Multi-Disciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Clinic

We are pleased to announce the opening of the Multi-Disciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Clinic at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

The clinic will be held every Tuesday, and the first clinic day will be November 21st, 2006. In one day patients with known or presumed pancreatic cancer will have a comprehensive evaluation by nationally recognized pancreatic cancer clinicians and specialists.

It is our goal that all patients will be seen in the clinic within one week of the referral, as long as all the necessary clinical information has been obtained.

The Multi-Disciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Clinic is designed to evaluate patients with known or suspected pancreatic cancer. The clinic is committed to a comprehensive single day evaluation incorporating all the resources available for the education, diagnosis, treatment and research of pancreatic cancer.
A patient will:

1. Have access to the following specialists:

• Medical oncology
• Radiation oncology
• Surgical oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Pathology
• Radiology
• Genetics counseling
• National Familial Pancreas Tumor Registry
• Nutrition
• Clinical trials
• Oncology Nurses
• Pastoral care
• Pain management
• Social Work

2. Have a recommended plan of treatment provided in writing at the end of the visit

3. Rapid reports to the patient’s primary care and/or referring physician

The Multi-Disciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Clinic is located in the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Clinic of The Johns Hopkins Hospital located in the department of radiation oncology at 401 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231. The clinic is held every Tuesday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

The Multi-Disciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Clinic offers:

• Educational materials for the patient and their families

• Same day diagnostic testing including specialized 3-dimensional pancreatic CT scans and MRI read by nationally recognized radiologists (insurance permitting).

• Expertise in endoscopic procedures

• Careful review of pathological slides by expert pancreatic pathologists

• Surgeons with extensive experience in resection of pancreatic tumors

• Combination of therapies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy for locally advanced unresectable pancreatic tumors

• Cutting edge radiation oncology treatment plans including 4-D CT scans, Intensity Modulation Radiation Therapy (IMRT), and Tomotherapy

• A variety of investigational clinical trials, including new vaccine studies, for pancreatic cancer.

• Our clinical trials are critical in helping to investigate new ways to screen for pancreatic cancer as well as to better diagnose and discover new treatments.

• At the conclusion of the day, each patient will receive a written summary of their individualized treatment plan.

To make an appointment at the Multi-Disciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Clinic, please call 410-955-5718 to speak to JoAnn Coleman (clinic coordinator), or the scheduling desk at 410-502-8000. Or, you can go to our “Make an Appointment webpage” (link-look at Univ of Michigan for an example).

For referring physicians we will provide a written summary of the patient’s proposed plan of treatment. Our physicians will also be available by phone to address any questions regarding the clinic consensus.

What can I expect from the clinic?

7:30-9 AM: You will arrive to the clinic and receive any necessary lab work and/or imaging (some imaging may need to be completed the night before).

9-10 AM: In a conference room you will receive information regarding nutrition, counseling, housing, genetics, pain management, treatment side effects, familial pancreatic study, and an overview of available clinical trials.

10-12 AM: Comprehensive medical history and physical examination will be performed.

12:30-2 PM: You may go to lunch and get a tour of the cancer center. During this time, your case will be presented to the multidisciplinary team of pancreatic cancer expert clinicians and researchers to obtain a consensus for your individualized plan of treatment.

2-5 PM: You will be assigned to a specific room where you will be seen by each specialist. Subsequently, you will be provided with a final printed treatment consensus. You may be scheduled for additional tests as indicated. You may also be asked if you are interested in enrolling in any research studies.

Goals:

• To provide a smooth and efficient streamlined patient experience

• To improve communication between patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) and their healthcare providers

• To improve the quality of life of patients with PC

• To educate patients with PC, their caregivers, healthcare professionals, and the general public about PC and treatment options

• To work towards a cure for PC through basic and clinical research