Cancer Covered Greenbay Oncology

In this Season 2 finale of Cancer Covered, we reflect on the growth and evolution of Green Bay Oncology as it transitions to a new name that better reflects its expanded mission and reach. Dr. Mitch Winkler shares the exciting changes to come in Season 3 and a few of the upcoming topics that will include tips for communicating with children about cancer, discussions about diagnoses with loved ones, and explanations of commonly asked questions in the field of oncology. Plus, look for more fascinating stories from the world of cancer medicine.

“Season 3 of Cancer Covered will be different in one significant way. We won’t be calling ourselves Green Bay Oncology anymore. You see, as the reach of our practice has grown in response to the needs of our patients and now spans nine cities and two states, we’ve outgrown our name.”

– Dr. Mitch Winkler

Today on Cancer Covered:



* Green Bay Oncology is transitioning to a new name to align with its expanded mission and reach.

* Season three of Cancer Covered will feature a variety of important topics, including tips for communicating with children about cancer and explanations of commonly asked questions in the field of oncology.

* The upcoming episodes will continue to provide fascinating stories from the world of cancer medicine.

* Stay tuned for more updates on the company’s new name and mission.

* The same group of dedicated professionals will bring future episodes to you, working under the company’s new name.



 

Join Our Free Monthly Support Group

No one should carry the burden of cancer alone. A cancer diagnosis can make you and your loved ones feel isolated and alone – just when you need support the most.

Our social workers at Green Bay Oncology know that meaningful connection brings strength and healing. Sharing the experience in a safe space with others on a similar path is often powerful and therapeutic. That’s why we offer a free monthly virtual and in-person cancer support group facilitated for you and your loved ones. Wherever you are on your cancer journey – you are always welcome.

To join us, visit: https://gboncology.com/events/

We’ve Got Cancer…Covered.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s Cancer Covered with Green Bay Oncology episode. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | GooglePlay |Deezer | Spotify | iHeart



Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more oncology professionals, cancer patients, and their families.

Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

On today’s episode, we dive into the topic of chemotherapy ports. We discuss what they are, how they work, and why and when they’re used and not used in cancer treatment. Exploring the benefits and potential risks associated with ports and the issues surrounding when they should be removed after treatment, it’s an informative and insightful conversation that sheds light on this often inquired-about important aspect of cancer care.

Dr. Burnette explains the different types of ports, their placement, and the reasons why they are often preferred over other infusion devices. He also addresses common misconceptions about ports and shares his perspective on when and why they should be removed after treatment. Dr. Burnette’s expertise and compassionate approach to patient care make him a trusted authority on the topic of chemotherapy ports.



A native of Upper Michigan, Dr. Burnette completed his internship, residency, and fellowship at the Mayo Clinic after graduating at the top of his class from Michigan State. Most recently, he served as Instructor of Medicine at Mayo. He is well-published and lectures internationally on cancer-related topics. Dr. Burnette treats all cancer types and is excited to serve the people of Green Bay and the surrounding areas.

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dr. Winkler attended Hendrix College in Conway, where he received his B.A. in biology. He attended medical school at the University of Arkansas College of Medicine and completed his internship and residency. He completed his oncology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, hematology, hospice, and palliative medicine.

 

“Oftentimes when you bring up a port, the picture a patient or the family member has in their mind is somebody having a dialysis catheter, a long IV hanging out of the arm, and it’s different than that.” ~ Dr. Brian Burnette

 

Today on Cancer Covered:



* A chemotherapy port is a device inserted under the skin that connects to a large blood vessel in the body, providing secure IV access for medication infusion.

* Ports are different from other devices like PICC lines or Hickman lines.

* While ports are commonly placed in the chest, they can also be placed on other body parts by surgeons or radiologists.

* Ports must be flushed regularly to maintain their function, usually every four to six weeks.

* Ports provide a more pleasant experience for patients with difficulty getting IVs in their arms, as they offer secure and easily accessible IV access.

* Some chemotherapy drugs can be harsh and irritating to the inside of veins, making ports a better option for infusion as they can handle more challenging conditions.

* Ports are not necessary for all patients receiving medications, but they are particularly useful for treatments that require secure IV access or protracted infusions.

* The decision to keep a port in after completing cancer treatment is a personal one, but it is important to consider the psychological burden and potential risks associated with leaving it.



Join Our Free Monthly Support Group

No one should carry the burden of cancer alone. A cancer diagnosis can make you and your loved ones feel isolated and alone – just when you need support the most.

Our social workers at Green Bay Oncology know that meaningful connection brings strength and healing. Sharing the experience in a safe space with others on a similar path is often powerful and therapeutic. That’s why we offer a free monthly virtual and in-person cancer support group facilitated for you and your loved ones.

Wherever you are on your cancer journey – you are always welcome.

To join us, visit: https://gboncology.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Brian Burnette and Dr. Michael Guiou about the importance of having transparent and honest discussions with cancer patients about their prognosis and treatment options. We discussed how many doctors struggle to answer the question of how long a patient with Stage IV cancer will live and the negative impact this can have on patients.

Dr. Burnette emphasized the need to set realistic expectations and prepare for the worst while maintaining hope. He explained that about a third of patients will not respond well to treatment and may have a short life expectancy, while another third will respond well and have long periods of disease control.

Dr. Guiou added that it is crucial to be honest with patients and not give false hope, as this can lead to unnecessary treatments and emotional harm. We also discussed the importance of ongoing patient conversations about their prognosis and treatment options and the need to respect each patient’s hopes and goals. Overall, the episode highlighted the importance of trust, honesty, and open communication in providing the best care for cancer patients.



Dr. Brian Burnett: A native of Upper Michigan, Dr. Burnette completed his internship, residency, and fellowship at the Mayo Clinic after graduating at the top of his class from Michigan State. Most recently, he served as Instructor of Medicine at Mayo. He is well-published and lectures internationally on cancer-related topics. Dr. Burnette treats all cancer types and is excited to serve the people of Green Bay and the surrounding areas.

Dr. Michael Guiou was born in Sacramento, California; with his father’s career in the Air Force, he grew up across several states. He attended the University of California Davis School of Medicine in Sacramento and completed a residency at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Guiou loves the kind and caring culture of the Midwest, a trait he found was often lacking in bigger cities where he lived. Dr. Guiou has always wanted to help people and considers it a privilege to care for the patients under his care.

 

“If somebody looks like they’re heading out of this world, and they have an opportunity to spend one last time with the people that mean the most to them,

and they weren’t aware that time was short, boy, you just cost them a lot.”~Dr. Brian Burnette

This week on Cancer Covered:



* Uncertainty in Prognosis: Doctors often cannot accurately predict how long a patient with stage 4 incurable disease will live. Admitting uncertainty and discussing the range of possible outcomes is more helpful than providing an average survival statistic.

* Individualized Outcomes: Patients with the same diagnosis can have vastly different experiences. About a third may not respond well to treatment, a third may have an average response, and a third may respond exceptionally well, living many years longer than expected.

* Importance of Honest Communication: Clear and honest discussions about prognosis are crucial. Physicians should avoid giving false hope and help patients understand their situation realistically to make informed decisions.

* Impact of Misinformation: Providing unrealistic expectations can lead to patients missing out on important life events, spending unnecessary resources, and experiencing additional emotional and physical distress.

* Evolving Conversations: Discussions about prognosis and end-of-life care should be ongoing and evolve as the patient’s condition changes. This helps build trust and prepares patients for potential outcomes.

* Changing Perceptions of Hope: Hope should not be limited to the prospect of a cure. It can take many forms, such as the hope for quality of life, not being a burden, or having a peaceful death.

* Patient Autonomy: Modern medical practice emphasizes the role of t...

In this episode, we’re joined by the pioneering founders of Green Bay Oncology – Dr. Paul Koch, Dr. Skip McGovern, Dr. Jules Blank, and Dr. Gerald Bayer – along with Dr. Tony Jaslowski, a dedicated oncologist and hematologist at GBO. Our conversation delves into our practice’s roots, exploring the establishment of a service and ethics-driven team approach. We reflect on how this ethos and culture, which prioritize teamwork, camaraderie, and equality, have flourished at GBO since its inception. Our discussion further highlights the founders’ commitment to prioritizing patient needs rather than focusing solely on financial goals. We explore our ongoing mission to provide honest, compassionate care, a philosophy that has become our and our founders’ lasting legacy. Additionally, we delve into the genesis of clinical research trials at GBO and examine the advancements in cancer research over the past thirty years.

To be an oncologist is an incredible privilege. You meet people at one of the worst times of their lives, and they allow you to care for them. Sometimes you cure their cancer, and sometimes they succumb to the disease – or something in between. But one thing remains consistent in our careers as a physician – It’s an incredible privilege to help our patients. Caring for our patients is a gift – a gift they give to us. It’s something our founders at Green Bay Oncology have never forgotten. And it’s something every oncologist should remember.

“Standardization of care is the ultimate vision for where we want this to go so everybody can have the best results.”

– Dr. Skip McGovern

This week on Cancer Covered:



* Treating each other as equals promotes teamwork

* Putting the patient’s needs first

* Our mission is to provide honest, compassionate care

* The differences between a profit-driven practice vs a service-driven practice

* How clinical research trials began at GBO

* Understanding what an IRB is and what they do

* How clinical research impacts communities



 

Join Our Free Monthly Support Group

No one should carry the burden of cancer alone. A cancer diagnosis can make you and your loved ones feel isolated and alone – just when you need support the most. Our social workers at Green Bay Oncology know that meaningful connection brings strength and healing. Sharing the experience in a safe space with others on a similar path is often powerful and therapeutic. That’s why we offer a free monthly virtual and in-person cancer support group facilitated for you and your loved ones.

Wherever you are on your cancer journey – you are always welcome.

To join us, visit: https://gboncology.com/events/

We’ve Got Cancer…Covered.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s Cancer Covered with Green Bay Oncology episode. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | GooglePlay |Deezer | Spotify | iHeart

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more oncology professionals, cancer patients, and their families.

Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Cancer research and treatment has come a long way over the last few decades. From having only a handful of treatment options and medications at our disposal in the late 1970s and early 80s to now having a wide range of treatment options, the ability to diagnose and treat cancer earlier, and even cure many different types of cancer – the evolution of cancer treatment and care has significantly evolved.

Our founders – Dr. Paul Koch, Dr. Skip McGovern, Dr. Jules Blank, and Dr. Gerald Bayer – witnessed cancer treatment’s evolution and revolution first-hand.

Dr. Paul Koch, Dr. Skip McGovern, Dr. Jules Blank, Dr. Gerald Bayer, and Dr. Tony Jaslowski join us again today to discuss the evolution of cancer care, what cancer treatment plans were like when Green Bay Oncology first began, and the treatment options that are currently available to oncologists and patients. We discuss how cancer research has improved the life expectancy of many patients with various types of cancer over the last several decades. They share the most memorable cancer treatment developments throughout their careers and the cancer drugs they were glad to see retire. We also discuss how the introduction of in-home hospice care has significantly improved the quality of life for terminally ill cancer patients and how the number of cancer patients being admitted into the hospital for cancer treatment side effects has been impacted by the development of modern drug treatment options.

“When hospice moved to taking care of patients in an outpatient setting, in their own home – it was a game-changer. It was actually care for them to receive.”

– Dr. Skip McGovern

This week on Cancer Covered:



* How cancer research has improved the life expectancy for patients over the last 40 years

* Various cancer drugs our founders were glad to see retire

* The most memorable cancer treatment developments that occurred throughout their careers

* What life was like for cancer patients in the late 70s and early 80s and how it has evolved over time

* Patients experiencing nausea, fatigue, and hair loss following a round of cancer treatment

* The number of patients admitted into the hospital to receive chemotherapy treatments



Join Our Free Monthly Support Group

No one should carry the burden of cancer alone. A cancer diagnosis can make you and your loved ones feel isolated and alone – just when you need support the most. Our social workers at Green Bay Oncology know that meaningful connection brings strength and healing. Sharing the experience in a safe space with others on a similar path is often powerful and therapeutic. That’s why we offer a free monthly virtual and in-person cancer support group facilitated for you and your loved ones.

Wherever you are on your cancer journey – you are always welcome.

To join us, visit: https://gboncology.com/events/

We’ve Got Cancer…Covered.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s Cancer Covered with Green Bay Oncology episode. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | GooglePlay |Deezer | Spotify | iHeart

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more oncology professionals, cancer patients, and their families.

Join us on Facebook, Twitter,

Mitch and I delve into hair loss during cancer treatment in today’s episode. We explore why certain therapies cause hair loss and discuss the emotional impact it can have on patients. We also touch on the treatments more likely to cause hair loss, such as anthracyclines and taxane drugs.

Mitch shares insights on the temporary nature of hair loss and how patients can cope with the distress it may cause. We also discuss the option of scalp cryotherapy as a preventative measure, although it comes with challenges. Throughout the episode, we emphasize the importance of understanding and validating the emotions that come with hair loss while highlighting cancer patients’ resilience and adaptability. Join us as we shed light on this aspect of cancer treatment.

“This is a temporary phase, just like the cancer treatment is.”

~Dr. Mitch Winkler

In This Week’s Episode of Cancer Covered:



* Why some cancer treatments cause hair loss.

* Specific treatments more likely to cause hair loss.

* Is hair loss permanent for cancer patients?

* Preventing hair loss during treatment.

* How cancer patients cope with hair loss.

* How common is it for people to lose their hair during cancer treatment?

* Adapting to hair loss during treatment



Join Our Free Monthly Support Group

No one should carry the burden of cancer alone. A cancer diagnosis can make you and your loved ones feel isolated and alone – just when you need support the most. Our social workers at Green Bay Oncology know that meaningful connection brings strength and healing. Sharing the experience in a safe space with others on a similar path is often powerful and therapeutic. That’s why we offer a free monthly virtual and in-person cancer support group facilitated for you and your loved ones.

Wherever you are on your cancer journey – you are always welcome.

To join us, visit: https://gboncology.com/events/

We’ve Got Cancer…Covered.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s Cancer Covered with Green Bay Oncology episode. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | GooglePlay |Deezer | Spotify | iHeart

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more oncology professionals, cancer patients, and their families.

Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.