OCEAN STATE HEALTHCARE PROFILES
(l to r) Ponnandai Somasundar, MD, and Vincent Armenio, MD
THE BEST STRATEGY FOR FIGHTING GASTROINTESTINAL CANCER?
Comprehensive, integrated, multidisciplinary care—under one roof.
G
astrointestinal cancers—including those of the liver,
pancreas, colon, stomach, and esophagus—are
notoriously challenging to diagnose and conquer. But
when patients and families entrust their care to the
integrated expertise at Roger Williams Cancer Center, they
can be confident they’re getting the best care possible.
“As doctors who specialize in cancer care, we see tumors
every day, but our patients likely see only one tumor in their
lifetime: theirs,” says medical oncologist Dr. Vincent Armenio.
“People are understandably devastated by the news of their
cancer diagnosis. We assure them that our team will do
everything possible to achieve the best outcomes.”
Because emotions are high during this sensitive time, the
team at Roger Williams Cancer Center makes it a priority to
give patients answers quickly. Patients referred to the Cancer
Center can be seen within 24 hours, upon request. Further
evaluations, as needed, can occur during the same visit.
“We doctors have each other’s cell phone numbers,
and we’re all readily available,” says Dr. Armenio. “From
symptoms to diagnosis to treatment, it’s often a matter of
days, not weeks.”
An affiliate of CharterCARE
Health Partners
TEAM APPROACH
“Successfully treating gastrointestinal cancer is not a job for
a surgical, medical, or radiation oncologist alone. It takes the
combination and collaboration of every treatment modality
available,” says surgical oncologist Dr. Ponnandai Somasundar.
“Here at Roger Williams Cancer Center, a big advantage is
that all these specialists are under one roof.”
Communication is key to achieving a seamless treatment
experience for both patients and medical team members.
Patients and their families are thoroughly educated about their
diagnosis and treatment options and are even offered a second
opinion before final treatment plans are arranged. The Center
also has a program dedicated to treating seniors with cancer.
“We offer resources through our Comprehensive Oncology
Program for Elders [COPE],” informs Dr. Somasundar.
“Patients have access to dietitians, social workers,
psychologists, and physical therapists to help them be as
healthy and functional as possible during treatment.”
All gastrointestinal cancer patients have access to leadingedge options such as laparoscopic liver and pancreas resection,
stereotactic radiosurgery, yttrium-90 radioembolization, and
irreversible electroporation (IRE).
“All our efforts aim to champion each patient as the most
important person in our practice,” says Dr. Armenio. “We all
enjoy what we do, and we especially love giving patients the
great news that their cancer has been successfully treated.”
50 Maude Street • Providence, RI 02908 • 401-456-2077 • www.weknowcancer.org
www.sabemosdecancer.org