Kettering Cancer Care offers easy access from Troy to Hamilton

Offering comprehensive care at every stage of a patient’s journey, Kettering Cancer Care offers easy access to patients from Troy all the way south to Hamilton. Its four main locations include the Kettering Cancer Center, located in the Pavilion on the Kettering Medical Center campus, Cancer Care at Soin Medical Center in Beavercreek, a facility at Fort Hamilton Hospital and its newest location at Troy Hospital.

Each of those facilities has been integrated to provide a continuum of care for residents of southwest Ohio.

“So theoretically, you could have a patient see a doctor at Kettering Medical Center at the Pavilion, and then have all their infusions done at Soin,” says Kenneth Chaij, executive director of oncology at the Kettering Cancer Center. “Having our four integrated facilities allows choice, allows easier access, and is hopefully closer to home. It gives you options, so if you want to start your treatment sooner, you can go from Troy and have your radiation there for a few days because they have an opening and then finish up at Soin in Beavercreek because it’s closer to home.

“That way, you are getting the best care possible and starting it as soon as possible. In our market, we are the absolute single best-integrated cancer program that you will find.”

That care is getting better and more accessible every day. Kettering is opening a new breast evaluation center at Troy Hospital, a first-of-its-kind facility dedicated to women’s health. The new center is expected to open in spring of 2021.

“The intent is to make it our northernmost comprehensive diagnostic center,” says Chaij.

The breast evaluation center will be the fifth comprehensive breast evaluation center for Kettering Health Network. Services that will be available include screening and diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound, DEXA scan, breast biopsy and risk assessment.

In addition to the diagnostic services, there will be a Sensory Suite in the mammography room that includes a monitor featuring relaxing images, sounds and fragrances designed to reduce anxiety and increase comfort during a mammogram.

“Having a breast evaluation center at Troy Hospital allows Kettering Health Network to have localized, high-quality breast health care close to home for Miami County residents,” says Eric Lunde, president of Troy Hospital.

The center will be approximately 3,300 square feet and located on the second floor of the hospital. It will include a mammography machine, ultrasound, DEXA scan and two waiting rooms.

“We are really excited to be able to provide this high level of service to women in the Troy area and surrounding communities,” says Sally Grady, director of Kettering Breast Evaluation Centers. 

Holistic Approach to Care

Kettering Health prides itself on assembling the most experienced cancer care team possible, says Chaij. It all starts with a tumor conference where the patient is evaluated and care is discussed.

“We pull a whole team together to determine a patient’s care, and it all depends on the type of cancer and the patient’s needs,” says Chaij. “Sometimes you might just need radiation and surgery, other times you may need surgery and medical oncology in the form of chemotherapy and radiation might not happen for a while, if ever.”

The team then charts out a course of care, providing educational, emotional and spiritual support not just for the patient, but their entire family. This is all done to meet the life-altering challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Everything is planned out in advance and care moves forward in a very coordinated fashion with help from a support staff that includes a nurse navigator.

“They are the glue that holds everything together,” explains Chaij. “The navigator is joined at the hip with the patient and their family and works with them. They will make sure your appointments are on your calendar and will call you in advance to remind you of an appointment. They are there to assist the patient and their families to help them walk through things.”

Through it all, the team at Kettering Health Network is constantly monitoring and evaluating not only the cancer care, but also the patient’s needs.

“Primary care physicians can also help us identify a patient’s needs that go beyond cancer,” says Chaij. “A patient could need help with diabetes or have dermatology issues. We take into account all those co-morbidities to help coordinate care beyond our own four walls.”

Other concerns go beyond health care.

“They may need a dietician or a social worker,” adds Chaij. “Sometimes, it’s financial needs—they may not have insurance. We have people on staff here, many of whom have worked in the insurance industry who now work for us, who can help people find the means to pay for things. We keep the whole patient at the center of our attention 100% of the time.”

Like other major health care providers, Kettering Health Network is going through a crazy year thanks to the pandemic. That’s helped crystalize care, regardless of whether its cancer care or something else.

“One of the greatest challenges to providing care is getting people in as quickly and as safely as we can,” says Chaij. “We have worked very hard to minimize the risk of COVID if they are getting treatment for cancer.”

That includes implementing all the safety processes and protocols that will keep patients safe. The network is also working closely with primary care physicians, who may see signs of cancer in their patients.

Above all, it’s extremely important to not hold off on care because of the pandemic, Chaij stresses.

“If you think you have an issue, get to your primary care physician,” says Chaij. “We have seen a lot of people putting off care and not getting screened because of the pandemic.”

Which, of course, is dangerous.

“They may later find out that there was some sort of preventative care that could have been put in place,” says Chaij. “Or maybe the cancer is affecting them more now because the disease has progressed and the type of surgery they need has become much more invasive.

“We are constantly beating that drum with our primary care physicians. Don’t put off treatment. There are a lot of technologies you can use today, like telehealth.

“Above all, please don’t put anything off because of the pandemic, because cancer is life changing.”