Cancer Care

 

Good Samaritan’s cancer program is among an elite group of programs nationwide accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. We offer comprehensive care and a range of state-of-the-art services, which means patients who are diagnosed with cancer can receive all of their treatment near family and friends from physicians and medical professionals who know and care about them.

Our interdisciplinary approach includes experts who have received the most advanced training in cancer care, ranging from screening and diagnosis to treatment and end-of-life comfort when needed. The services include diagnostic and interventional radiology, pathology, surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, infusion, palliative care and hospice.

We recognize that the journey through cancer treatment can be overwhelming, and we offer an oncology nurse navigator to help you along the way. Financial Services, Social Services, Pastoral Care, Registered Dietitians, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy are among other services that are available.
In addition, we offer educational/support groups for cancer patients and their families and caregivers. We sponsor the American Cancer Society “Look Good, Feel Better” group and also have our own group called Cancer Connection. Cancer Connection meets at a variety of times and days.. Topics change every meeting, there is no charge to attend and you do not need to register ahead of time. Anyone effected by cancer, family, friends, and even those who are not a patient of Good Samaritan are welcome to attend. For those who are interested in this group, want to inquire about meeting dates, or have questions, please call Lesley Hofmann at 812-885-3990.

The Cancer Pavilion’s environment enhances our program and facilitates a holistic approach to treatment. We feature a resource area with wireless Internet for easy access to information and research. In addition, an on-site boutique carries wigs, turbans and other items useful for coping with the aesthetic effects of cancer.

Oncologists/NP

Renee Bartlett, M.D. – Oncology/Hematology
Tae Chung, M.D. – Radiation Oncology
Mark Pajeau, M.D. – Oncology/Hematology
Mark Stutz, M.D. – Oncology/Hematology
Trista Armes, NP-C – Oncology/Hematology

Oncology Services

Chemotherapy Administration
Vascular Access Device Care
Cancer and Chemotherapy Education
Nutritional Support
Blood Product Administration
Intravenous Infusions
Management of Immuno-compromised Patients
Symptom Management
Patient/Family Education
Therapeutic Phlebotomy
Radiation Therapy
3D Mammography
3D Diagnostic Mammography
Breast Ultrasound/Biopsy
Stereotactic Biopsy
Pre-op Localization
Specimen Radiography
Galactography
Breast Health Education

Location

Good Samaritan Cancer Pavilion
520 S. Seventh St.
Vincennes, IN 47591

Contact Us

Infusion Department
812-885-3955

Radiation Oncology Department
812-885-3939

Breast Care Center
Located inside the Health Pavilion at 8th and Prairie
812- 885-3627
Scheduling 812-885-3353

Chemotherapy/Infusion Center

The Good Samaritan Oncology Infusion Center features 12 infusion chairs that recline. Each comes with a side table and individual television. Additional chairs are provided for family and caregivers who accompany you to treatment. In addition to the open area with infusion chairs, there are three private rooms, two with hospital beds and one with an infusion chair, for those patients who require extra privacy and care. The Infusion Center is spacious and surrounded on two sides by windows from floor to ceiling that let in plenty of natural light.

Services provided by our Infusion Center include chemotherapy that is delivered by injection, through an IV or intraperitoneal. In addition to chemotherapy, we offer therapeutic phlebotomy, transfusion of blood products and many other non-chemotherapy infusions and injections.

The Infusion Center is staffed by highly skilled, highly trained RNs who have completed rigorous training through the Oncology Nursing Society in chemotherapy administration. We have an on-site pharmacy in the Infusion Center staffed with pharmacists and technicians so that chemotherapy is prepared and delivered in the safest environment and delivered directly to the nurse who will be administering it.

Good Samaritan offers state-of-the-art Radiation Oncology close to home because we understand how important it is for patients facing cancer to have the encouragement and support of family and friends nearby.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a common treatment for cancer and is used in more than half of all cancer cases. Our Radiation Oncology department has the most up-to-date equipment, including a CT simulator, two state-of-the-art linear accelerators and a 3-D computerized treatment planning system. We are able to deliver the radiation treatment precisely to the tumor area and avoid unnecessary exposure to the surrounding healthy tissue.

Our highly skilled, certified staff includes therapists, nurses, radiation oncologists and a medical physicist and dosimetrist, all of whom consistently exceed expectations in patient satisfaction.

You and your family know you’re in good hands here. Our cancer program has been certified by the American College of Surgeons since 1979, and all of our radiation oncology physicians, along with our medical physicist and medical dosimetrist, are board certified and highly experienced.

Please call 812-885-3955 for more information.
Cancer Pavilion, 520 S. Seventh St., Vincennes, IN 47591

3-D Mammography (Breast Tomosynthesis)

A mammogram is a safe, accurate diagnostic test that helps trained experts spot abnormalities. The American Cancer Society recommends that women over age 40 have mammograms on a yearly basis.

Our state-of-the art equipment and skilled technicians allow us to provide the highest level of accurate mammography while also ensuring the comfort of our patients.

We’re very proud to offer 3-D tomosynthesis mammography, a new technology that takes multiple images, very similar to a CT scan, which provides a three-dimensional image of the breast. It allows us to pinpoint and treat tumors that are too small to detect through other methods.  Through grants from Susan G. Komen and the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust, we are able to provide free screening mammograms to people who quality for this assistance. At Good Samaritan, we are committed to ensuring that women in Knox and surrounding counties receive annual mammograms regardless of their ability to pay for them.

Breast Biopsy

If an abnormality appears on your mammogram, further tests may be necessary to rule out a serious health concern. In many cases, additional mammograms or other imaging techniques can be used, but sometimes a biopsy is required. Three types of biopsy procedures can be utilized.

Stereotactic Breast Biopsy

This procedure takes X-rays from multiple angles to pinpoint the location of the abnormality. A tissue sample can then be removed and taken for analysis. A stereotactic breast biopsy is simple, fast and requires only local anesthetic.

Ultrasound Guided Biopsy

This procedure uses ultrasound technology to pinpoint the location of the abnormality. A tissue sample can then be removed and taken for analysis. Like the stereotactic procedure, an ultrasound guided breast biopsy is simple, fast and requires only local anesthetic.

Needle Localization

Needle localization is the placement of a needle into the breast tissue to extract a sample for identification. X-rays are taken throughout the procedure to ensure accurate positioning of the needle into the site of the abnormality. Once an X-ray confirms the correct location, a small wire is guided into the tissue and a sample is taken of the suspicious area for analysis.

Please visit our online health library for more information on Breast Cancer.

Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI)

Good Samaritan is one of the first hospitals in Indiana to offer this innovative technology for the diagnosis of breast cancer. When mammography and ultrasound results are inconclusive, the Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) system will aid in the diagnosis of breast cancer.

As a follow-up to your annual mammogram or ultrasound, your physician may order a BSGI to detect early stages of cancer. BSGI is a molecular breast imaging technique that can detect cancers as small as a grain of sand. A small amount of tracing agent is delivered to the patient, which immediately disperses to all cells in the body. Images of the breast are then taken with the BSGI camera.

Because cancerous cells are growing faster and are more active than healthy breast cells, they show up as “hot spots” on images of the breast. These images allow radiologists and surgeons to detect early stage cancers as small as one millimeter and to distinguish between benign and malignant tumors.

Breast Ultrasound

Your physician may request an ultrasound of the breast as follow-up to your mammogram. This painless, noninvasive procedure can provide additional information. Performed by an ultrasound technician, this technology uses sound waves to outline a part of the body. A computer picks up the sound waves and translates them into an image that can be displayed on a computer screen.

Lung Cancer Screening