At Penn, Care for People with Cancer From All Specialties

A cancer diagnosis is unexpected and often devastating. Shock can quickly give way to fear. But for Kathy Brandt, these emotions were followed immediately by a practical resolve.

“It’s truly terrifying," says Kathy. "After that initial diagnosis when you feel like you’ve been hit by a ton of bricks, the decision needs to be made where you’re going to seek treatment.”

Kathy was diagnosed with lung cancer, and chose to be treated at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine.

“Penn Medicine was a wonderful choice for us,” Kathy explains. “They use a team approach.”

This team approach means patients have the advantage of a multidisciplinary care philosophy at Penn Medicine. Kathy saw an oncologist, a surgeon and a radiation oncologist, who recommended proton therapy to treat her cancer after surgery.

Also at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center, Penn Medicine provides other specialists to address every aspect of cancer from pre to post treatment, including:

• Dietitians
• Dosimetrists
• Integrative medicine physicians
• Nurses
• Patient navigation specialists
• Radiation therapists
• Social workers

This is all part of the comprehensive treatment services offered at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center. The center’s world-renowned team of experts is dedicated to providing multidisciplinary cancer care focused on a patient’s particular type of cancer.

Caroline Hogue also chose proton therapy at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center as part of her esophageal cancer treatment.

Caroline Hogue (right) with her sister at a LIVESTRONG event.

“Picking a world-class hospital that has all kinds of care, all in one place, is just a phenomenal choice and the right choice for me,” Caroline says.

Patients choose proton therapy because it has fewer side effects than conventional radiation treatments, targeting cancer cells with accuracy and precision. They choose Penn Medicine because of the standard of care for which Penn is known.

“I’m convinced that I would not be here if I had not had the care that I have had at Penn,” Caroline says.

“We are here to do everything we possibly can to help the patient, medically, emotionally, in every possible way, get through treatment,” says Stephen Hahn MD, chair of radiation oncology at Penn Medicine.

“Having doctors and staff co-locate in one place allows them to share different ideas about patient care, and really discuss and get to the heart of a patient’s problem,”says Dr. Hahn.

Offering multidisciplinary care at Penn Medicine stems from the philosophy that the patient always comes first.

“We are here to serve the patient,” says Dr. Hahn. “You should expect that your doctor will tell you about all the different options. Patients deserve to hear about those different options so that they can make the best and most informed decision about their care.”

This approach put patients like Kathy and Caroline at ease and helped them make the decision to choose Penn proton therapy treatment. For Kathy, the successful outcome of her treatment has allowed her to put behind those initial fearful emotions.

“My perspective coming out the other side now is not to sweat the small stuff,” says Kathy. “I like to garden. I like to fish. I like to spend time with my family and friends and especially my grandchildren. That’s really the most important thing to me right now.”