JESUP, Ga. — When diagnosed with cancer, patients don’t want to drive hours for high-quality treatment and technology. That’s why St. Joseph’s/ Candler and the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion (LCRP) are actively bringing cancer care closer to Southeast Georgia.
One of the LCRP’s regional oncology centers is in Jesup, designed to serve Wayne County and surrounding communities. The LCRP partnered with Wayne Memorial Hospital to bring this cancer treatment to southeast Georgia. The board-certified hematologist and oncologist for the center is Dr. Jeyanthi Ramanarayanan — Dr. Ram to her patients. Board-certified hematologist and oncologist Dr. Ajaz Bulbul also sees patients here. While located in Wayne County, patients throughout southeast Georgia get personalized cancer care closer to their homes. Patients come to the LCRP from the following counties and more:
• Wayne County
• Pierce County
• Ware County
• Brantley County
• County
• Bacon County
• Appling County Additionally, the LCRP has regional infusion centers in Hinesville, Pembroke, Statesboro, Bluffton and Hilton Head, South Carolina. Patients are also seen in Waycross for medical oncology appointments.
“Diagnosis of cancer and defining appropriate treatment options for a patient requires comprehensive testing and work up using various resources,” says Dr. Ram. “Receiving compassionate care at their local facility can make it easier for friends and family to assist them during this difficult time. In addition to being physically impossible for some, traveling for your cancer care is mentally and financially exhausting. It is important that we offer flexibility in scheduling and a convenient location for treatment.”
The Jesup infusion center was recently expanded to offer more space to treat regional cancer patients. The center has 16 infusion chairs and a room with a private bed. The chairs are in semi-private bays and are equipped with comforts like televisions. The entire location was built for maximum comfort and calmness. The new location is located on the campus of Wayne Memorial Hospital in Jesup – 861 South First Street. A physician’s office is located in Jesup at 930 South First Street, while the same is offered in Waycross, located at 1706 Alice Street.
All of the LCRP’s regional infusion centers offer state-of-the-art quality care available as part of the LCRP in the patient’s own community. Some of the services offered at the Wayne County office are:
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• IV Hydration/Electrolytes • IV Iron Infusions
• Port Flushes
• Injections Additionally, patients being treated in the Jesup or Waycross area can have the same opportunities as those at the main campus in Savannah including access to clinical trials and case reviews by the LCRP’s Clinical Effectiveness Teams.
The team strives to go beyond just treating the cancer, as it focuses on taking care of the patient as a person. If a patient is hungry during a treatment session, food is provided. If there’s a need for financial assistance, the team helps the patient navigate cost and insurance questions. If a patient needs someone to talk to, the team is staffed with nurses, doctors and social workers who are available during this journey. “The team and I at the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion in Savannah, Jesup or Waycross are committed to providing excellent and the most up-to- date evidence-based care,” Dr. Ram says. “I am looking forward to helping cancer patients navigate their treatment by staying closer to home.”
Dr. Ram earned her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute in Chennai, India, where she also earned her Doctor of Medicine degree. That was followed by an internship at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in Jersey City, New Jersey, where she went on to do her residency. Dr. Ram did a clinical fellowship in Hematology at the University of Buffalo at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, New York, followed by a clinical fellowship in oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. Before joining the LCRP, Dr. Ram worked at the Adena Cancer Care Center in Ohio. She also has held several positions as an assistant professor, and she’s been published in numerous research publications, abstracts and presentations. Dr. Ram has served on several boards and committees and received many honors and awards.
“As cancer treatments continue to evolve, an oncologist has many choices to offer a patient,” Dr. Ram says. “I love to be attentive to the individual needs of a patient and be supportive in their decision making process, which can be overwhelming. I like living and working in a smaller community where people care about each other. I like to make a difference by going above and beyond and helping my patients in need.”
For more information about Dr. Ram and the Wayne County Oncology Infusion Center, please visit www.sjchs.org/ cancer/locations/waynecounty- cancer-care.