Our Services
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Our Services
CMH Cancer and Specialty Care is provided in partnership with VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia’s leading cancer treatment center. The CMH-VCU Massey medical team treats adult cancers, including complex and rare cancers, and blood disorders. The medical team includes top-notch cancer specialists and oncology-trained nurses who are committed to providing compassionate, advanced care. Through respectful, attentive and personalized care, our medical team builds “healing relationships” with patients that help reduce suffering and death from cancer.
Medical Oncology
Medical oncology is a form of cancer treatment involving the use of drugs to kill cancer cells, keep cancer from spreading, slow the cancer’s growth and/or relieve pain and symptoms that may be caused by cancer. Led by Nemer Junior El Mouallem, M.D., medical director at CMH Cancer and Specialty Care on behalf of Massey, the medical oncology clinic provides chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and other infusions, medications and targeted agents. Dr. El Mouallem is also trained to provide palliative care, which aims to provide quality of life for the critically ill by managing pain and symptoms and addressing psychological, emotional and spiritual needs.
Radiation Oncology
Radiation oncology is a form of cancer treatment using high-energy rays aimed directly at cancer tumors to kill cancer cells, keep cancer from spreading, slow the cancer’s growth and/or relieve pain and symptoms that may be caused by cancer. CMH-Massey is the only radiation therapy provider in the Southern Virginia region. The two organizations opened the area’s first radiation treatment center – the Solari Radiation Therapy Center – in July 2013. Led by Monica Morris, M.D., radiation oncology director at CMH Cancer and Specialty Care in partnership with Massey, the radiation center offers high-tech radiation treatment. With the use of a Varian Clinac® linear accelerator, CMH-Massey provides image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).
Hematology
Hematology is the treatment of blood diseases. In addition to medical oncology, Dr. El Mouallem also specializes in hematology and can provide expert care for hematologic malignancies and other blood disorders.
Clinical Trials
CMH Cancer and Specialty Care patients have access to Massey’s cutting-edge clinical trials, which offer them added and advanced treatment options. Massey provides one of the largest offerings of clinical trials in Virginia, with more than 150 studies on more than 20 types of cancer. Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate new medical treatments and devices and increase scientific understanding of a wide variety of diseases. Trials are important because of the advances in cancer medicine that come from new ideas and approaches developed through research. A vast majority of treatments that are standard today were first shown to be effective in clinical trials. Ask your doctor if a clinical trial is right for you.
Genetic Counseling
Through telemedicine, CMH Cancer and Specialty Care patients have access to Massey’s expert geneticists and genetic counselors for the diagnosis of genetic conditions and assessment of cancer risk, including genetic testing, cancer screening recommendations and comprehensive discussion of cancer preventive measures.
Nutritional Counseling
Nutrition plays an imperative role in a patient’s well-being during cancer treatment. A licensed dietitian is available to help address any personal dietary needs.
Pharmacy Services
Licensed pharmacists are trained to support cancer patients and are available to answer questions concerning any course of treatment. Pharmacists at CMH are knowledgeable in all chemotherapy agents and are responsible for the correct mixing and dispensing of these medications.
Social Services
A trained social worker is available to assist cancer patients in finding resources to meet any needs, such as support groups, financial assistance or transportation to and from treatment.
Home Health and Hospice Services
Home health care services can be very helpful by providing additional help when needed by cancer patients and their families in their homes. Services provided by home health may include access to medical equipment, visits from registered nurses, physical therapists, a chaplain, social workers; help with running errands, personal hygiene and delivery of medication. Home Health Nurses help patients with the side effects of cancer treatments, wound care, pain and symptom management, monitor and teach care when home chemo drugs are given.
CMH Community Hospice services are available to persons who can no longer benefit from curative treatment. Hospice stresses quality of life—peace, comfort, and dignity. A principal aim of hospice is to manage the progressive disease symptoms so the patient can maintain dignity and a better quality of comfort and life.
Pastoral Care
Professional Healthcare Chaplains provide Pastoral Care and support by helping people of any religion or no religion identify sources of hope, comfort and peace. They assist patients and their families in spiritual distress to express pain and work towards healing. Hospice Chaplains can facilitate communication and cultural sensitivity. Chaplains also can provide religious sacraments, reading materials, prayer and a supportive presence.
Research shows that professional chaplains working as members of the interdisciplinary team facilitate goals of care discussions that can influence treatment compliance, and patient quality of life especially during the period of treatment.
Patient Education
CMH Cancer and Specialty Care provides books, pamphlets and videos covering a wide range of cancer topics for patients to browse.