WellStar Cancer Network 2016 Annual Report
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Genitourinary (GU) <strong>Cancer</strong> Program<br />
The Genitourinary (GU) Program diagnoses<br />
and treats a wide range of cancers, such as<br />
prostate, bladder, uterer and kidney. The<br />
<strong>WellStar</strong> team serves patients with these<br />
diseases with a combination of the latest<br />
research, diagnostic and treatment options,<br />
including da Vinci Robot surgery, Intensity<br />
Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), and<br />
clinical trials. Our highly collaborative multidisciplinary<br />
team also convenes twice each<br />
month to discuss cases and craft personalized<br />
treatment plans.<br />
ACHIEVEMENTS<br />
In 2015, <strong>WellStar</strong> introduced our<br />
multidisciplinary clinic for prostate cancer<br />
patients. Our goal is to improve access<br />
to the highest quality care by removing<br />
barriers to all treatment options that a man<br />
may consider. It is the only clinic of its kind<br />
in Atlanta. With our surgeons, radiation<br />
oncologists and nurse navigators in one<br />
location, men do not need to spend valuable<br />
time going to multiple offices to learn<br />
about all of their options. <strong>WellStar</strong> patients<br />
can access all available information about<br />
their options in a convenient and easy way.<br />
They meet with all specialists - our robotic<br />
surgeons, radiation specialists and others<br />
– so they can make informed decisions<br />
more quickly. This can cut down anxiety<br />
by accelerating the time from diagnosis to<br />
(Above, l-r) Justin Watson, M.D. and Justin Hart, M.D., Genitourinary Sub Committee Co-Chairs,<br />
and Michelle Guibault, BS, RN, Genitourinary Oncology Nurse Navigator<br />
treatment. Once the patient has gathered<br />
all information, he meets with a nurse<br />
navigator who helps make decisions about<br />
treatments, seeks a second opinion on<br />
pathology if requested, answers questions,<br />
clarifies options and charts a path forward.<br />
The <strong>WellStar</strong> Medical Group Urology practice<br />
also instituted a change in diagnostic<br />
approach in 2015, resulting in far fewer<br />
unnecessary biopsies. This move spared many<br />
of our patients an uncomfortable, invasive<br />
procedure and raising the proportion of<br />
malignancies we diagnose above the national<br />
average. <strong>WellStar</strong>'s new process is more<br />
selective when deciding if the patient needs a<br />
biopsy. We performed 695 prostate biopsies in<br />
2015 and diagnosed 365 cases of cancer.<br />
18 • WELLSTAR CANCER NETWORK • <strong>2016</strong> ANNUAL REPORT
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