuirk is available to personally guide each patient through her journey and complex decision-making process.

Lung Navigator — Cristy Gehringer, R.N., B.S.N., O.C.N., is an oncology certified nurse who serves as a special resource for patients who are diagnosed with lung cancer. As a nurse lung navigator, she makes sure that patients have a swift journey through the complex series of treatments and events. Gehringer coordinates with members of our Thoracic Team, a unique group of Texas Health Fort Worth physicians, who are committed to providing quality care for lung cancer patients and their families.

Prostate Navigator — The Prostate Cancer Resource Center is coordinated by Gayle Wilkins, R.N., M.S.N., O.C.N., who provides education and resources for men and their loved ones facing a prostate cancer diagnosis. Whether meeting with a group of survivors, or providing one-on-one consultation, Gayle is available to assist survivors with understanding the side effects and long-term implications of the various prostate cancer treatments.

Lymphedema Program — Texas Health Fort Worth offers the Lymphedema (LE) Program to help those suffering from LE, a common side effect of surgically removing lymph nodes or radiation. LE can lead to chronic swelling of the arm, hand and/or chest wall, pain, restricted movement of the shoulder and arm, and increased susceptibility to infection.

Treatment

Texas Health Fort Worth offers comprehensive treatment options for our patients in both inpatient and outpatient environments. With the expertise of our community medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons, pathologists and radiologists, patients have a full range of diagnostic treatment modalities available to them.

Dedicated Breast Surgeons

Texas Health Fort Worth is home to board-certified surgeons whose practices specialize in breast surgery.

Thoracic Oncology Team

A group of thoracic surgeons, medical and radiation oncologist and pulmonologists work together closely to evaluate the cancer treatment experience for patients with suspected or diagnosed lung cancer. This unique group of Texas Health Fort Worth physicians is committed to providing coordinated, quality care for lung cancer patients and their families.

Multidisciplinary Treatment Planning and Cancer Conferences

Cancer conferences are offered on a weekly basis to allow the opportunity for physicians to discuss treatment options for specific patients. Special breast cancer conferences are held every two weeks to discuss the latest treatment options and track patients' progress.

Oncology Unit

A 35-bed oncology unit at Texas Health Fort Worth is located on the seventh floor of the Harris Tower and is staffed with oncology trained and certified nurses. The experienced nurses who care for patients on the oncology unit complete the Oncology Nursing Society Chemotherapy and Biotherapy course. New employees attend the course after competency is demonstrated in other areas of care. Chemotherapy policies are reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current evidence-based practice.

Comprehensive services provided on the inpatient oncology unit include:

• Chemotherapy drug administration
• Blood transfusions
• Postoperative care related to cancer diagnosis
• Diagnostic procedures
• Comprehensive treatment for Leukemia and Lymphoma patients

Outpatient Medical Services

Most cancer patients receive ongoing treatments in an outpatient setting. The Outpatient Medical Services Department is designed to provide treatments in a comfortable environment. The staff works closely with the patient's private physician to provide cancer treatment and any additional procedures that might be required as a result of receiving cancer treatments. Treatment options on the unit include:

• Chemotherapy administration
• Blood product transfusions
• IV medication infusion
• Plasmapheresis
• Bone marrow biopsy
• Implantable port care
• Pheresis catheter care
• Therapeutic phlebotomy

Survivorship

In addition to the ongoing support provided to patients by the oncology staff, a few special events are scheduled each year to provide additional education and support.

STEPs to Surviving Breast Cancer

The STEPs to Surviving Breast Cancer series helps participants understand the physical and emotional changes accompanying breast cancer, and helps promote the healing process. The classes are designed for the woman with cancer and those individuals involved in her support. The six-week series is held each Spring and Fall.

STEPs to Surviving Prostate Cancer

Texas Health Fort Worth also offers a STEPs program for Prostate Cancer survivors. The series offers an innovative combination of social, therapeutic, educational and person-directed support to promote the healing process for its participants. Sponsored by the Bernard C. Alger Cancer Fund of the Texas Health Harris Methodist Foundation, the series is offered twice a year in the Klabzuba Cancer Center.

Follow this link for more information on either STEPS program.

Palliative Care

The first and only Palliative Care Unit in Fort Worth opened to patients in July 2009. It includes a family conference room, chapel, sitting, dining and shower areas as well as palliative care staff offices. The unit consists of an interdisciplinary team dedicated to helping control symptoms for patients with progressive disease.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.