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Find an NCCN Member Institution
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Home Page Find a Clinical Trial |
For information on clinical trials at this NCCN Member Institution click here. The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center affiliated with Vanderbilt University and Medical Center. Vanderbilt-Ingram’s 250 faculty members generate more than $130 million annually in federally funded research support. The clinical enterprise includes more than 150 clinicians working in multi-disciplinary teams and seeing patients in the Henry-Joyce Cancer Clinic, other locations through Vanderbilt Clinic and the Vanderbilt Hospital, at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and at off-site practices in nearby Clarksville and Franklin. Clinical trials are also available in more than a dozen locations in five states through the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Affiliate Network (www.vicc.org/viccan). Particular strengths include colorectal, breast, lung, head and neck, neurologic, prostate and renal cancers, melanoma, sarcomas, leukemias and lymphomas, and clinical trials, particularly Phase 1 studies. General public and referring physicians/health care professionals: Searchable database of clinicians and researchers: www.vicc.org and click on “Find a Doctor” Clinical trials information Other key phone numbers: Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
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Multidisciplinary Teams |
Weekly tumor conferences are held for most major tumor sites:
These teams include all disciplines involved in the care of these patients, including oncologists, hematologists, surgeons and surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists. |
Special Expertise |
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General Information
General Information |
800.811.8480 |
Referring Physician Line |
800.811.8480 (M-F 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central time) |
Location |
Nashville, Tennessee |
Facility |
Henry-Joyce Cancer Clinic and Chemotherapy Infusion Center (now undergoing expansion now to double size/capacity to 116,000 square feet and 46 infusion stations), Outpatient Stem Cell Transplant Unit, a 27-bed inpatient Myelosuppression Unit, the Center for Radiation Oncology, various surgical clinics, and the Vanderbilt Breast Center, all located within Vanderbilt Hospital and Clinic on the main Vanderbilt Medical Center campus; freestanding radiation therapy centers in Montgomery and Williamson counties; a satellite oncology clinic in Williamson County; and clinical trials affiliates through a dozen partner oncology practices and hospitals in five states. |
Travel Assistance |
Vanderbilt-Ingram has an American Cancer Society Transportation Grant and also works with ACS and other providers of transportation. Contact: 615.322.7459 or http://www.vicc.org/cancercare/support/transportation.php |
Lodging |
Several non-profit organizations offer housing options, some requiring referral by our social worker. These include the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge; Hospital Hospitality House; and nearby apartments with arrangements to provide housing for bone marrow transplant patients and caregivers. Contact: 615.343.7776 or http://www.vicc.org/cancercare/support/accomodations.php |
Treatment
Stem Cell Transplant Program
The Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center offers the full spectrum of transplant types (autologous, related and unrelated allogeneic, reduced-intensity and umbilical cord transplant). These transplants may be conducted in an inpatient setting or in our Outpatient Treatment Unit (OTU) depending on the needs of the individual patient.
The program offers BMT for patients with myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, acute leukemias, Hodgkin’s disease, chronic leukemias, myelodysplastic syndrome, severe aplastic anemia, germ cell tumors and myeloproliferative disorders.
Services include a 27-bed inpatient, HEPA-filtered transplant unit on the 11th floor of Vanderbilt University Hospital, a 13-room outpatient transplant unit staffed 365 days a year, and a long-term follow-up clinic.
More information, including outcomes data, available at www.vicc.org/bmt Contact: 615.936.1803.
Brain Tumor Center
Vanderbilt-Ingram’s Brain Tumor Center brings together clinicians from neurosurgery, medical neuro-oncology, radiation oncology, pediatric neuro-oncology, radiosurgery, neuroradiology, neuro intensive care and neuropathology. We specialize in treatment of benign and malignant tumors of the brain (both primary and metastatic) and have special expertise in treating tumors of the skull base and the pituitary region. Our surgical team, which perform approximately 400 major brain tumor surgeries each year, offers sophisticated expertise including use of functional MRI pre-operative scanning, intraoperative mapping techniques and “awake craniotomy.”
Our Brain Tumor Board meets weekly to review cases of patients with brain tumors and to discuss treatment options. Patients or physicians wishing to have their cases reviewed by the Brain Tumor Board may call 615.343.4152. Results are provided to referring physicians or patients within one week of review.
Thoracic Oncology Program
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center offers one of the most active and recognized programs in the nation for lung cancer. This highly organized program focuses on efficient and coordinated multi-specialty care, multi-modality and laboratory research, and education of our own trainees on a national and international basis. A weekly Clinical Thoracic Oncology Conference allows each subspecialty group to give input on a particular patient followed by a treatment plan that is formulated by the appropriate specialists.
Same-day testing is available for CT scans, bone scans, MRI scans, pulmonary function testing, immediate pathological interpretations of outside biopsies and bronchoscopy. The Thoracic Oncology faculty work closely together in the multimodality management of patients. Referring physicians are notified of management decisions and recommendations usually within 24 hours of the patient's visit to the clinic. Contact: 615.322.6053
Center for Radiation Oncology
Vanderbilt-Ingram’s Center for Radiation Oncology offers treatment in three locations: at the main medical center campus in Nashville and at free-standing radiation oncology centers in Franklin, Tenn. (Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center at Franklin) and Clarksville, Tenn. (Gateway-Vanderbilt Cancer Treatment Center). Our services include: three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT); intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT); stereotactic radiotherapy; image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT); brachytherapy; systemic radiation therapy; radioimmunotherapy, and investigational radiation therapies. More information at www.vicc.org/radonc.
Cancer Prevention and Screening
Through the Office of Patient and Community Education and the Office of Minority Affairs, dozens community programs are offered throughout the year to promote cancer prevention and early detection through screening; Vanderbilt Corporate Relations includes cancer information in its health fairs and other programming for key employers in our region; Vanderbilt participates in an annual free community skin cancer screening event, provides free skin cancer screenings for Vanderbilt faculty and staff each spring and offers free head and neck cancer screenings in conjunction with the local VA Medical Center and the Yul Brynner Foundation. Contact: 615.936.5855.
Support Services & Supportive Care
Office of Patient Support and Integrative Care
This service is designed to address the spectrum of physical, psychosocial, emotional, and other needs of patients that exist in conjunction with and in addition to their medical and disease management needs. Services include a specialized Pain and Symptom management clinic, nutrition services by two registered dietitians, psychological services and social work consultation and assistance. Contact: 615.322.7463 or www.vicc.org
Vanderbilt Center for Integrative Health
Cancer is one of the leading diagnoses for patients referred to this center, which combines traditional medicine with complementary and alternative approaches that are scientifically proven safe and effective. The center offers comprehensive integrative health and/or psychologic consultations with MD- and PhD-trained professionals. More information at 615.343.1554 or www.vcih.org
Patient and Family Support Services
Staffed by a full-time manager and a cadre of dedicated volunteers, this service attends to the comfort of patients and families during their clinic visits. Refreshments, visits by specially trained pets, entertainment by local songwriters and musicians, a wig service and other services are offered. Contact: 615.343.7776
Patient and Family Resource Center
This center, staffed by a full-time manager and conveniently located next to the main clinic waiting area, offers a variety of resources for patient and family education and information. Contact: 615.322.9799.
Home Care Services
Vanderbilt Home Care Services includes two agencies: a Medicare-certified agency and a non Medicare-certified agency. Staffing includes nurses; physical, occupational, and speech therapists and assistants; home health aides/PCAs; medical social workers; office support for both agencies. The care is provided by a multidisciplinary team coordinated under the direction and supervision of the patient’s physician.
Hospice
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center works closely with Alive Hospice, a Nashville based, nonprofit hospice covering Nashville and 11 surrounding counties. Alive Hospice also offers a 30-bed inpatient full-service residence for patients who cannot be cared for at home – or who need a transition from hospital to home. Alive Hospice provides a full time registered nurse (RN) to work with the staff and patients/families at Vanderbilt who are ready to transition to hospice care. This RN admits the patients to hospice services assuring a smooth and seamless change.
Rehabilitation Services
Rehab services are provided in a variety of ways. The bone marrow/stem cell transplant program has a full-time physical therapist to work with both the in- and outpatients throughout the course of treatment. Other inpatients receive services from the Vanderbilt physical therapists based on physician request for service. There is a large outpatient program where patients may receive services after discharge from the hospital. Patients needing inpatient rehab services may be transferred to the 80-bed Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital. The hospital provides both in- and outpatient services for a variety of diseases/complications requiring rehabilitation. With additional space to be made available when the current clinic expansion is completed, we anticipate offering physical therapy and rehab services in the cancer clinic for our oncology outpatients as well.
Case management/social work
Vanderbilt has a unique way of providing case management, social work and utilization management. The three providers work together in a triad, focusing on a set patient population. They work closely with the direct care providers to assure that services needed are arranged for prior to discharge, that hospital days are approved, and to help plan for the psychosocial needs of the patient/family during the hospital stay and after discharge. The Cancer Patient Care Center has 3 Master’s prepared case managers, 4 Master’s prepared social workers, 1 utilization manager and a Bachelor’s prepared social worker. The case managers work largely with the inpatients while the social workers cover both in and outpatients.
Clinical and Research Efforts
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center’s mission is to conduct high-impact research, with an emphasis on translational work to bridge laboratory discoveries with clinical advances. In addition to offering a full-range of innovative clinical trials, Vanderbilt-Ingram has a number of special, collaborative and patient-oriented research initiatives including:
- Phase I and Phase II clinical trial agreements with NCI
- Southern Community Cohort Study
- Three Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grants in lung, gastrointestinal and breast cancers
- Digestive Disease Center grant
- U54 Minority Partnership Grant (including clinical trials initiative) with Meharry Medical College
- Clinical Proteomic Technology Assessment Grant
- Mouse Models of Human Cancer Grant
- Many others (see www.vicc.org/research)
Statistics
Adult Oncology Program (2006 data)
No. of Inpatient Beds (Medical/Surgical) |
No. of Admissions |
Average Length of Stay (days) |
No. of Outpatient Visits |
No. of Oncologists (Medical, Radiation, and Surgical) |
858 total licensed beds (Vanderbilt Hospital) |
1,876 discharges classified by DRG; 4,918 discharges classified by ICD-9 code |
5.5 for ICD-9 classified discharges; 6.7 for DRG classified discharges |
4,915 new patient visits (oncology, hematology, BMT and surgical oncology) |
Surg oncologists: 10 |
Cooperative Group Membership
Cooperative Group Membership List |
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Activities in Cooperative Group |
Clinical trial participation and leadership |
Average Number of Adult Clinical Trials |
140 (therapeutic and correlative) |
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Pediatric Oncology Services
Introduction
The Vanderbilt Childhood Cancer Program is a collaboration of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, a free-standing children’s hospital which opened in 2004. Its faculty are cancer center members and fully integrated in center programs and initiatives. Its director, Jim Whitlock, MD, and one of its physicians, John Kuttesh, MD, serve key roles in Vanderbilt-Ingram’s clinical trials program as chairs of its resource allocation committee and scientific review committee.
Special Expertise |
Highlight any special expertise physicians have at your institution, using bullets. Examples are as follows:
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General Information
General Information |
615.936.1762 |
Referring Physician Line |
615.288.5000 |
Location |
Nashville, Tennessee |
Physical Plant |
Clinical care is delivered in the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, a free-standing children’s hospital opened in 2004 that includes a 12-unit self-contained HEPA-filtered wing that includes family gathering and patient play areas. |
Lodging |
Close relationship with the Ronald McDonald House, located just a few blocks from the hospital, and the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge. |
Social Support |
Cancer patients and families have access to all of the support services of the Children’s Hospital, including the Junior League Family Resource Center, Child Life Services, Hospital School Program, and a School Re-entry Program. The psychosocial team is composed of 3 social workers, 2 child life specialists, 3 child psychologists and the Children’s Hospital chaplain. The members of this team meet on a regular basis, together with the Pediatric Advanced Care Team (PACT), to discuss and review issues related to patient and family support. Specialized neuropsychological testing is also provided by the child psychology team in support of the brain tumor and survivorship programs. |
Home Health Care |
Vanderbilt Children’s Home Care Program offers a variety of home care services catering to the individual needs of patients; we provide both intermittent and private duty services. The quality and level of care is in complete agreement with Children’s Hospital standards, ensuring safe and effective treatment with all the benefits of home. As an affiliate of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, we offer family-centered care with a team approach to infants and children who require specialized services.
Patient and Family Education—Pediatric home care nurses and rehabilitation therapists provide initial assessment, home care instruction and ongoing visit support. We assist our patients and families to overcome their fears and concerns about being at home. Working with the hospital staff, we aid the discharge process before the patient arrives home. All of these efforts are done with one goal in mind: a positive outcome for the patient and their family |
Ages Treated |
0-21 |
Clinical and Research Information
Director, Vanderbilt |
James Whitlock, MD, Director of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Craig Weaver Professor of Pediatrics. |
Multidisciplinary Teams |
A multidisciplinary team of the following specialists addresses the complex needs of young patients and their families before, during, and after treatment:
Weekly tumor conferences are held. |
Cooperative Group Membership |
Children’s Oncology Group (COG) |
Activities in Cooperative Group |
Leadership and participation in clinical trials |
Average Number of Pediatric Clinical Trials |
50 |
Research Efforts
Highlights of childhood cancer research faculty:
Dr. Whitlock's research interest include the biology and treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, the biology and treatment of Langerhans cell histiocytosis and other forms of histiocytosis, and the development of new agents for the treatment of childhood cancers and blood diseases. He is actively involved in clinical research in these areas and has leadership roles in the Children's Oncology Group (COG), the Histiocyte Society, the Histiocytosis Association of America, and the Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators' Consortium (POETIC).
Haydar Frangoul, M.D.: evaluating alternative Stem Cell sources such as unrelated donors for Stem Cell transplant. The main focus of interest is the fole of the growth factor stimulated Bone Marrow in related donor transplant setting.
Richard Ho, M.D.: identification and functional characterization of naturally occurring polymorphisms in drug transport proteins as they relate to drug disposition. To this extent, we focus on pharmacogenetics, the study of the role of inheritance in the individual variation in drug response. Even though individual differences in drug response can result from the effects of age, sex, disease, or drug interactions, genetic factors also influence both the efficacy of a drug and the likelihood of an adverse reaction. Transport proteins have an important role in regulating the absorption, distribution, and excretion of many medications as well as endogenous substances. Dr. Ho is currently studying several transport proteins important to the disposition of a number of chemotherapeutics agents and include such transporters as the multidrug resistance associated proteins (MRPs), the bile salt export pump (BSEP), and the breast cancer related protein (BCRP). Projects are primarily laboratory based and rely on background knowledge in the fields of molecular biology and pharmacology.
John F. Kuttesch Jr., Ph.D., M.D.: development and evaluation of new therapies for childhood brain tumors, including targeted molecular therapies to be used alone or in combination with other approaches.
Elizabeth Yang, M.D., Ph.D.: molecular mechanisms of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, an important regulatory pathway in cancer.
Melissa Rhodes, M.D.: red blood cell development and disorders. She is particularly interested in how immature red blood cells, known as reticulocytes, move from the bone marrow into the bloodstream in normal and disease states
Anderson B. Collier, M.D.: determining genetic factors that affect cancer development in children and improving supportive care for children and adolescents receiving chemotherapy for cancer.
Jennifer A. Domm, M.D.: pediatric hemostasis and thrombosis
Michael Engel, M.D., Ph.D.: molecular mechanisms of hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis, cellular signal transduction, biochemistry and identification of novel therapeutic for myeloid and lymphoid leukemias.
Special Expertise
Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program
Led by Haydar Frangoul, M.D. and staffed by three attending physicians, a pediatric nurse practitioner, a nurse coordinator, and a clinical pharmacist, this program provides comprehensive transplantation services, including unrelated donor and cord blood transplants, for children and adolescents with malignant and non-malignant disorders. A 12-bed HEPA-filtered stem cell transplant unit is located within the Children’s Hospital. The program is an active participant in the National Marrow Donor Program and the Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Consortium. The Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program is approved by the National Marrow Donor Program, the Bone Marrow Transplant Committee of COG and the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), and is recognized as a Center of Excellence by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee.
Pediatric Cancer Experimental Therapies Program
Led by James Whitlock, M.D., Vanderbilt participates in clinical trials of novel agents through POETIC (Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators’ Consortium) which also includes childhood cancer programs at M.D. Anderson, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, the Children’s Hospital at the University of Colorado the University of Florida, and the University of Arizona, and SARC. This program is funded in part by an infrastructure grant from the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
Pediatric Brain Tumor Program
Led by John Kuttesch, Ph.D., M.D., this program provides multi-disciplinary care for children with tumors of the primary central nervous system. Treatment programs are developed in collaboration with other members of the Brain Tumor Center of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center at a weekly Neuro-Oncology Tumor Board. Children with CNS tumors which do not respond to, or recur following, standard treatments are eligible for early phase clinical trials of novel therapies conducted through COG and POETIC.
Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program
This program provides a full range of follow-up care designed to meet the unique health care needs of each survivor. The program provides care based on recommendations from the Children’s Oncology Group (www.survivorshipguidelines.org).The team consists of oncologists, pediatricians, internists, endocrinologists, psychologists, and a nurse coordinator. In addition to the evaluations provided by the survivorship clinic, referrals can be made for evaluations in other specialty clinics such as Pulmonology, Ophthalmology, or Cardiology. Our program is an invited member of the COG’s Survivorship / Cancer Control Consortium.
Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program
Led by Anderson Collier, M.D., the program is working with the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and the LIVESTRONG Young Adult Alliance to focus on the unique needs of this population of patients by enhancing access to appropriate clinical trials.
Statistics
date of stats given, e.g. “Fiscal Year 2006”
No. of Inpatient Beds |
No. of Admissions |
Total Outpatient Visits |
No. of Bone Marrow Transplants |
No. of Oncologists |
12-bed HEPA filtered myelosuppression unit |
904 in FY 2005 |
13,125 FY 2006 |
22 in FY 2005 |
10 |
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Genetic Counseling and Testing Service
Introduction
The Family Cancer Risk Service (FCRS) of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is an educational consultation service provided by a nurse practitioner and a cancer genetics nurse working with other medical specialists. In late 2006, the Vanderbilt Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Registry launched as a resource for screening and surveillance recommendations for patients and families and for building understanding of hereditary colorectal cancers.
The Vanderbilt Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Registry is dedicated to the understanding of hereditary colorectal cancers by gathering information on patients and their family members who have either had colorectal cancer or, because of family history, are at high risk of developing colorectal cancer. The Registry, started in December, 2006, also enrolls those who have or are at increased risk for developing known hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes such as:
- Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC)
- Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- Attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis (aFAP)
- Juvenile polyposis (JPS)
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS)
- Hereditary mixed polyposis syndrome
Location |
Family Cancer Risk Service Colorectal Cancer Registry |
Head of Genetics |
Susan W. Caro, RNC, MSN, APNG Director, Family Cancer Risk Service |
Schedule Appointments |
Contact: 615.343.0738 toll free: 877.688.7555 |
Intake Process
Community and Physician Awareness |
The Family Cancer Risk Service provides community and professional educational programs, including continuing education activities and participation in tumor boards and grand round programs. Our cancer risk counselors are available to provide educational programs to any group, professional our community that has an interest in hereditary cancer. Information can also be obtained from our website: http://vicc.org/fcrs |
Identify Eligible Subjects/Referral |
We are happy to meet with anyone who has concerns about their risk of cancer. That may include those with a significant personal or family history of cancer, or concerns about specific risk factors and cancer. Some of the features seen in families appropriate for referral include:
The Family Cancer Risk Service of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center can help individuals and families improve their understanding of their cancer risks and the available options for cancer screening, cancer risk reduction, and genetic testing.
For hereditary colorectal cancer concerns:
Other cancers that may warrant referral:
Patients can refer themselves to our service simply by calling the numbers provided. |
Pre-Test Counseling and Risk Assessment |
The first contact with the FCRS is by phone or in the clinic or hospital. Initially, we will answer questions you may have about the service and ask for some preliminary information regarding your family history. Information will then be sent to you to facilitate the collection of family/medical history prior to your first visit. The first visit usually lasts approximately 1 to 2 hours and subsequent visits are shorter. During these visits:
To facilitate a more accurate cancer risk evaluation, we will ask patients to collect family history information prior to their appointment. Important information includes:
Documentation of cancer diagnoses is an important part of the cancer risk assessment. Whenever possible, pathology records should be obtained for members of the family who have had cancer or suspected cancer. (In some cases, other medical records, death certificates, pathology specimens, etc. can be helpful.) Please contact us to arrange sending this information prior to your appointment. |
Informed Consent Procedures |
The consultation process provides many aspects of informed consent. When testing is planned, we utilize consents provided by testing facilities or review a written general consent for genetic testing. |
Testing
Confidentiality Standards |
We maintain confidential patient charts and consultation notes are placed in the electronic medical record of the institution. The institution standards for confidentiality and privacy are in place. |
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Testing |
MSI and IHC testing on tumor tissue is now available through Vanderbilt University Medical Center laboratories. Other tests are facilitated through outside laboratories including:
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Test Result Interpretation |
The Family Cancer Risk Service genetics nurse specialists review and interpret test results in consultation with the appropriate medical specialist (endocrinologist, endocrine surgeon, medical oncologist, gynecologic oncologist, surgical oncologist, etc). We review cancer risks indicated by the test results, and discuss options for decreasing risk or increasing surveillance for those with increased risk of cancer. Facilitation of clinical follow up and consultation is available. |
Post-Test Counseling and Follow-Up
Post-test Counseling |
At the initial consultation arrangements are made to plan the method of notifying patient of results. If “in person” notification is planned, an appointment is scheduled in advance. For some patients a phone conversation with initial results is planned with a follow up face-to-face conversation after that (as many patients live far away). Cancer risks, family implications, and surveillance plans are reviewed at that time. |
Cancer Screening |
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center’s Breast Center has a high risk screening clinic and the availability of MRI screening for women at increased risk of developing breast cancer. There is a high risk colorectal cancer clinic and a newly formed colorectal cancer registry to aid in ongoing surveillance of high risk colorectal cancer families. We plan a hereditary cancer clinic through medical oncology to begin July 2007 for ongoing management of individuals with hereditary cancer syndromes. |
Medical and Surgical Management |
Our surgical oncology and plastic surgery team offer risk reducing mastectomy and reconstruction for women at high risk of breast cancer. Gynecologic oncology offers risk reducing salpingo-oophorectomy for those appropriate. Colorectal surgeons offer ongoing surveillance and risk reducing colectomy (including laparoscopic colectomy). Our medical oncology team offers appropriate risk reducing medical options for those appropriate. |
Quality Assurance |
When appropriate, cases are reviewed with a multidisciplinary team of individuals and difficult cases are presented in a multidisciplinary high risk tumor board setting. |
Training |
Ms. Caro is an Advanced Practice Nurse in Genetics, credentialed by the International Society of Nurses in Genetics in 2001. She attends annual national/international conferences focusing on hereditary cancer syndromes. Ms. Kate McReynolds, BS, RGN received her training in the UK. Kate is certified in Oncology and Gynecology Nursing and has a post-graduate qualification in Cancer Genetics from the Institute of Cancer Research, London. Both have many years of experience in providing cancer genetics care. |
Genetic Counseling and Testing Service:
Vanderbilt Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Registry
Introduction
Location |
Nashville TN |
Head of Genetics |
Paul Wise, M.D. |
Schedule Appointments |
615.322-1590 Toll free: 800.340.7752 |
Intake Process
Community and Physician Awareness |
The mission of the Vanderbilt Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Registry is to identify patients at risk for hereditary colorectal cancer and provide counseling, education, screening and surveillance recommendations to both the public and medical community through seminars, health fairs, physician education, print media, and web based information. Patients may be self referred or be referred by their physician. A monthly clinic for those patients identified as being at high risk for familial colon cancer is also offered. Information regarding the Vanderbilt Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Registry may be viewed at www.vanderbiltcolorectal.com |
Identify Eligible Subjects/Referral |
Anyone with questions regarding familial hereditary colorectal cancer is encouraged to call the registry. The Registry enrolls those whose personal or family history exhibit the following;
*associated cancers include stomach, endometrial/uterine, ovarian, renal, small intestine, brain, pancreas. |
Pre-Test Counseling and Risk Assessment |
The first contact with the FCRS is by phone or in the clinic or hospital. Initially, we will answer questions you may have about the service and ask for some preliminary information regarding your family history. Information will then be sent to you to facilitate the collection of family/medical history prior to your first visit. The first visit usually lasts approximately 1 to 2 hours and subsequent visits are shorter. During these visits:
To facilitate a more accurate cancer risk evaluation, we will ask patients to collect family history information prior to their appointment. Important information includes:
Documentation of cancer diagnoses is an important part of the cancer risk assessment. Whenever possible, pathology records should be obtained for members of the family who have had cancer or suspected cancer. (In some cases, other medical records, death certificates, pathology specimens, etc. can be helpful.) Please contact us to arrange sending this information prior to your appointment. |
Pre-Test Counseling and Risk Assessment |
Patients seeking genetic testing for hereditary colorectal cancer is available and encouraged. |
Informed Consent Procedures |
Patients wishing to enroll in the Registry sign an informed consent. |
Testing
Confidentiality Standards |
Confidentiality conforms to HIPPA standards. All information obtained is kept in confidential patient charts and a locked database. |
Testing |
See below |
Available Testing at or through Vanderbilt Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Registry |
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Test Result Interpretation |
Genetic test results are reviewed by the director of the Registry in consultation with genetic counselors, geneticists, and other medial and surgical specialties as indicated. Medical, surgical, and screening and surveillance options are discussed with the patient. |
Post-Test Counseling and Follow-Up
Post-test Counseling |
Genetic test results, implications, recommendations and referrals are done in a follow up visit. |
Cancer Screening |
Patients may elect to have reminder letters regarding appropriate screening and surveillance sent to them. |
Medical and Surgical Management |
Risk reduction surgery and medical management is discussed with those patients who have high risk conditions by the appropriate specialty. |
Other Components of Genetic Services
Training |
Paul E. Wise, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery at Vanderbilt and an American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery certified Colon and Rectal surgeon, is the medical director for the Vanderbilt Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Registry. Duveen Sturgeon is a Registered Nurse with a special interest in cancer genetics. Duveen completed her nursing education in Canada and attended cancer genetic programs at City of Hope in California and Fox Chase Comprehensive Cancer Center in Pennsylvania. Duveen is the Program Coordinator for the Vanderbilt Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Registry. |
Last updated: 2/11/2008
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NCCN 1st Annual Forum: Innovative Diagnostics & Therapeutics in Cancer Care™ |
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