Franciscan Physician Network Oncology & Hematology Specialists

10/09/2025

Can you get a mammogram while breastfeeding?

🕐 The best time for a screening mammogram is about 6 months after you’ve stopped breastfeeding but if you feel a lump, don’t wait. Get checked.

10/09/2025

💙 When Larry Hill’s wife, Virginia, suffered a debilitating stroke, he turned to the Franciscan Hospice House for help.

“For me it was a great decision to bring Virginia to the Hospice House, because this happened very suddenly and I was in no shape, physically or mentally, to take care of her at home,” said Hill of Shelbyville, Ind. “The staff was all very caring and are concerned about the well-being of the patients and their families.”

After Virginia’s passing, Hill attended the Hospice House bereavement support groups.

“The support group certainly helped me,” Hill said. “It was tough coming back to the Hospice House the first couple of times, because I was holding Virginia’s hand there when she passed away. I am glad they offer the support groups, and I encourage others to take advantage of that opportunity.”

Amira Kehoe, director of clinical services and hospice for Franciscan Health in Central Indiana, said the Hospice House is, “such a calming place. We have never had one family regret their loved one being here. I think they all instantly fall in love with the house because it does feel like a home.”

10/09/2025

Congratulations to Andrea King, PCT, Indianapolis Emergency Department, on being our latest Lily Award winner. The Lily Award recognizes a non-RN coworker who has gone above and beyond to make a positive impact by assisting a patient, family member or coworker.

Andrea was nominated by a coworker. Andrea was described as being a “team player and a hard worker. She is always there to lend a helping hand”. Here is a portion of the submission.

“Andrea was discharging a teenage girl who injured her leg. She had a splint placed and couldn’t bend her knee. The patient’s mom told Andrea that they came by EMS and didn’t have transportation home. Andrea believed that a Lyft wouldn’t work since she wouldn’t be able to sit properly for a seatbelt. Andrea set up EMS transportation to get the patient home. The patient’s mom was so relieved. She was almost in tears knowing that Andrea would go the extra mile to assure her daughter would arrive home safely. This is just one example how Andrea continuously shows compassion.”

Thank you, Andrea, for living our Franciscan mission and values!

Andrea is pictured with Elisha Rogers, PCC and Stacy Parker, Manager.

10/08/2025

When Lloyd Dillon’s lung cancer spread to his brain, his wife Beth knew her family couldn’t provide the care he needed on their own.

That’s when they turned to the Franciscan Hospice House, a beacon of end-of-life care on Indy’s south side.

“As soon as we entered the Hospice House there was a complete sense of serenity, peace and calm,” said Beth Dillon of Beech Grove, Ind. “The facility and grounds are beautiful. Lloyd’s room gave us the privacy we needed yet was expansive enough for family members to sit or sleep comfortably.”

The Hospice House, which recently marked its 10th anniversary, features 16 private suites, welcoming family spaces, a chapel, prayer garden, and a compassionate care team—including physicians, nurses, chaplains, counselors and volunteers—providing physical, spiritual, social and emotional support. 💙

10/08/2025

🎀 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month 🎀

Each October, we join millions around the world to raise awareness, honor survivors and support research.

💗 This is not an exaggeration — mammograms save lives!
Early detection offers the best protection against breast cancer. Schedule your screening today.

10/08/2025

If your mammogram report says dense breasts, that's pretty common. Over 50% of women have dense breasts.

The number one thing to know is find out whether you have dense breasts or not.

There are four types of breasts.
1. Fatty, which means majority of your breast is made up of fat.
2. Scattered meaning it has fat and a little bit of tissue.
3. Heterogeneously dense meaning it has more of the breast tissue than fat.
4. Extremely dense meaning that has the greatest amount of breast tissue with very little fat.

10/08/2025

🎉 Celebrating Physical Therapy Month! Meet Sarah Randolph Kaminski, PT, DHSc, pelvic floor physical therapist at Franciscan Health Indianapolis.

Sarah started our Pelvic Health Physical Therapy program from the ground up. What began with treating just a few patients per year has grown into a program of seven therapists serving hundreds of patients each year across Indianapolis and central Indiana.

"You might imagine that seeing a pelvic floor PT can feel scary or embarrassing at first," Sarah shares. "But within a few visits, when patients begin to see improvements, you see their commitment increase. You've given them HOPE."

Thank you, Sarah, for all you do!

10/08/2025

🌟 Franciscan Spirit Award Winner – October 2025

Congratulations to Ty Clark, Medical Secretary at Franciscan Physician Network Indiana Heart Physicians, for being named the Franciscan Health Central Indiana Franciscan Spirit Award winner!

Ty goes above and beyond in her dedication to patients and coworkers. She eagerly takes on new roles to support her team and approaches every situation with compassion and care. Her kindness helps patients feel at ease when scheduling tests or procedures, and her positive attitude makes her a joy to work with.

Thank you, Ty, for living out our Franciscan Mission and Values each day and making a difference through your work! 💙

10/07/2025

While student athletes may want to be the very best at their sport, overtraining is still a thing that can sideline their progress. Thomas Schmittdiel, MD, sports medicine physician with Franciscan Health, explains how to spot the common signs of overtraining.

10/07/2025

An asthma action plan helps individuals, their caregivers, and healthcare providers understand how to control and respond to asthma symptoms.

Learn the steps for building an asthma action plan.
https://www.franciscanhealth.org/community/blog/asthma-action-plans

10/06/2025

Do antiperspirants cause breast cancer?

Dr. Constanze Rayhrer of the Franciscan Physician Network in Lafayette, IN, addresses a common misconception: antiperspirants do not cause breast cancer. While certain metals in antiperspirants can interfere with mammogram imaging, they are not linked to an increased cancer risk. For optimal imaging results, it is recommended to avoid wearing antiperspirant before a mammogram.

10/06/2025

About half of the population will one day have a vein problem. In the U.S., as many as 40 million people live with varicose veins. Learn more about varicose veins and spider veins, what factors put you at risk for developing varicose veins, and how varicose veins can be treated. https://www.franciscanhealth.org/community/blog/varicose-and-spider-veins

02/12/2020

Join Franciscan Physician Network's Dr. Rao and Dr. Raghavendra at Cancer Support Community Feb. 19. They'll be speaking on how to protect the heart during cancer treatment.

10/04/2019

08/27/2019