A cancer diagnosis is life-changing, and despite advances in prevention and treatment it remains the second leading cause of death among American adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the region, nearly 2,500 new cancer diagnoses occur annually. Until recently, many patients in fast-growing Lancaster County had to travel to Charlotte or Charleston for cancer care.
MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center has opened its first Hematology and Oncology clinic, expanding local access to specialized diagnosis, treatment and ongoing support for residents of the county and surrounding communities.
“For what we do, it’s hard for patients to travel more than 30 minutes for treatment because of side effects and the time each visit takes. That’s going to make a big difference in terms of quality of life for patients,” said William Charles, M.D., director of the medical center’s oncology service line and a clinician at the new clinic.
The clinic offers hematology and medical oncology services, including infusion therapy, which delivers medications or fluids directly into the bloodstream. Staff will treat a range of cancers, including breast, colon, lung and gastrointestinal cancers.
“I think ultimately what patients will see is that their care is better coordinated because everything happens within one system. I can easily track what’s happening from a surgical standpoint by going through our own system, and those types of connections can make a real difference for our patients and the care we provide,” Charles said.
Expansion of cancer services continues across the region. With construction of MUSC Health Indian Land Medical Center underway, the MUSC Health–Catawba Division plans to broaden medical oncology and infusion offerings and introduce radiation therapy. A multidisciplinary model will bring together pathology, radiology, surgery and oncology to develop coordinated treatment plans, and the program will work with MUSC Health’s Hollings Cancer Center to provide access to novel therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) treatment and clinical trials.
“The best care is local, especially for cancer treatment that often requires frequent visits over long periods of time,” said J. Scott Broome, chief executive officer of the MUSC Health–Catawba Division. “Developing a comprehensive cancer program within MUSC Health’s Catawba Division means that patients can receive comprehensive, high-quality cancer care close to home.”
“The goal is big, but we want to do it right,” Charles said. “Starting here at MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center, getting to know our patients and growing the practice alongside our staff will make a lasting impact.”
Leave a Reply