[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/01\/cancer-care-at-upmc-passavant\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/01\/cancer-care-at-upmc-passavant\/","headline":"Greater Access to Cancer Care at UPMC Passavant\u2013Cranberry","name":"Greater Access to Cancer Care at UPMC Passavant\u2013Cranberry","description":"The UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Passavant\u2013Cranberry offers patients who live north of Pittsburgh more access to top cancer specialists and treatments.","datePublished":"2022-01-19","dateModified":"2023-02-17","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/hillman.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC Hillman Cancer Center","url":"https:\/\/hillman.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-hillman-cancer-center\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TOC_NHMM_HCC_CRAN_20211202-144REPRO-2.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TOC_NHMM_HCC_CRAN_20211202-144REPRO-2.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/01\/cancer-care-at-upmc-passavant\/","about":["Cancer Care","Health Topics A-Z"],"wordCount":1244,"articleBody":"Cranberry resident Bob Carlisle, 68, whose wife works as a nurse at UPMC, was diagnosed in 2011 with Waldenstr\u00f6m’s macroglobulinemia. The rare, slow-growing form of blood cancer is also known as lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.Bob Carlisle, 68, of Cranberry, has a rare blood cancer, but said he feels fortunate he can get treatment so close to home at UPMC Passavant\u2013Cranberry.Because his cancer is treatable but not curable, Bob requires regular monitoring and doctor visits. With the 2022 expansion of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Passavant\u2013Cranberry, now he only needs to drive five minutes down the road for bloodwork, chemotherapy treatments, and follow-up appointments.\u201cI think it’s great. I can get everything done there,” says Bob. \u201cWhen you have cancer and need treatment, it’s nice not having to deal with the traffic.”As a Cranberry Township resident for the past 28 years, Bob has witnessed the area’s explosive growth. That’s a big reason why he was thrilled to hear UPMC Hillman Cancer Center was expanding services at UPMC Passavant\u2013Cranberry.\u201cThe Cranberry area has changed drastically. It just keeps growing,” he says. \u201cBeing able to get the care I need close to home is very important. The parking is easy and free, plus it saves me from driving another half hour or so to UPMC Passavant\u2013McCandless.”What’s the Renovated UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Like?The expanded UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Passavant\u2013Cranberry brings cancer care closer to home for patients, like Bob, who live north of Pittsburgh, offering more access to top cancer specialists and state-of-the-art treatments.One of six physician exam roomsThe first-floor location doubles its previous capacity to serve cancer patients. Added clinic space also increases nursing capacity with improved access to clinical trials. Having more exam rooms means multiple oncologists can see patients. There are now seven UPMC Hillman medical oncologists seeing patients at the center, including:Robert Edwards, MD, gynecologic oncologistStephanie Kim, MD, medical oncologistBrian McLaughlin, MD, medical oncologistJennifer Osborn, MD, medical oncologistShannon Puhalla, MD, medical oncologistKiran Rajasenan, MD, medical oncologistNeal Spada, MD, medical oncologistThe expansion was made possible following the 2020 move of UPMC Magee-Womens Specialty Services from the UPMC Passavant\u2013Cranberry campus to the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, where there is now a hub for women’s health care and services, in one convenient location.Meeting the Demand for Cancer CareThe renovated UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is designed to meet the increasing demand for cancer services in the northern communities.\u201cIt’s a full-scale expansion that allows us to bring more cutting-edge treatments right to our patients in Cranberry Township and the surrounding communities,” says Dr. Rajasenan, a medical oncologist and hematologist and chair of oncology at UPMC Passavant.He adds that with advanced technology, many cancers are now treated as chronic diseases. His team continues to see these patients for follow-up bloodwork, imaging studies, and office visits \u2013 and the need for cancer care continues to grow.\u201cWe have an obligation \u2013 not only to our patients but also to our hospitals throughout the community \u2013 to reduce the burden of cancer,” says Stanley Marks, MD, chairman and chief medical officer of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.\u201cThis expansion helped us do that by improving patient access to clinical trials, oncology specialists, and other vital services and resources. That, in turn, will translate to better cancer care and better outcomes.”In the NeighborhoodPrior to the expansion, space constraints meant that many cancer patients in the Cranberry area had to travel farther to UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Passavant\u2013McCandless for appointments and treatments. Patients also had to travel there for clinical trials.\u201cConvenience matters a lot when you have cancer,” says Dr. Rajasenan. \u201cYou don’t want to spend precious time traveling to see a doctor or to undergo treatment. Our expanded location eliminates the added barriers to care.”Convenient \u201cOne-Stop Approach”Check-in and out areaConvenience was a big focus of the expansion \u2013 and it’s a major benefit for local patients.The Cranberry location is closer to residents and has ample parking, and the first-floor location makes treatment even more accessible. The expanded space also boasts an on-site lab so patients can get their bloodwork done there, too.In addition, UPMC Imaging Services is adjacent to the facility, where patients can go for CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds.\u201cIt improves the experience we’re able to offer our patients,” says Dr. Puhalla. \u201cHaving cancer is difficult enough. This space makes it easier \u2013 from scheduling and check in, to labs and treatment. It’s more of a one-stop approach with the needs of our patients in mind.”According to Dr. Puhalla, a breast cancer specialist and clinical trial researcher, the expansion also allows clinical trials to be brought to patients at UPMC Passavant\u2013Cranberry since there is now room for the staffing needed to support research, including a nurse coordinator and clinical trials research nurse.\u201cWhen you have cancer, you want to receive the absolute best, state-of-the-art treatment. It’s a bonus when it’s convenient and close to home,” says Dr. Puhalla.Cancer Care in Cranberry TownshipOne of two private treatment bedroomsTwo of 14 semi-private infusion bays with reclining treatment chairs and personal TVsThe UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Passavant\u2013Cranberry is conveniently located on the first floor and includes:Patient-centered layout designed for privacy, comfort, and accessibility.Six physician exam rooms.14 semi-private infusion bays with reclining treatment chairs.Two private treatment bedrooms.Personal TVs during treatment.On-site lab for bloodwork.On-site access to UPMC Hillman’s robust clinical trials.Clinic space where patients benefit from a collaborative approach to cancer care by a multidisciplinary team of medical oncologists, oncology nurses, a clinical trials research coordinator, and other staff dedicated to supporting cancer patients and their loved ones.Patients have access to a wide array of cancer services, including:Gynecologic oncologyIn-house labMedical oncologyTreatments, including:ChemotherapyHormone therapyImmunotherapyInjectionsTargeted therapyThe facility also serves as a general infusion center for UPMC Passavant\u2013Cranberry, providing a variety of infusion services such as rheumatology drugs, antibiotics, and fluids.For more information about the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Passavant\u2013Cranberry or to schedule an appointment, call 412-367-1199.Comprehensive Cancer Services, Closer to HomeAlong with our UPMC Passavant-Cranberry campus, cancer care is available at multiple locations throughout the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh, including:UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Passavant\u2013McCandless 9100 Babcock BoulevardPittsburgh, PA 15237Imaging \u2014 advanced radiation oncology diagnostic services.PET-CT scan (cancer treatment planning).4D PET-CT scan (diagnostic imaging).4D CT scan (diagnostic imaging).On-Board Imager\u00ae (OBI) and Cone-Beam CT (image guided radiotherapy).Medical oncology.Chemotherapy.Hormone therapy.Immunotherapy.Targeted drug therapy.Radiation oncology.Surgical oncology.UPMC Magee-Womens Imaging at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex 8000 Cranberry Springs Drive, Suite 2M600Cranberry Township, PA 16066Advanced breast cancer diagnostics and care, including biopsies.Breast imaging.3D mammograms (screening and diagnostic).Breast and gynecological ultrasounds.DXA (bone densitometry).Breast surgery.Breast Cancer Risk Management Clinic.Cancer risk assessment and genetic counseling.UPMC Magee-Womens Specialty Services partners closely with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center for women’s cancer diagnostics and prevention. It also works in coordination with expert surgeons and teams at UPMC Passavant\u2013Cranberry and UPMC Passavant\u2013McCandless and outpatient centers located in Allison Park and Wexford.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on January 19, 2022, and was last reviewed on February 16, 2023."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2022","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"01","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/\/01\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Greater Access to Cancer Care at UPMC Passavant\u2013Cranberry","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/01\/cancer-care-at-upmc-passavant\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]