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 there are nearly 2,500 new cancer diagnoses annually.
MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center is expanding local access to specialized care by opening its first Hematology and Oncology clinic in Lancaster. The clinic provides expert diagnosis, treatment and ongoing support for patients who previously had to travel to Charlotte or Charleston for oncology services.
“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 MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center’s oncology service line and a treating physician at the clinic.
Services include hematology and medical oncology care and infusion therapy, which delivers medications or fluids directly into the bloodstream. The clinic will treat a range of cancers, including breast, colon, lung and gastrointestinal cancers.
Charles said care coordination will improve because treatments and records are managed 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,” he said.
Expansion efforts continue across the region. Construction is underway on MUSC Health Indian Land Medical Center, where the MUSC Health–Catawba Division will broaden medical oncology and infusion services and introduce radiation therapy. The division is building a multidisciplinary program that brings together pathology, radiology, surgery and oncology, and will collaborate with MUSC Health’s Hollings Cancer Center to offer novel therapies such as CAR-T and access to 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.”
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