New drug proving effective in attacking advanced prostate cancer

Franciscan St. Francis Health Cancer Center first in Indiana to use treatment

INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Health Cancer Center today (June 17) is the first medical facility in Indiana to use a new drug to treat men with advanced prostate cancer.

Robert Wright looks on as Dr. Michael Eaton administers the Xofigo
 injection while Dr. Peter Garrett, director of the Cancer Center observes.

It’s called Xofigo®, a radiopharmaceutical used in patients with late-stage, metastatic disease that has spread to the bones. It recently was approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

As prostate cancer progresses to advanced stages it may become castration-resistant, which has become resistant to medical or surgical treatments that lower testosterone. About 90 percent of men with advanced prostate cancer will develop bone metastases.

“Most men with castration-resistant prostate cancer develop bone metastases, which can decrease overall survival,” said Michael Eaton, MD, PhD, radiation oncologist, who performed the procedure. “Xofigo has actually demonstrated an ability to extend survival compared to existing treatment options.”

Treatment is administered once every four weeks for six months by intravenous injection. The drug binds with minerals in the bone to deliver radiation directly to bone tumors, limiting damage to the surrounding normal tissues.

“Treatment with Xofigo is well-tolerated by patients and results in minimal side effects,” Eaton said. “It is encouraging to have a new treatment option for men.”

The patient was 89-year-old Robert Wright of Shelbyville, Ind.

Xofigo was developed by the Norwegian company Algeta ASA, in a partnership with Bayer. 

DR. MICHAEL EATON

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About one in six will be diagnosed with it during his lifetime.

More than 238,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2013 with over 29,000 men dying from the disease, ACS predicts.

With hospitals in Indianapolis, Mooresville and Carmel, Franciscan St. Francis Health is a member of the Franciscan Alliance, one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the Midwest, with 13 hospitals throughout Indiana and Illinois. The Franciscan Alliance serves a geographic area with a population of 3.7 million people, provides care for more than 2.9 million outpatient visits and completes more than 100,000 inpatient discharges every year. 

Father/son family doctors form new Franciscan Physician Network practice

ROBERT ROBINSON

INDIANAPOLIS – Robert J. Robinson, MD, and Rod Eric Robinson, MD, have joined Indy Southside Family Medicine, a new practice established by Franciscan Physician Network.

The father-and-son practice is located at 4018 E. Southport Road. Both are board-certified in family medicine and are accepting patients of all ages.

Robert Robinson, who has been in private practice on the Indianapolis’ south side since 1986, received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Bob Jones University in South Carolina. He earned his medical degree at the Indiana University School of Medicine and completed a family medicine residency at the University of Colorado.

ROD ROBINSON

Rod Robinson most previously was a physician with the Robert J. Robinson Medical Corp. and  before that was an associate of Emergency Physicians of Indianapolis. He received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Wheaton College in Illinois and earned his medical degree at the IU School of Medicine. He completed a family medicine residency at Florida Hospital in Orlando.

To make an appointment with these doctors, call 317-787-3276.

Led by Central Indiana Region President Isaac J. Myers II, MD, Franciscan Physician Network is a multidisciplinary group of physicians throughout central Indiana. These physicians offer a variety of primary care and specialty care services and all practice at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

St. Francis Health nurses recognized for extraordinary patient care

INDIANAPOLIS – Nurses bring many qualities when providing care to their patients and families. When medicine no longer works, sometimes all it takes is a compassionate heart.

Or a song.

Amanda Strain and Lisa Collins are the latest recipients of the hospital’s DAISY Awards, presented to registered nurses by Franciscan St. Francis Health.

Strain, who works at the hospital’s Indianapolis campus on the adult intensive care unit, was nominated by a patient’s daughter.

“Amanda became acquainted with my mom’s personality, sang opera to her, placed a Bible verse on her room shelf and inquired about her well-being many times,” wrote the patient’s daughter. “During Amanda’s service, my mom always improved.”

Collins works in the adult inpatient unit at Indianapolis. The patient and patient’s family cited her for her compassionate, caring service.

“I will never forget the love and care she has for her patients,” wrote the patient who nominated her for the award. “She is great, not only as a nurse but she becomes a friend, and she made my stay at the hospital as pleasant as she could.”

The DAISY Award was established by the DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of an auto-immune disease. His family was so impressed by the clinical skills, caring and compassion of the nurses who cared for him that they created this national award to say “thank you” to nurses everywhere. For more information, go to daisyfoundation.org.

Ortho surgeon explains joint replacement therapies

CARMEL, Ind. – Hip and knee pain shouldn’t keep people from leading active and rewarding lives – and Franciscan St. Francis Health wants to show you how.

The Franciscan St. Francis “Road Show” will be coming to town at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Wednesday, July 10, at the Ritz Charles, 12156 N. Meridian St. In the spotlight is a hip and knee replacement seminar. A light buffet will be served at 6 p.m.

Jeff Pierson, M.D., will explain the latest procedures arthritic treatment and joint replacement. He is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in adult reconstructive surgery and joint replacement.

Pierson is a surgeon with the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery at Franciscan St. Francis Health–Carmel and Mooresville, recognized in the United States and the world as a premier center for joint replacement surgery. His offices are located at 12188-B N. Meridian St., next door to the Ritz Charles.

To register for this seminar, call St. Francis toll-free at 1-877-888-1777.

More information about the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery is at CenterForHipAndKneeSurgery.org.

Franciscan Physician Network After-Hours Clinics to close June 30

Immediate Care centers continue to offer urgent care services throughout city

INDIANAPOLIS – Two After-Hours Clinics operated by Franciscan Physician Network are scheduled to close with a third similar facility remaining open to serve patients in the Mooresville area.

Clinics at Beech Grove (2030 Churchman Ave.) and Indy South (7855 S. Emerson Ave., Suite P) will end services effective June 30.

The Mooresville After-Hours Clinic (1001 Hadley Road, Suite 101) will continue to operate Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

Patients still have nearby options for their non-emergency needs at Franciscan Immediate Care centers:

·         Thompson Commons (5210 E. Thompson Road)

·         Greenwood (1001 N. Madison Ave.)

·         Carmel (Village Park Plaza, 14641 U.S. 31 N., Suite E01)

·         Nora (860 E. 86^th St.)

·         Chapel Hill (650 N. Girls School Road)

No appointments are necessary at those facilities, which are open 365 days a year from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Immediate Care centers provide treatment for cuts, broken bones, minor burns, as well as illnesses such as colds, sore throats and fever.

More information on Franciscan Immediate Care can be found at TheDoctorIsIn.biz.

Dancing with the Docs, music for the night and a touch of art

Franciscan St. Francis Hospice House project to benefit from social event

INDIANAPOLIS – Several physicians will temporarily trade their stethoscopes for dancing shoes, hand-made creations and musical instruments in the Talents & Arts Showcase.

Sponsored by Franciscan Physician Network, the event gets under way 7 p.m., Saturday, June 29 at Allison Mansion on the Marian University campus. Open to the public, guests will attend a reception and bid on items in a silent auction.

The also will see physicians go light on their feet under the watchful eyes of judges during the Dancing with the Docs competition, hear musical performances, view art displays and fashion designs.

Proceeds from the event will be designated to the Franciscan St. Francis Hospice House, which one day will be located on the hospital’s Indianapolis campus, 8111 S. Emerson Ave. The facility would be the only facility of its kind in south-central Indiana and will serve many surrounding counties. Its features include:

• 16-suite facility with room for expansion to 24 suites
• Bright gathering areas, kitchen and dining areas
• Garden-like landscaping and a chapel for meditation and worship
• Unlimited visitation from loved ones and family members, including the family pet

Tickets can be purchased through the Franciscan Foundation St. Francis Health event registration website, or by emailing Amanda.Haugh@franciscanalliance.org or calling 317-528-6049.

Led by Central Indiana Region President Isaac J. Myers II, MD, Franciscan Physician Network is a multidisciplinary group of physicians throughout central Indiana. These physicians offer a variety of primary care and specialty care services and all practice at Franciscan St. Francis Health.