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Cancer Services Available at NCMH
Prevention, Detection and Treatment, right here in Newberry!
Innovative Cancer Care Brings New Hope
Prevention
More and more reliable health information points to the importance of exercise and lifestyle choices, including a healthy diet and smoking cessation, in cancer prevention.
Our Wellness Center not only offers HeartFIT, a personal fitness program that benefits much more than your heart, but also a variety of exercise classes. The exercise classes are available morning, noon and night and are taught by certified instructors. In HeartFIT the participant has access to a fully equipped gym and professional Exercise Physiologist and trained nurses who can direct and support your fitness efforts in a healthy manner.
In addition, the hospital's registered dietician supports our free EatRight program offered the 2nd Tuesday of every month.
Smoking is one of the acknowledged risk factors for cancer. The Wellness Center offers a very successful smoking cessation class, Breather's Choice, several times a year.
For more information about these proactive prevention services, click for more information. NCMH Wellness Center
Detection
1. Mammography: In addition to mammography services, NCMH offers full breast care services, including stereotactic biopsy and sentinel node mapping. Stereotactic biopsy are done by surgeons at the hospital in a much more timely manner than traditional surgical biopsies. Sentinel Node Mapping is a nuclear medicine procedure that provides much more accurate information about the spread of cancer to the lymph nodes. It enables surgeons to do less radical surgery with excellent results.
2. Nuclear Medicine: In addition to sentinel node mapping, this type diagnostic imaging is often used to detect bone and thyroid cancer.
3. MRI: This diagnostic imaging is particularly effective in detecting brain and muscle cancers. The hospital has committed to upgrade to a fixed 1.5 teslar MRI in the new Atrium Professional Center, which is scheduled to open in early 2008
4. CT Scan: The hospital offers a 16-slice CT Scan which provides excellent diagnostic imaging of any organ cancer, such as liver and kidney.
5. Ultrasound: This technology is particularly helpful in identifying ovarian, liver and kidney cancers.
6. Colonoscopies: This procedure is critical to identifying colon cancers.
7. EGD: Also known as esophagogastroduodenoscopy is a procedure that enables your surgeon to examine the lining of the esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach and duodenum (first portion of the small intestine). This procedure allows for early detection of cancers in these areas.
8. Lab: Your physician can order a number of screening lab tests, such as a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen)which screens for prostate cancer. The NCMH lab is certified by the College of American Pathologists (CAPs).
Treatment
If you, a family member or friend are diagnosed with cancer, you now have excellent treatment choices right here...close to home. A medical oncologist, chemotherapy, radiation oncologist and surgical options are available right now. The Newberry Oncology Associates are located on 298 Commerce Drive here in Newberry and offer state of the art Radiation Therapy under the direction of Dr. Mark Ezekiel.
 Dr. Steven Madden
Dr. Madden, medical oncologist, comes to the Newberry Oncology Associates on Commerce Drive every Monday and Wednesday afternoons to see patients. With 29 years of experience, Dr. Madden provides compassionate care and the latest advances in chemotherapy to his patients...right here in Newberry.
In conjunction with Dr. Madden, the hospital began offering chemotherapy locally. The service grew so rapidly that a new chemotherapy area was opened this year (2007) in a renovated area of the hospital. This specially designed area accommodates nine patients in a comfortable relaxed atmosphere.
In addition to chemotherapy, radiation therapy is available locally through Newberry Oncology Association, which is located 298 Commerce Drive near the hospital.
NCMH has a number of board certified physicians who offer surgical options when that is appropriate. Click on each of the physicians below to learn more about their areas of expertise and practices:
 Dr. John Brown, General Surgery
Dr. Stephen Dyke, OB/GYN
Dr. Mike Smyth, OB/GYN
Dr. Steven Kerner, Urologist
Palmetto Bone and Joint, Orthopedics Surgeons
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Rosemarie C. Dickert: Her story. Her words.
I was frightened when diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in my left breast February 2009, but after a lumpectomy and radiation, I thought I was home free.
Then in October 2009, after a follow-up mammogram, I was devastated to hear that cancer was again in my life—stage 3 in the right breast. It was decided by my oncologist that Chemo be administered to shrink the cancer before surgery to remove my breast in hopes of achieving the best overall outcome. From the moment I walked in the door at Infusion & Oncology (at Newberry County Memorial Hospital) I knew that I was in the place I needed to be. The staff appeared capable and ready to help me. I was scared, and they eased my fear. They focused on what was needed to care for my body as well as my mind. Depression was my enemy and they were my warriors to defeat it.
Every three weeks I was infused with chemicals that would end up taking my hair, my appetite and sometimes test my faith and shake my peace of mind. Six rounds, four months of Chemo. As sick as Chemo made me I was always ready to get that next treatment. I knew it was one step closer to ridding my body of cancer.
My daughter sat with me during my treatments, except on one occasion, at which time my granddaughter and my daughter-in-law did. My family was always welcomed and treated with respect. Even though space was limited, it was an important part of my treatment and the staff acknowledged that.
As I sat there for 3 hours receiving Chemo on one day and 3 hours the next day receiving fluids you could not help but notice the care and compassion shown to the other patients. We were all there for different reasons and different treatment but were all made to feel just as important as the person sitting next to you.
I survived Chemo and had a mastectomy in March 2010. I am now receiving radiation protocol. I will never forget that experience, but most of all I will never forget the people who administered my treatment for cancer and became my friends in the process. I know they will probably say they were just doing their job. Melanie, Susan, Niki & Katrina (who sometimes helped out) are the most warm, compassionate and professional people I have had the pleasure to treat and take care of me during a most difficult time in my life. They will always have a special place in my heart. Newberry County Memorial Hospital is so very fortunate to have these women as a part of their staff.
From mammography to biopsy to treatment, the staff at Newberry County Memorial Hospital demonstrated professionalism and compassion.
My observations of the staff in Oncology & Infusion at NCMH
Rosemarie C. Dickert
Demonstrated professional skill
Showed compassion
Treated patients with respect
Provided reading material as it related to my cancer
Provided answers to questions as it related to my cancer
Provided answers & remedies to side effects of treatment
Advocate for & liaison between patient and doctor
Always cheerful even under difficult situations
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Newberry County Memorial Hospital
WIS-TV Ad On Cancer
In March 2005, Shirley Roehrs had a clean mammogram. Two months later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I thought I had pulled a muscle, but it was cancer,” recalls the Newberry resident.
Surgery was soon scheduled and performed. Shirley was debating between having her chemotherapy in Columbia or at Newberry County Memorial Hospital (NCMH), when she bumped into some friends one Sunday after church. The husband credited Dr. Steve Madden at NCMH with saving his life. “That was enough for me,” says Shirley, “I chose Newberry.”
Shirley began her treatment At NCMH’s outpatient chemotherapy unit. Powerful new tumor-fighting drugs were used to target her breast cancer. She also received innovative drugs that minimized side effects like nausea, infection and fatigue. Lynn Ackerman, RN, OCN, was by Shirley’s side every step of the way, providing her and husband Ken with expert care and compassionate support.
Today, Shirley is cancer free. She’s started a cancer support group at NCMH and is once again enjoying playing golf with Ken. NCMH is pleased to have played such an important role in her road to recovery.
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