Years ago, a diagnosis of cancer caused almost overwhelming worry and fear. Now, the number of people who call themselves "cancer survivors" continues to rise. And with that rise comes a rising sense of hope. People newly diagnosed with cancer might be inspired by these successes, and they might feel capable of overcoming their cancers with prompt help.
The same could be said of heart disease. Each year, new treatments and therapies are developed that could help people live longer—and better—even with heart disease. Coumadin (warfarin) therapy is one such therapy that is changing lives every day.
At St. Anthony Hospital, we're part of cancer and heart disease successes. And we do our work against these two diseases in one clinic. Some days, the clinic is home to our cancer treatment services. On the others, the clinic is available to those taking Coumadin (warfarin) for heart disease and related issues.
Oncology care is performed in our Cancer Clinic every Wednesday and Friday. Robert Quackenbush, MD, is here on those days to provide vital cancer care services, including:
There is no need to drive out of town to meet with an oncologist. Dr. Quackenbush can handle many of your cancer care needs in his office at St. Anthony Hospital. And should you need the help of another specialist to get better, we can refer you to other departments within the hospital, including radiology, surgery and physical therapy.
Coumadin (warfarin) is a prescription medication that is used to keep harmful blood clots from forming. It's often called a "blood thinner," but it doesn't actually thin the blood. It just interferes with the body's ability to clot blood.
In our Coumadin Clinic, we monitor people who are using Coumadin (warfarin) to control heart disease or vascular disease. We offer a quick, one-poke blood test to determine clotting times. If we spot a problem, we can work with your doctor to adjust your Coumadin (warfarin) dose. All of the work is performed by a registered nurse and a pharmacist.
