Page 7 - MidWeek Kauai - Nov 2, 2022

Center’s Support Services Vital To Patients’ Well-being
FROM PAGE 6
“As everyone knows, it is difficult just navigating your way through the medical system, but to have a diag- nosis of cancer on top of it is stressful to say the least, and most patients are in shock,” McGuire elaborates. “So, really what a nurse navigator does is connect as close as diagnosis with the patient, ensuring they understand the diagnosis, what the next steps entail, to be a resource they need from diagno- sis, throughout survivorship and years beyond.”
Among those who have been helped is survivor Celeste Sanchez. She emphasizes that she’s extremely grateful for the services she’s received at the Kakuda center, particularly since it’s been a one-stop shop for her. San- chez shares that she’s been treated for lobular carcinoma, which is a type of breast cancer.
Citing just a few statistics, in 2021 alone, the Pali Momi cancer program provided 28,594 screening mammo- grams, 8,778 hematology/oncology appointments and 15,860 infusion appointments.
NOVEMBER 2, 2022
KAUA‘I MIDWEEK 7
WILCOX HEALTH: A SYSTEM OF CARE
One of the benefits of being part of a health care system is the ability to share knowledge and resources among sister medical centers.
As part of Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Wilcox Health benefits from many of the research, partnerships and resources available to O‘ahu patients at the Dr. James T. Kakuda Cancer Cen- ter at Pali Momi Medical Center. Wilcox Health — which is comprised of Wilcox Medical Center and Kaua‘i Medical Clinic — is dedicated to re- ducing cancer rates through advances in early detection, prevention and education. Wilcox is an accredited cancer program through the American College of Surgeons.
Board-certified physicians evaluate and treat all types of cancer and blood disorders to allow patients access to excellent care on-island, which helps maintain their support network of family and friends both during and after treatment. Research has found improved quality of life during cancer treatment can in- crease the likelihood of survival. Oncologists from other Hawai‘i Pacific Health medical centers regularly travel to Kaua‘i to provide extended specialty care to cancer patients. Currently, Dr. Ian Okazaki offers services for genitourinary cancers — prostate, bladder, kidney, testicular, urethral — as well as mel- anoma. Drs. Michael Carney and Paula Lee of the Hawai‘i Pacific Health Medical Group’s OB- GYN department offer gynecological oncology services for women in the Kaua‘i community. Soon, a breast specialist will join the Wilcox team. Collaboration with other team members allows the Wilcox cancer care team to continue providing patients access to care.
Oncology care often is complex and re- quires multiple appointments with different specialists. The dedicated oncology nurse nav- igator provides individualized education and access to resources to ensure that patients and their loved ones are cared for and supported throughout their entire cancer treatment and
Cancer patients receive chemotherapy treatment at Wilcox Health on Kaua‘i. PHOTO COURTESY HAWAI‘I PACIFIC HEALTH
recovery. Meanwhile, the Wilcox Infusion Cen- ter at the medical center provides high-quality care in a stress-free, healing environment.
The center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. It is located off the main lobby of the medical center in Līhu‘e with plenty of parking and easy access.
Patients are advised to contact their prima- ry care physician or oncologist to schedule an appointment. To contact the Wilcox Infusion Center, call 808-245-1047.
Wilcox’s primary care physicians and spe- cialists understand the importance of preven- tive health care and encourage women to get regular health screenings to identify risks for health problems, such as breast cancer, at the earliest and most treatable stage. The team of physicians, technologists and consultants at the Wilcox Women’s Center provide an array of services. To contact the Wilcox Women’s Center, call 808-245-1030 and to contact the High Risk Breast Program, call 808-245-1547.
O‘ahu and allows the opportunity for Cancer Center of Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i Pacific Health to combine their respec- tive areas of expertise for a level of coordinated cancer care not previously available on the Leeward side of the island.
Okazaki says. “It’s that closeness, that intimacy, that you might not see in a lot of subspecialties.”
Meanwhile, knowledgeable nurse navigators, such as registered nurse Noe McGuire of the Kakuda center, are one crucial point of contact in the system of care. For example, nurse navigators connected patients to op- portunities for more than $1.66 mil- lion in financial assistance last year alone.
He adds that part of his role is “har- nessing all that energy and putting it toward the patient and family to get them through whatever their needs are.”
McGuire also explains that because there are multiple different types of cancers, there are many nurse naviga- tors who all have their own specialty skills.
“I did all my mammograms at the women’s health center,” explains San- chez. “I did my chemotherapy, my ra- diation and my blood draws here at the cancer center. I still come to the cancer center once a month. I do a mainte- nance shot for five years. So, it’s been really convenient. I live in Pearl City and I don’t have to go all over to do different appointments.”
She also emphasizes that nurse navigators don’t have to do every- thing by themselves, because there is such a team effort with support among colleagues. In addition to the key role that nurse navigators play, the center also offers patients specialized support groups focused on their type of cancer — which are currently held virtually.
She also explains that the compre- hensive team who have been treating her at the cancer center have been in- strumental in her well-being.
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Dr. Ian Okazaki is a well-known medical oncologist with Hawai‘i Pacific Health cancer centers, which includes the Kakuda facility. He says that he’s very satisfied with his choice of career and work environment.
Sanchez concludes that the people, the advanced high-quality care and the facility combined are some of what make Dr. James T. Kakuda Cancer Center such a comforting environment for patients.
“It’s always rewarding because you’re helping people along their jour- ney. It’s a collaborative effort between you and the patient and the family. It’s what draws people into oncology,”
“Everybody’s so nice over here. So, it made it really easier for us to go through it,” she says. “Coming to a facility that is so caring and loving makes it easier for the patients, you know?”
“It’s a family over here. They be- came my family. It was awesome. My mom was diagnosed with breast can- cer of the same type, too, so we both did it together here.”
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