Published: April 1, 2014
The Sparrow Cancer Center has unveiled an innovative new clinic that's the only program of its kind in the region in providing assessments for men with elevated PSA levels and Patients with urologic cancer.
Prostate cancer, which affects one in six men, is a major component of the clinic, along with treatment of kidney, testicular, and bladder cancer.
The Multidisciplinary High PSA/Genitourinary (GU) Clinic gathers same-day opinions from various specialists and offers state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic strategies specific to the Patient.
Patients referred to the clinic are also assisted and guided through the process by a designated GU Nurse Navigator, another only-at-Sparrow aspect of the program. The navigator serves as a single point of contact for Patients during pre-visit preparations, visits to the clinic, and follow-up needs.
"The benefit that we have at Sparrow is that when a Patient is referred with an elevated PSA or GU cancer they receive a physical evaluation by a urologist, radiation oncologist, and medical oncologist. These three specialists collaborate with a pathologist and radiologist to develop an individualized, Patient-centered recommendation for treatment during a single morning," said GU Nurse Navigator Deb Batterbee, M.S.N., R.N., ACCNS-AG.
The clinic has already had an impact on patients' lives.
"A friend of mine, Dr. Tim Hodge of Sparrow Emergency Services, suggested I get in touch with the Multidisciplinary GU Clinic and that turned out to be a godsend," said Charles Blockett Jr., of Lansing, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January. "Reading the material, talking to different friends, that's one thing, but when you have specialists who give you an opinion and you get it from three different individuals, that's the icing on the cake."
For more information, call the Sparrow Cancer Center at 517.364.2890.