Cancer Center of Kansas
Heritage Plaza Medical Building
818 N. Emporia
Suite 403
Wichita, KS 67214
(316) 262-4467
Headquartered in the Great Plains of Wichita, Kansas, the Cancer Center of Kansas is a health care facility that specializes in the treatment of all types of cancer and blood disorders. Since its founding 35 years ago, the center has expanded to 14 sites throughout the state of Kansas.
History
The Cancer Center of Kansas was founded in 1975 by Dr. H.E. Hynes. Hynes was joined by a partner, Dr. Shaker Dakhil, in 1980, and from there the treatment center continued to grow. By 2010, 14 physicians representing a range of specialties worked at the Cancer Center of Kansas. These doctors not only treat and see patients at the center’s main location in Wichita, but also travel to other satellite locations each week to bring quality care to patients throughout the state of Kansas. Dr. Hynes, the hospital’s founder, passed away in 2000.
Mesothelioma Treatment at the Cancer Center of Kansas
Being diagnosed with any type of cancer is extremely stressful for both the patient and his or her loved ones; because mesothelioma is relatively rare, the experience can be even more frightening. Asking questions is a normal – and important – part of the treatment process for a mesothelioma patient, so it’s important to find a treatment center that is not only experienced with mesothelioma, but one where the entire family feels comfortable.
Symptoms of mesothelioma typically include shortness of breath, chest pain, weight loss, coughing and general weakness; many people diagnosed with the disease also develop fluid between their lungs and chest wall. The link between most mesothelioma patients, of course, is asbestos. Most had a prolonged exposure to the mineral’s fibers several decades earlier, often in occupations like shipbuilding, construction and mining.
If your symptoms and work history put you at risk for mesothelioma, your doctors will likely need to perform a biopsy – a type of procedure in which a small piece of tissue is removed so it may be examined under a microscope. To do so, doctors may perform one of several procedures: a bronchoscopy, in which a thin, lighted tube is inserted into the lungs; a fine needle aspiration, in which a surgeon uses a needle to remove a tissue sample; a sputum cytology, in which doctors examine mucus coughed up by a patient; or another type of procedure. While no tests are pleasant, these are absolutely vital. That’s because the tests not only tell your doctors whether you have mesothelioma, but also provide other vital information – such as the type and stage of the disease – that will be used to prescribe the most effective course of treatment.
Once diagnosed, mesothelioma is typically treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation; research has shown that these three treatments combined are the most effective course of action. Other treatment options may be available, however, such as participation in a clinical trial, a medical study that tests the effectiveness of a new drug or treatment. Hundreds of clinical trials are currently in progress throughout the United States, and patients at the Cancer Center of Kansas may have the opportunity to participate. It is important to speak with your doctors and also to your insurance company before considering participation in a clinical trial, as the participation costs may not be fully covered.
Sources
Cancer Center of Kansas – Our History
http://cancercenterofkansas.com/your-visit/our-history/
Cancer Center of Kansas – Mesothelioma
http://cancercenterofkansas.com/types-of-cancer/mesothelioma/
Cancer Center of Kansas – Clinical Trials
http://cancercenterofkansas.com/clinical-trials/the-cost-of-clinical-trials/
