Cleveland Clinic Mansfield Cancer Center recognizes 10th anniversary
Since the Cleveland Clinic Mansfield Cancer Center opened 10 years ago, some 10,000 patients have received care.
Doctors and staff at the cancer center at 1125 Aspira Court celebrated the 10th anniversary throughout November.
"They just knew there was a need in the community," said Dr. Blessing Nollah, who joined the Cleveland Clinic as the director of the Mansfield Cancer Center earlier this year. "Patients with cancer, sometimes they don't want to drive an hour and 10 minutes (to Cleveland).
"When they can get the right care locally, it makes all the difference in the world."
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit, multispecialty academic medical center that's recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care.
Patients who seek care at the Mansfield Cancer Center have access to specialists at the main campus as well.
"A lot of times when patients are diagnosed with cancer, it's devastating," Nollah said.
At the Mansfield Cancer Center, patients can be part of clinical trials. The local facility offers a number of services, including access to an on-site nutritionist.
"Patients with cancer, a lot of time, have dietary issues," Nollah said.
Family members of patients can get genetic testing
They also have access to genetic testing to see if family members are at risk of getting cancer.
In addition, the Mansfield Cancer Center offers an on-site pharmacy, as well as on-site social workers who offer support to patients.
Through the local facility, people can receive art or Reiki therapy.
The Mansfield Cancer Center features a tumor board, a group of doctors who jointly discuss the best treatment plans for patients.
"Not all cancer is the same, or some people have two cancers," Nollah said.
Some of the latest updates at the Mansfield Cancer Center include a new linear accelerator, which offers patients top-of-the-line radiation therapy, and an updated PET/CT scanner.
In addition, the local facility has the only PET PMSA, which improves the diagnostic accuracy of prostate cancer, in the region.
The Mansfield Cancer Center has 50 employees, including two medical oncologists, one radiation oncologist and one nurse practitioner.
Linda Macfarlane has worked at facility more than 7 years
Linda Macfarlane has been a nurse practitioner there since May 2016.
"I love taking care of oncology patients. They're just a wonderful set of people," Macfarlane said. She also sees patients for hematology and radiation.
Macfarlane added the Mansfield Cancer Center was designed to be user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing for patients to help offset what can be a difficult experience.
"We have a great staff. They all work very well together," she said.
Nollah said it's also important for the center and its employees to become part of the community.
"We definitely want to continue to be involved," Nollah said.
The Mansfield Cancer Clinic has done so by offering seven health fairs, a mobile mammogram clinic and cancer-screening workshops.
At one of the health fairs, a person told Macfarlane she was not aware of the local facility.
"A lot of people just don't know we're nestled back here," she said. "Everybody thinks you have to go to the Mayo Clinic or the James (Cancer Center in Columbus). You can get everything done here."
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield branch of Cleveland Clinic celebrates its 10th anniversary
