Cancer Treatment Centers of America Recognized by American Diabetes Association
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Diabetic Self-Management Education Program Emphasizes Complex Health Needs of Cancer Patients
July 31, 2007 (Tulsa, Okla.) - Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Southwestern Regional Medical Center has been recognized for its outstanding care of diabetic cancer patients by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) as a Diabetes Self-Management Education Program.
Between eight and 18% of diabetic patients have cancer, according to Diabetes Spectrum (Summer, 2006) the journal of the ADA. Patients with diabetes and cancer have a poorer prognosis with higher infection rates, shorter remission periods and higher mortality rates. At CTCA, 11% of cancer patients treated at the Tulsa facility in 2006 also suffered from diabetes, up four percent from 2005.
Andrea Reser, RD, LD, CTCA diabetes program coordinator emphasizes the importance of educating patients and clinical staff about how to care for diabetes and cancer. “There is a strong link between diabetes and different types of cancer and we have known this for years. Recent outcomes tell us high blood sugar levels weaken the immune system affecting the body’s ability to fight cancer,” said Reser.
CTCA began working on the application for the program in October of 2005. “We were already ahead of the game with our patient education programs and our teams in place,” says Reser.
To qualify for the ADA program, CTCA collected data from 15 diabetic patients treating at the hospital over a six-month period. Using data from these patients including diabetes type and demographic information, CTCA applied for the ADA Diabetes Self-Management Education program accreditation. The data indicated that CTCA met the required number of patients with baseline information including diabetes type and demographic information. These requirements coupled with the existing CTCA diabetes education program earned the organization this highly coveted designation.
The diabetes education program includes regular patient consultations with a CTCA registered dietitian and nurse educator for ongoing lifestyle coaching and monitoring to ensure that the patient’s individualized cancer treatment is managed appropriately alongside their diabetes.
“For cancer patients with diabetes, the ADA accreditation reinforces CTCA’s commitment to providing true whole-person care that combines advanced medical therapies and protocols with scientifically supported complementary options, such as nutritional support, to help manage other health issues that can affect a patient’s cancer treatment program,” said Kalli Campbell, MS, RD, LD, manager of nutrition and metabolic support at CTCA.
For Robert Roseboro, colon and liver cancer patient and recently diagnosed diabetic, the designation means others in his situation will be able to receive first rate cancer care. “I have learned how to manage my diabetes mostly through diet and exercise,” said Roseboro. “If my story can help someone have a better outcome with their cancer treatment, then I want to share my story,” said Roseboro.
"Diabetes can be an overwhelming disease to learn how to manage and so can cancer, but if we can lessen the challenges patients face with managing the disease, they will be better equipped to handle the cancer treatments and therapies required by their doctors," says Campbell.
About Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Inc. (CTCA) is a national network of hospitals focusing on complex and advanced stage cancer. CTCA offers a comprehensive, fully integrated approach to cancer treatment and serves patients from all 50 states at facilities located in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. Known for delivering the Mother Standard® of care and Patient Empowerment Medicine®, CTCA provides patients with information about cancer and their treatment options so they can control their treatment decisions. For more information about CTCA, go to www.cancercenter.com.
