Mary Washington Healthcare Partners with HOAF to Bring Innovative Liver Cancer Treatment to Region

Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) brings innovative yttrium-90(Y-90) liver cancer treatment to our region; extending survival time and providing new hope to patients with metastatic liver tumors. Microspheres therapy has emerged as a treatment option for patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver. This ground-breaking treatment is being performed at Mary Washington Hospital’s Interventional Radiology Department.

At least 60 percent of the nearly 140,000 Americans diagnosed with colorectal cancer every year will see their cancer spread to the liver,^1,2and most liver tumors cannot be surgically resected. Metastatic liver cancer is often fatal, with up to 90 percent of patients dying from liver failure.

SIR-Spheres® Y-90 resin microspheres are used in targeted radiation therapy, also known as selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) that selectively delivers a dose of internal radiation to liver tumors. This outpatient procedure requires a small incision in the groin and is administered via a very small flexible tube (microcatheter) into the liver.

“We are excited to offer Y-90 radioembolization therapy for cancer patients in the Fredericksburg region, said John D. Statler, MD, Interventional Radiologist. “This targeted, minimally invasive procedure allows us to treat several types of cancer affecting the liver on an outpatient basis, where patients can usually go home within hours.”

SIR-Spheres microspheres are the only fully FDA PMA approved microspheres therapy for colorectal cancer that has metastasized to the liver.³ They are microscopic radioactive spheres that can be delivered by the millions directly to the tumor site via a catheter inserted in the groin of the patient and threaded through the arteries to the liver. The microspheres contain the radioactive isotope yttrium-90 (Y-90), which delivers beta radiation to the tumor. The microspheres selectively target liver tumors with a dose of internal radiation up to 40 times higher than conventional radiotherapy while sparing healthy tissue.

Dr. Charles Maurer, Chair of the Mary Washington Cancer Committee and the MWHC Cancer Program said, “We are pleased that this innovative therapy has been added to the comprehensive treatment services we offer for certain tumor types. Our community and patients continue to benefit from our many advanced and multidisciplinary approaches to winning the cancer battle.”  For more information about treatment options and comprehensive services, please visit Cancer.mwhc.com.

HOAF Opens Second Location in Stafford

In order to better serve our community we have opened a second location in Stafford, Virginia.  Our new location offers the same level of care and treatment for cancer patients across a wider range of the Northern Virginia region.

The 7,048 square-foot cancer care office, located at 125 Woodstream Boulevard in Stafford opened on Monday, May 14, and is known as Hematology Oncology Associates of Fredericksburg at Stafford.

We believe that the new location in Stafford County will have a positive impact on health outcomes throughout the Northern Virginia region by increasing access to cancer specialists and advanced cancer therapies.

“Many of the patients who currently come to our offices in Fredericksburg live in the rapidly-growing North Stafford area,” said Dr. Charles L. Maurer, president of HOAF. “We saw a need to help patients in Stafford County, as well as those in Prince William County and other localities along the I-95 corridor, stay closer to home for their appointments and treatments.”

Our six physicians in the Fredericksburg location will rotate to Stafford weekly. Also, there will be a dedicated nurse practitioner and staff to provide consistent, compassionate care for patients. The Stafford facility will offer the same leading-edge services that are available at the Fredericksburg office.

“By elevating the quality of care in North Stafford with our second location, we’re keeping patients and their families in the community,” said Dr. Maurer. “Our passion is our patients and we are deeply committed to supporting them every step of way on the journey to recovery.”

Caregiver Support Group

At HOAF we work hard to ensure our patients and their families have all of the support they need. We invite caregivers to join us Tuesday, June 20 for a light meal and the opportunity to meet fellow caregivers and learn about local resources to assist you in the caring for your loved one.