Helping cancer patients cope with symptoms goal of new Oakville hospital clinic
Published October 8, 2024 at 2:22 pm
A new clinic at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital will assist those experiencing specific cancer-related symptoms.
Launched by Halton Healthcare, the ambulatory care clinic is meant to provide compassionate support for patients with cancer-related fluid build-up around the lung known as Malignant Pleural Effusion (MPE).
Focused on symptom relief and improving quality of life, the clinic intends to offer a patient-centred approach, giving residents of Halton Region access to convenient, specialized care closer to home.
Dr. David Youssef, a respirologist, and physician lead for the Lung Diagnostic Assessment Program, explains that MPE occurs when cancer spreads from its original site to the thin lining surrounding the lungs, causing fluid accumulation that contains cancer cells.
“This condition can arise from various cancers, including lung, breast, or colon cancer, and is usually seen in the end stages of cancer. The fluid build-up can result in discomfort or pain, shortness of breath, fatigue and coughing,” explains Dr. Youssef. “Treatment typically focuses on relieving these symptoms by draining this fluid. Before the launch of this new clinic, patients had to visit the emergency department whenever they developed significant symptoms – sometimes as frequently as once a week – for drainage often enduring long wait times and in some cases even hospitalizations. Our new clinic offers a more streamlined, compassionate and supportive approach.”
Patients are seen within one to two weeks of the receipt of their referral to ensure prompt resolution of their symptoms so they can avoid an emergency room visit.
The clinic offers a wide range of services to both diagnose and treat the symptoms of MPE. This includes advanced imaging techniques such as chest X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds as well as an analysis of the fluid to detect the presence of cancer cells around the lungs. To manage and relieve the fluid build-up around the lung, the clinic provides two innovative treatment options: thoracentesis and the tunnelled pleural catheter.
Thoracentesis involves using a needle guided by ultrasound to drain the fluid as often as required by the patient. The tunnelled pleural catheter, on the other hand, is a semi-permanent drainage solution that can be managed at home on a long-term basis. These options allows patients to avoid frequent emergency department visits and hospitalizations, enabling them to spend more time in the comfort of their home with family and friends.
The clinic’s team includes an interventional pulmonologist, nursing staff, administrative professionals, and a patient navigator who collaborate to provide personalized care tailored to each patient’s needs and help manage their journey. Patients are also supported with nursing services in the home to help with the regular fluid drainage using the tunnelled pleural catheter.
“By utilizing these innovative therapeutic techniques in both outpatient and home settings, we aim to relieve symptoms, enhance quality of life, and help patients achieve a better patient experience – all while minimizing the need for frequent Emergency visits,” explains Dr. Youssef. “We are thrilled to have this specialized clinic available locally at OTMH, ensuring that patients in Halton can easily access it closer to home.”
Halton Healthcare’s Cancer Care Clinic at OTMH provides a comprehensive range of services for cancer patients in Halton. The MPE Clinic further expands and enhances this care to provide faster access to diagnostic and treatment services, aligning with Halton Healthcare’s vision of providing world class cancer care services closer to home.
Oakville, Ontario – Halton Healthcare is pleased to launch a Malignant Pleural Effusion (MPE) Clinic at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) as part of its Ambulatory Care Program. The clinic provides compassionate care for patients with cancer-related fluid build-up around the lung known as Malignant Pleural Effusion (MPE). Focused on symptom relief and improving quality of life, the clinic offers a patient-centred approach, giving residents of Halton Region access to convenient, specialized care closer to home.
Dr. David Youssef, a Respirologist, Physician Lead for the Lung Diagnostic Assessment Program explains that MPE occurs when cancer spreads from its original site to the thin lining surrounding the lungs, causing fluid accumulation that contains cancer cells.
“This condition can arise from various cancers, including lung, breast, or colon cancer, and is usually seen in the end stages of cancer. The fluid build-up can result in discomfort or pain, shortness of breath, fatigue and coughing,” explains Dr. Youssef. “Treatment typically focuses on relieving these symptoms by draining this fluid. Before the launch of this new clinic, patients had to visit the Emergency Department whenever they developed significant symptoms –sometimes as frequently as once a week- for drainage often enduring long wait times and in some cases even hospitalizations. Our new clinic offers a more streamlined, compassionate and supportive approach.”
Patients are seen within one to two weeks of the receipt of their referral to ensure prompt resolution of their symptoms so they can avoid an Emergency Room visit.
The clinic offers a wide range of services to both diagnose and treat the symptoms of MPE. This includes advanced imaging techniques such as chest x-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds as well as an analysis of the fluid to detect the presence of cancer cells around the lungs. To manage and relieve the fluid build-up around the lung, the clinic provides two innovative treatment options: thoracentesis and the tunnelled pleural catheter.
Thoracentesis involves using a needle guided by ultrasound to drain the fluid as often as required by the patient. The tunnelled pleural catheter, on the other hand, is a semi-permanent drainage solution that can be managed at home on a long-term basis. These options allows patients to avoid frequent Emergency Department visits and hospitalizations, enabling them to spend more time in the comfort of their home with family and friends – especially in the end stages of their disease.
The clinic’s dedicated team includes an interventional pulmonologist, nursing staff, administrative professionals, and a patient navigator who collaborate to provide personalized care tailored to each patient’s needs and help manage their journey. Thanks to the clinic’s partnership with Ontario Health at Home, (formerly known as Home and Community Care Support Services), patients are also supported with nursing services in the home to help with the regular fluid drainage using the tunnelled pleural catheter.
“I have been attending this clinic twice a month since May and I couldn’t be more pleased with the care I’ve received,” explains Susan, a patient in Malignant Pleural Effusion Clinic at OTMH. “Dr. Youssef and the entire team are exceptionally warm and meticulous in their approach, making each visit as timely and comfortable as possible. This procedure gives me incredible relief and I am truly grateful that it is available here at OTMH, sparing me the need for travel.”
“By utilizing these innovative therapeutic techniques in both outpatient and home settings, we aim to relieve symptoms, enhance quality of life, and help patients achieve a better patient experience –all while minimizing the need for frequent Emergency visits,” explains Dr. Youssef. “We are thrilled to have this specialized clinic available locally at OTMH, ensuring that patients in Halton can easily access it closer to home.”
Halton Healthcare’s Cancer Care Clinic at OTMH provides a comprehensive range of services for cancer patients in Halton. The MPE Clinic further expands and enhances this care to provide faster access to diagnostic and treatment services, aligning with Halton Healthcare’s vision of providing world class cancer care services closer to home.