Cleveland Regional's cancer program, one of the first in the region to be certified by the American College of Surgeons, offers a multidisciplinary approach to treatment and care of cancer patients. And as part of Carolinas Medical Center's Blumenthal Cancer Center, area patients and their families have access to those same physician groups, education, comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services as well as support services without traveling far from home.

Our cancer care team of specialists includes board-certified medical and radiation oncologists, board-certified surgeons, registered radiation therapists, a physicist, a dosimetrist, certified oncology nurses, a certified cancer registrar and other support personnel.

Our Mission
To provide high quality patient care and patient/family education in a safe, pleasing and relaxed atmosphere that is accessible to all. We will strive to provide the availability of the support systems and statistical information that are vital components contributing to healthcare decisions. Utilizing a collaborative approach with a multidisciplinary team, we will organize and operate a unified system of prevention initiatives and community awareness.

Medical/Nursing Oncology

• Chemotherapy
• Hydration therapy
• Bone marrow aspiration/biopsy
• Blood administration
• Therapeutic phlebotomies
• Patient/family education

Radiation Oncology

• Radiation therapy
• Interstitial Brachytherapy (radioactive seed implants for prostate, etc.)
• Computerized treatment planning using three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy
• Customized treatment shielding design/fabrication
• Linear accelerator with photon and electron capabilities
• IMRT (Intensely Modulated Radiation Therapy)

Surgical Oncology
A full complement of surgical oncology procedures (breast, including minimally invasive stereotactic breast biopsies and reconstruction, colon, prostate, lung, skin and others)

Cancer Data Services

• Reports as required to the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry and National Cancer Data Base
• Confidential lifetime tracking of cancer patients

Clinical Cancer Conference

• A multidisciplinary team of physicians participating in monthly group discussions to evaluate individual patient treatment options and interventions
• Provides continuing education for healthcare providers

Resource/Wellness Center
Please visit our Resource/Wellnes Center located in the Blumenthal Cancer Center. Information is available on a variety of cancer topics. Videos, books, CD’s, and cassette tapes can be checked out if desired. The center is supported by the American Cancer Society through a Community Development Grant. Please call 704-487-3692 for information.

The CancerHelp computer is an easy-to-use touchscreen with information from sources you can trust including the National Cancer Institute, it is also located in the Resource/Wellness Center. This information is updated monthly. Visit the CancerHelp's website, www.cancerhelp.org. The center is supported by the American Cancer Society through a Community Development Grant.

Patient Navigator
A patient navigator is a trained professional, usually a nurse or social worker, who coordinates services and helps patients overcome barriers to receiving quality care. Patient navigators help patients and families maneuver through the healthcare system. The navigator is someone the patient can lean on for advice, support and direction through the entire treatment process. Navigation begins from the moment a cancer detection procedure shows an abnormal finding, continues through cancer diagnostic tests, and through the completion of cancer treatment. The focus of the patient navigator is to help patients, caregivers and families deal with all of the logistics of dealing with an illness so the family can concentrate on caring for their loved one.

Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are cancer treatments or research studies that test new treatments in people with cancer. For many years Cleveland County residents have had to travel to Carolinas Medical, Duke, Wake Forest and Chapel Hill to take part in clinical trial. Residents in Cleveland County and surrounding areas can now come to Cleveland Regional to participate in a clinical trial. About 3% of our population participates in clinical trials. Why? Because people are uneducated about what clinical trials are and what happens in a clinical trial. How will we find a cure for cancer if people don’t participate in clinical trials? For more information about clinical trials or if you want to participate in a clinical trial, please contact LaTonia Hopper, Research Nurse at 704-487-3772 or Velma Thompson, Clinical Research Analyst, 704-487-3987.