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Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion at St. Joseph's/Candler, 225 Candler Dr, Savannah, GA (2025)

09/23/2025

"It’s natural to be worried when we ask for additional imaging or a biopsy, but we do our best to try to alleviate a patient’s concerns by explaining that many findings are benign and not life-threatening," says Robin McMichael, RN, BSN, CNBN, Clinical Coordinator at Telfair Pavilion.

"And the sooner we can definitively diagnose something as benign or malignant, the sooner we can begin the best treatment for you."

Learn more at https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/smart-living-magazine/september-october-2024/ask-a-magnet-nurse

09/21/2025

For some women, period pain can be so severe that it disrupts daily life. This could be a sign of endometriosis, a common condition that affects about 10 percent of reproductive-aged women.

“Endometriosis is a benign gynecologic disease that involves deposits of the uterine endometrium outside of the uterus,” explains Katherine Bebeau, MD, of St. Joseph’s/Candler Physician Network – OB/GYN. “These deposits can lie on pelvic organs such as the fallopian tubes or ovaries, or even be on organs such as the bowel, bladder, abdominal wall and, rarely, in the lungs.”

The only way to actually diagnose endometriosis is with surgery, and there is no cure.

However, there are a variety of treatments to help manage the condition. The treatment plan is determined by factors such as the severity of symptoms and the patient’s goals, including whether or not they plan to get pregnant.

Learn more at https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/smart-living-magazine/september-october-2024/out-of-place

09/19/2025

We just got the latest Da Vinci surgical robot, and the benefits to our patients will be huge. More details next week.

09/19/2025

Three of a kind! Congratulations to our latest DAISY Award winners: Tammie Curtis, Maggie McKinney and Melissa Michael. All three nurses work in the Center for Digestive Diseases at Candler Hospital and they were all nominated by one grateful patient, who wrote:

“Tammie had called me the day before to do my early check-in for a colonoscopy I had scheduled the following day. We had a good rapport on the phone, and I asked her if she was going to be my nurse the following day. She said she wasn't sure, but would look for me. I told her I was afraid of needles, especially IV needles. She said if she wasn't available to ask for Melissa. On the day I checked in, Tammie found me soon after they checked me into prep and held my hand while Melissa inserted my IV with tender loving care. The attention and love I got from Tammie and Melissa was so comforting and over the top. I also want to recognize Maggie, my recovery nurse. She had me smiling and laughing after the procedure. All in all, I had a great experience with this staff and would like to recommend all three for a DAISY Award. Best loving care I've had in a while.”

From the first moment of this patient’s experience to the last, the teamwork and compassion of these nurses made all the difference. Congratulations!

Meet our past DAISY Award winners here: https://www.sjchs.org/healthcare-professionals/nursing/daisy-award-winners

09/19/2025

Meet Chris Pincince, building operations manager for St. Joseph’s/Candler’s outlying properties including the Pooler, Black Creek and Richmond Hill campuses and other satellite offices from Rincon to Brunswick and all others in between. Chris is responsible for the plumbing, electrical, general carpentry and other needs these buildings and offices may need. He also works with grounds contractors to ensure the outside of the building looks nice.

“This job is nice because it’s something different all the time. It’s not the same thing day in and day out. I don’t even know where I’m going to be working most days. It just depends when I get a call or work order. I enjoy being out and about, and the fact that it’s not monotonous. It’s always something different. I also like working with my hands. I get to do a bunch of different things whether it’s electrical or building something, and I enjoy all that. I also really enjoy the work environment, more so than other places I’ve worked in the past. Everybody is really team focused. The camaraderie is great. We’re all working towards the same goal which is providing patients walking through that door a better experience.”

Meet other featured co-workers on our website: https://www.sjchs.org/home/about-us/our-coworkers

09/18/2025

What does a Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center really mean? And what does it mean that St. Joseph’s/Candler has received it six times?

"For patients, a sixth Magnet designation means they can trust safe, evidence-based care centered on their needs," explains Sherry Danello DHA, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at St. Joseph’s/Candler. "Outcomes are consistently better, satisfaction is higher and patients are more confident in their care team."

"For the community, this level of recognition signals a health system that does not just meet standards, it sets them. It shows a relentless commitment to quality, safety and compassion, which strengthens the overall health and wellbeing of the region.

"For nurses, Magnet designation reflects a deeply embedded culture of professional growth, shared decision-making, and innovation. It affirms their voices matter, their expertise is valued, and their impact on care is recognized and celebrated."

"A sixth Magnet designation is not just an honor. It is a promise kept, time and time again, to deliver the very best in patient care."

09/17/2025

According to research studies, 10 percent of the U.S. population, or 33 million people, say they are allergic to penicillin; however, 90 percent of those patients are not truly allergic or have lost that allergy over time.

“That’s almost 30 million Americans walking around saying, ‘I’m allergic to penicillin,’ and they really are not,” says Bruce Jones, PharmD, BCPS, infectious diseases clinical pharmacy specialist.. “Just that claim of the penicillin allergy can completely take away that class and all those derivatives.”

If you believe you're allergic to penicillin, you may want to consider a penicillin allergy skin test. In 45 minutes or less, a St. Joseph’s/Candler pharmacist or nurse can determine if you are truly allergic.

Learn more about testing at the link in the comments.

09/16/2025

Any man is at risk of one day developing prostate cancer. However, if you have relatives who’ve had prostate cancer, especially your dad, brothers or uncles, you are at an increased risk and should be followed closely or get screened younger than 50.

“I don’t think we talk about prostate cancer enough,” says Dr. James Liu, urologist with Urological Associates of Savannah. “For a disease that has a 95 percent five-year survival rate, there is certainly a lot that we can do to help men, especially those who have been identified early.”

Prostate cancer is the No. 1 most common cancer diagnosed in men in the United States (not including skin cancer). The National Cancer Institute estimates in 2025 approximately 300,000 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Learn more about how prostate cancer is diagnosed at the link in our bio.

09/15/2025

The St. Joseph’s/Candler and MCG physician residency program is quickly taking shape. On Friday, we had a productive meeting with state and university leaders to discuss the plans and goals for our new medical residency program.

There's plenty of work ahead, but the palpable excitement and shared vision are fueling our progress toward our July 1, 2027, start date. The leaders shown here were part of the team that made it happen, especially Chairman Butch Parrish, Rep. Ron Stephens and Senator Ben Watson. They along with our partners with the Medical College of Georgia received an update and toured the location of the proposed facility with SJ/C President and CEO, Paul P. Hinchey.

Also in attendance was Augusta University President Dr. Russell T. Keen and Medical College of Georgia Dean, Dr. David Hess and Dean of the MCG Savannah Campus, Dr. Elizabeth Gray.

09/15/2025

It’s not your fault.

You’ve stayed consistent with your activity levels and nutrition. Your doctor gives you a clean bill of health every year. But somehow, your favorite jeans are tight around the middle.

“Around 70 percent of women will experience some form of weight gain through the transition of perimenopause to menopause,” explains urogynecologist Elizabeth H. Dotson, DO, of SJ/C Physician Network – Gynecology.

Dr. Dotson explains what you can do about it in the link in the comments.

09/14/2025

Have you ever experienced “scanxiety?” That's the completely normal and common reaction of worry and distress over receiving a mammogram callback.

When an abnormality is seen but turns out not to be cancer, this is known as a false positive. The emergence of tomosynthesis, better known as 3D mammography, has reduced the number of both false positives and callbacks. The technology takes multiple images from several different angles and reconstructs them into thin slices of information that radiologists can examine in greater detail.

“These multiple slices allow us not only to look at a suspicious area, but through it,” explains radiologist Dil Patel, MD, of Savannah Chatham Imaging. Dr. Patel serves as Medical Director of St. Joseph’s/Candler’s Telfair Pavilion.

“This way, we can often see that what appears at first to be a mass is normal breast tissue overlapping itself.”

The accuracy of 3D mammography also helps with the crucial ability to detect a genuine mass earlier. This, coupled with the decreased incidence in false positives and callbacks, should remove any hesitation for women aged 40 or above to get their mammogram every year.

“With a yearly 3D mammogram, we can pick up on subtle changes quickly,” Dr. Patel says. “A quicker diagnosis leads to earlier treatment and better outcomes. At the same time, with fewer false positives, we are not causing stress and undue anxiety. These advances have made a huge impact on all aspects of breast cancer care.”

Find an imaging center near you today at https://www.sjchs.org/locations and schedule your mammogram.

09/14/2025

Meet Cynthia Proctor, medical assistant at the Hinesville infusion center. Cynthia worked for two years at St. Joseph’s Hospital in CCU before earning her medical assistant (MA) certification. After that, she returned to the health system in 2023 and spent three months at the LCRP in Savannah before transferring to Hinesville. As a MA, Cynthia puts together everything the doctor or nurse practitioner needs for every patient coming into the office each day. That includes gathering lab work and images and taking vital signs, such as blood pressure, temperature and weight. Throughout the day, Cynthia also puts in orders for any necessary testing and works with the pharmacy if there are any medication changes.

“I like helping people, and I find this to be very rewarding. This is my first job in hematology and oncology. When I started out as a medical assistant, I was doing personal injuries. I felt that if I was going to go back to nursing school, I needed to get my feet wet in another area. Working here is really about being compassionate because a lot of our patients have cancer. It can be hard when they are going through situations such as losing their hair or experiencing nail discoloration. You have to find little things to help them get through their treatment. I’ve done research and found companies that sell wigs or other things that can help patients. I want to make them feel like this is a family versus them coming just to get treatment and then going home. Some of them we see every day, even for eight hours a day. You can just tell that this health system really cares about each patient, and offers so much assistance to our patients.”

Meet other LCRP co-workers on our website: https://www.sjchs.org/cancer/our-care/our-team/meet-our-co-workers

09/12/2025

Did you know that money raised from the annual SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo goes to our Telfair Mammography Fund, which helps uninsured and underinsured women get much needed mammograms?

One way to support the mission is to buy tickets now to enter this year's Dazzling Diamond Dig.

For just $25, you can purchase a ticket to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a beautiful diamond pendant and a matching bangle bracelet courtesy of Harkleroad Diamonds & Fine Jewelry.

This year's winner will receive a flex white 14 karat bangle bracelet with 2.98 round diamonds and a 1.15 carat natural pear shape G-H S1 diamond in a 14 karat white gold pendant. Total value: $11,550.
The drawing will take place October 10, the day of the luncheon. You do not have to be present to win. Purchase your tickets today at https://www.sjchs.org/about-us/foundations/foundations-events/smartwomen/smartwomen-diamond-dig

09/09/2025

If you’re diagnosed with cancer, one treatment option to fight the disease is radiation therapy. But did you know there are different types of radiation treatments?

One state-of-the-art approach that is commonly used at the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion is called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). SBRT is an advanced outpatient technique that delivers a highly-precise dose of radiation to a tumor as an alternative to surgery, explains Joshua McKenzie, MD, MHA, a radiation oncologist with the LCRP. Because it is so precise, this type of radiation therapy reduces unnecessary radiation exposure to healthy tissues and organs near the tumor.

Another benefit of SBRT is shortening the overall treatment course. Because it delivers such a large dose accurately to the tumor, most patients can be treated in five or fewer sessions over a week instead of the more standard approach of up to nine weeks of treatment, Dr. McKenzie says.

For more about SBRT, click the link in the comments.

09/03/2025

It's known as the silent killer. That’s because there’s no proven method of screening for early detection of ovarian cancer. And, ovarian cancer is often asymptomatic.

“As an oncology certified registered nurse, gynecologic oncology nurse practitioner and woman, I fear ovarian cancer most of all,” says Lizzy Norton, nurse practitioner at St. Joseph’s/Candler Gynecologic Oncology and Surgical Specialists. “Women can carry a large ovarian mass, up to the size of an orange, before it is even palpable on a bimanual exam.”

So, what can you do to protect yourself?

Be aware of your risk factors, Norton says. It’s estimated that 15 to 20 percent of ovarian cancers have a genetic or inherited link. Norton encourages patients to have open conversations with female and male family members about their health history. Consider genetic counseling, especially if there’s a family history of ovarian, breast, colon, uterine, pancreatic, melanoma and prostate cancers.

More at the link in the comments.

08/22/2025

The number of people younger than 50 dying from colon cancer is on the rise.

In fact, colon cancer is now the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths in men younger than 50, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women younger than 50.

“That is concerning,” says Dr. Ajaz Bulbul, medical oncologist with St. Joseph’s/Candler Infusion Center in Hinesville, a partnership with the Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion and Liberty Regional Medical Center.

“When I saw the numbers it was very concerning because the rate in cancer deaths in people over 60 has been coming down for many years now, but in the young, the instances are going up. I was completely shocked.”

The numbers are so eye opening that it is now recommended you start colon cancer screening at age 45 as opposed to 50 if you are average risk. That means you don’t have a first-degree relative (father, mother, sibling) with a history of colorectal cancer.

If you are high-risk (family history of colon cancer, hereditary cancer carrier), you may need to start screening before 45. The recommendation is to have a colonoscopy 10 years prior to your first-degree relative’s cancer. Meaning, if your father was diagnosed at age 50, you should start screening at 40.

Learn more at https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/blogs/blog-detail/living-smart-blog/2024/03/20/fact-colonoscopy-saves-lives

08/13/2025

Are you 65 or older with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer? If you haven’t had prior treatment with a CDK4/6 Inhibitor, we have a groundbreaking study we want you to know about.

It’s the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)’s CDK4/6 Inhibitor Dosing Knowledge Study (CDK). The Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion is one of the very first cancer centers in the country to be asked to participate in this study.

“This was a study we had interest in almost immediately,” says Dr. Leonard Henry, medical director for the LCRP and principal investigator for this study. “Mostly because this is a real-world problem which happens to our patients daily, and also this is a novel study design for the future of drug delivery and symptom management.”

The CDK Study aims to find the best CDK4/6 dosing strategy in certain breast cancer patients. (CDK4/6 inhibitors are a group of medications that target a certain type of protein to stop the growth of cancer cells.) The goal is to see if starting at a lower dose helps patients tolerate the medication with fewer side effects, allowing them to stay on it longer.

Learn about eligibility here: https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/blogs/blog-detail/living-smart-blog/2025/02/11/the-problem--sometimes-women-can-t-tolerate-their-breast-cancer-treatment.-a-possible-solution--the-cdk-study

08/10/2025

Meet Ja’Maica Brown, operations assistant for the oncology supportive services team at the LCRP. Ja’Maica is the support person for the nurse navigators and social workers, whether that means filing paper work, calling a patient or doing a patient visit with a social worker. She’s been with the LCRP for four years now and in her current role for the last three.

“I enjoy everything about being an operations assistant. I’ve learned a lot. I love working with the nurse navigators and social workers. When I work with the social workers, I get to meet new patients, and I really love that. I had cancer when I was two years old, so for me to be working here, means a lot to me. It touches me deeply. I never thought I’d work in an oncology environment. It’s a wonderful experience, especially when patients ring the bell (to symbolize the end of their treatment). I love to see them ring that bell. These patients are so upbeat. They really uplift you.”

Meet other LCRP co-workers on our website: https://www.sjchs.org/cancer/our-care/our-team/meet-our-co-workers

07/31/2025

For many cancer patients, successfully removing their tumor is often just the first step. They will also be referred to a medical oncologist to discuss further treatment, such as immunotherapy (which helps the immune system identify and destroy hidden cancer cells) or chemotherapy (which kills fast-growing cancer cells, but can also affect healthy cells)."

Why? Even after successful surgery, there's a risk of microscopic cancer cells being left behind or having spread locally. Medical oncology targets these cells to significantly reduce the chance of cancer returning.

But recently, for certain types of cancers, physicians have discovered an advantage in administering immunotherapy before surgery. This is called neoadjuvant (“neo” meaning new or preceding, “adjuvant” meaning helpful or assisting) immunotherapy.

“For some cancer types, neoadjuvant immunotherapy can make a tumor smaller and easier to remove surgically,” explains medical oncologist Michael Chahin, DO, of Summit Cancer Care. “It can also target cancer cells that may have spread from the tumor to other parts of the body, helping to prevent recurrence.”

Learn more at https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/smart-living-magazine/july-august-2025/before---after

07/21/2025

There are some unique characteristics when it comes to prostate cancer.

If you get diagnosed with this disease, there are more options than ever. And, it’s not one size fits all. Each treatment can be different and is personalized for each individual patient.

“I always tell my prostate patients that it’s very unique when a patient goes to see a cancer doctor who tells them their options and then to go home, think about it, research it, maybe get another opinion, and then decide what you want to do,” says Dr. John Pablo, radiation oncologist and medical director of the Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion Radiation Oncology Center.

“My consultations with prostate cancer patients tend to be pretty long. I try to go over all the options, all the pros and cons,” Dr. Pablo says. “It’s more important to custom tailor the treatment options to each of our patients and allow them to make an informed choice based on what’s right for them.”

Learn more at https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/blogs/blog-detail/living-smart-blog/2024/06/20/you-ve-been-diagnosed-with-prostate-cancer.-now-what

07/13/2025

Meet Kenneth Turner, PET technologist and team lead with the LCRP. Ken has worked here for almost 15 years. In fact, he helped start the PET imaging program at the LCRP. Day to day, Ken ensures all the equipment is working properly and is set up for each patient that comes in for an appointment. Most of these patients have cancer and receive molecular imaging. This allows technicians and doctors to use pharmaceuticals and imaging technology to determine whether or not a patient is responding to treatment. Ken may also run a PET scan on a patient years after cancer treatment to ensure no cancerous cells have returned.

“I really enjoy meeting the patients. I used to work in trauma, doing CT scans, and it was very fast paced. Here, I’m able to get to meet the patients and their families. I think because of the way medicine has advanced, patients are living longer and that means I get to see these patients over a longer period of time, over and over again. That is a blessing.”

“When I came here, I was given a great opportunity as a young technologist to help start this program. I don’t think very many people get that. I’m very appreciative that my director gave me that opportunity. I think it means a little more to you when you’re at the beginning of something, and then you get to watch it grow. I’m grateful I got that opportunity.”

Meet other LCRP co-workers on our website: https://www.sjchs.org/cancer/our-care/our-team/meet-our-co-workers

07/06/2025

If you or a loved one are diagnosed with a gynecological cancer, such as endometrial, cervical or vaginal cancer, there are several treatment options to help you get back to the things you love most.

If, for example, you are diagnosed with endometrial cancer, surgery is the preferred approach to treatment, says Dr. Joshua McKenzie, radiation oncologist at the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion. For those that can’t have surgery, your healthcare team may recommend a combination of external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy or just brachytherapy. Your healthcare team may also recommend brachytherapy, external beam therapy and/or chemotherapy even after surgery to ensure the cancer is gone, Dr. McKenzie says.

“Basically, brachytherapy is Greek for short or close therapy. We put a radioactive source close to or within what we are treating,” Dr. McKenzie explains. “We’ve known for decades brachytherapy is critically important to treating certain gynecological cancers.”

More at https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/blogs/blog-detail/living-smart-blog/2023/06/21/what-is-brachytherapy-for-gynecological-cancer-patients

06/29/2025

As a surgical oncologist, Dr. Leonard Henry hears it quite often, patients complaining about gas prices and having to drive all over the place to get cancer care.

It raised the question to Dr. Henry: Are gas prices, as well as other of the country’s economic factors, potential barriers to treatment? So he teamed up with four other surgeons from across the country and a professor at Notre Dame to do the research.

The group looked at more than 1,780,000 cases from 2004 to 2017 through the National Cancer Database, which accounts for about 70 percent of all cancer cases in America, says Dr. Henry, who also serves as the medical director for the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion.

More at https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/blogs/blog-detail/living-smart-blog/2023/06/12/study-inflation-gas-prices-may-force-some-patients-not-to-seek-optimal-treatment

Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion at St. Joseph's/Candler

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