We Choose Hope
We know a cancer diagnosis changes everything, and the immediate fear and uncertainty patients feel is all too real. Our role at Lakewood Health System is to walk with you on this journey and provide the very best care and the latest treatment options available, so you can focus on getting well. We are committed to providing outstanding care and an exceptional patient experience. Simply stated—we choose hope and will be with you every step of the way.
Oncology Care and Services
Each patient is unique, and every situation is different. Only you know your own body, personal needs, and preferences. We look at all variables of your situation, including age, cancer type and location, disease progression, family history, current state of health, and past medical history. Dr. Wade Swenson and the support staff at Lakewood are here to listen wholeheartedly and provide the education and open communication you and your family need to be active, empowered participants in your care.
We believe in treating the whole person and never just the disease. That means we are committed to caring for every part of you—physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. During treatment at Lakewood, you and your loved ones have access to a full range of support services, including a case manager, one-on-one counseling with a registered dietitian, chaplain and social workers, access to physical therapists and behavioral health specialists.
After a cancer diagnosis, your focus should be on healing, not traveling. That’s why we’re proud to offer full-service cancer and specialty services right here in Staples, close to your home and loved ones. With a dedicated on-staff oncologist, advanced imaging, infusion therapy, and comprehensive support all under one roof, we offer outstanding care, convenience, and flexible scheduling to help you on your treatment journey.
Your best defense against cancer is to prevent it from occurring or catching it in its earliest stages. We provide the latest and most effective cancer screenings, including all-digital and 3D mammography, low-dose lung CT scans and more to detect even the smallest of tumors. Advanced imaging services, including PET/CT, MRI and ultrasound, are also available at Lakewood to help confirm a diagnosis and put you on the fast track to treatment.
If you have a family history of cancer, we also offer genetic counseling to address any hereditary concerns. If desired, we can coordinate genetic testing, walk through your results, and discuss next steps.
Our financial navigators, Heidi Friedrichs and Jeannie Troy, work one-on-one with patients, their families and caregivers to understand and manage financial issues related to cancer care at Lakewood. They focus on preventing and addressing financial concerns by guiding patients through complexities of the healthcare and insurance systems.
A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, as treatment and insurance can be difficult to navigate and understand. Lakewood case managers, Marian Foehrenbacher, Tamitha Mark, Cindy Sauber and Julie Nelson, work with patients and act as educators and advocates to help identify and use resources based on what is available and suits each patient’s individual needs.
Infusion therapy plays a vital role in cancer treatment. Lakewood’s infusion center is staffed with highly training, deeply compassionate nurses, including Julie Nelson, Bryce Prellwitz, Emily Berg, Alicia Muller, Brooke Rohl and Michael Cole, who work closely with the rest of the cancer care team to provide the best possible care.
A cancer diagnosis often causes distress in the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional areas of patients’ lives. Palliative care focuses on controlling symptoms, relieving pain, and providing support and advocacy for patients and their loved ones during serious illnesses, including cancer. Cindy Sauber is a palliative care nurse who works specifically with patients going through cancer to provide resources, care and support, in collaboration with their treatment.
Cancer Care
Lakewood’s oncology team created the Cancer Care video series, which gives short, but detailed information about cancer, diagnoses, treatments and more. To view the video series, click here.
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