The Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital offers a range of treatment options for oncology and hematology diagnoses and we deliver them right in your neighborhood with compassion and concern for your total well being.
Hearing the diagnosis is difficult and, at first, it's hard to just utter the word cancer.
As tumultuous as those moments, or days or even weeks after a diagnosis may be in your life, your treatment need not be such a struggle. That's where your choice of facilities is key.
The Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital offers a range of treatment options for oncology and hematology diagnoses and we deliver them right in your neighborhood with compassion and concern for your total well-being.
The mission of The Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital reflects the goals of the National Cancer Institute (
www.nci.nih.gov), which seeks to reduce cancer mortality rates.
Memorial's experienced hematology/oncology team works diligently toward that goal, reaching beyond the Center's walls to work with your primary care physician and other physicians in the community to offer a multidisciplinary approach to planning your treatment.
Community treatmentAt Memorial Hospital, we know that you like to be treated in the comfort and convenience of your own community and not have to travel to larger cities and big, imposing medical centers. That's especially important when you face one of the more challenging times in your life with a cancer diagnosis.
The Cancer Center is a unique facility that dramatically changed the options available to cancer patients in the Blackstone Valley area of Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts when it opened in 2002.
No longer is it necessary to travel out of the immediate area for caring and expert care. The 15,000-square foot facility and an expanded hematology/oncology staff offer you a broad range of clinical services and some of the latest treatment options available through participation in clinical trials.
It's important to us that we meet the majority of the your needs in one accessible place, too. You can meet with your doctors at The Cancer Center. You can have your lab work done here. You can browse our Patient Resource library for more information on your condition. You can have necessary chemotherapy or immunotherapy drugs administered as well as other types of infusion therapies. You can meet with a support group. We have kept the important elements of your journey under one roof.
Using a family-centered approach, we actively involve you, your family members and caregivers in determining treatment options and setting goals. The perspective of the people who are valuable in your life is critical. Their emotional well being is also important and our social workers tend to their needs through various support groups.
Experienced staffThe Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital is staffed by a team of four hematology & oncology specialists, registered nurses certified in oncology, certified nursing assistants, clinical research associates and other trained specialists.
Memorial's hematology/oncology specialists Sabrina Witherby, MD; Anthony Thomas, DO; Iole Ribizzi-Akhtar, MD & Adam Olszewski, MD.
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The Center's collaborative clinical program includes the support of surgeons, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, social workers, nutritionists, and physical, occupational and speech therapists.
Each member of the team is integral to patient care. Nurses in the infusion/treatment area of The Cancer Center work with you and your family or caregivers to plan, coordinate and evaluate care. Clinical social workers consult with the team on patient-related issues, arrange for community services and provide support groups. Registered dietitians provide nutritional assessments, nutrient analysis and nutrition education when necessary.
Cancer Program and ServicesMemorial's cancer program has received accreditation with commendation as a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.
We evaluate and treat all forms of cancer in adults, including prostate, breast, lung, bladder, ovarian, colon and leukemia, as well as patients with immunological diseases and blood disorders.
Infusion areaPatients can have transfusions, infusions, injections, chemotherapy and immunotherapy in a comfortable treatment area with individual televisions and movies.
Special servicesOn-site amenities at The Cancer Center include
- Boutique offering a selection of wigs, prostheses and clothing tailored for patients who have undergone cancer surgery.
- Resource Library with Internet access, a television and videotapes/DVDs, books and other printed materials for patients to gather information about their disease and treatments. Many of these materials are also available in Spanish.
- Light Snacks and Lunch as well as coffee, tea and juices are available to patients receiving treatment while they are here. Heated blankets, extra pillows and other measures will help ensure your comfort.
- A Private Consultation Room is available for your use for family conferences or small meetings with the social worker, nutritionist a nurse or doctor away from the clinical area.
- Treatment Area - A spacious section for transfusions, infusions, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and phlebotomy. The treatment area is complete with a television for each patient to make the experience more comfortable. In addition movies are available in each treatment area.
The Cancer Center of Memorial Hospital is located on the terrace level of the Center for Primary Care on the hospital's main campus in Pawtucket. You can reach us by calling (401) 729-2700.
Cancer Center Medical Staff:Anthony G. Thomas, DO
Director, Cancer Center
Chief of Hematology/Oncology
Iole Ribizzi-Akhtar, MD
Hematologist/Oncologist
Sabrina Witherby, MD
Hematologist/Oncologist
Adam Olszewski, MD
Hematologist/Oncologist
