From the moment WellSpan Health providers diagnose a patient with breast cancer, they begin forming a treatment plan. “When we have a patient with a positive diagnosis, we are very aware of the stress that diagnosis causes,” says Heather Thieme, MD, surgical oncologist at WellSpan Health. “Our goal is to see those patients within two or three working days…to get that plan into place.” 

A Team for Every Patient 

Personalized treatment plans make up the cornerstone of WellSpan Health’s care approach. “Every patient brings something unique, whether that’s their medical history, goals for cosmetic outcomes after surgery or their own resources, including their financial circumstances,” Dr. Thieme says. “If I come up with a great treatment plan but the patient is losing their housing, there’s not going to be as successful an outcome. We look beyond their cancer at what else we need to address.” Approximately two dozen specialists and support staff make up the breast cancer care team at WellSpan Health, including: 

• Surgical, medical and radiation oncologists 
• Financial services specialists 
• Nurse navigator 
• Nurse practitioner 
• Pathologist 
• Radiologist 
• Reconstructive plastic surgeon 
• Support services specialists 

Providers can draw on additional resources made possible by WellSpan Health’s recent collaboration with Johns Hopkins Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. With academic resources from the Johns Hopkins team, including tumor board participation, specialist consults and access to clinical trials, patients’ treatment plans are more personalized than ever before. 

“Patients who qualify for a clinical trial now have access to a greater range of treatment options,” Dr. Thieme says. “[This collaboration] is about what we can bring to patients so they don’t need to travel.” 

Advanced Treatment at Every Stage 

WellSpan Health uses several advanced treatment and screening methods to provide leading-edge treatment close to home. 

• Breast MRI and biopsy: Greater screening options with precise diagnostics for patients with denser breasts. 
• Contrast mammograms: A diagnostic and screening tool for patients who are unable to undergo MRIs. 
• Hypofractionated radiation: A shorter course of radiation without an implanted device for effective results and greater ease for the patient. 

“One thing that makes WellSpan Health unique is our…multidisciplinary collaboration and [advanced treatment technology],” Dr. Thieme says. “We have greater resources than what most expect from a community hospital.”  

The Mobile Mammography Program at WellSpan Health

For the past year, WellSpan Health’s Mobile Mammography program has brought breast cancer screenings to patients throughout South Central Pennsylvania. Through partnerships with local businesses, organizations and remote medical groups, the mobile program has seen incredible success. 

“Ours is only the second breast cancer treatment center in Pennsylvania to have a mobile program,” says Cyndi Myers, Operations Manager for Women’s Imaging and Mobile Mammography at WellSpan Health. “Our feedback [from participants] has been really positive.” 

Mobile Mammography events allow women to receive high-quality mammograms without extensive travel or time away from work. Grant funding helps cover the cost of mammograms for women with financial barriers or who are uninsured. By reducing these barriers to access, WellSpan Health helps underserved women in its five-county service area stay up to date on cancer screenings. 

Originally published October, 2022