Seton's LINAC Delivers Cancer Care

The Radiation Oncology team at Seton’s Cancer Care Center, pictured (left to right) with the new linear accelerator: Samuel So, M.D., Director of Medical Physics; Gary Simms, Director of Facilities; Barry M. Chauser, M.D., Radiation Oncology Medical Director; Meiwen Wu, M.D., Radiation Oncologist; and Jess David, Radiation Oncology Manager

A new linear accelerator at Seton’s Cancer Care Center delivers state-of-the-art, effective cancer treatments to our patients

Patients with cancer can take comfort in the compassionate care and attention they’ll receive at Seton Medical Center, as well as in the knowledge that they have access to one of the most advanced cancer treatments available anywhere. Radiation therapy has long been a safe and integral part of many cancer treatment plans, and the technique has taken a major leap forward at Seton.

We have acquired a new linear accelerator that allows us to be incredibly precise in the delivery of radiation,” says Barry Chauser, M.D., Seton’s Medical Director of Radiation Oncology. “We can deliver a higher dose of radiation to the cancer while minimizing the radiation to surrounding normal tissues.” This leading technology helps patients in two ways: It eradicates cancer cells more effectively, and, by sparing nearby healthy tissue, it greatly reduces the side effects that previous forms of radiation therapy could cause. “Radiation delivery is also completely computerized, so treatment sessions are shorter for our patients,” adds Dr. Chauser.

Radiation therapy is safe, painless, noninvasive, and as effective as surgery for certain cancers. It is used most often for prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and head and neck cancers. Another common practice is to use it in combination with other treatments, such as surgery and chemotherapy, to give patients the best chance of beating cancer.

Radiation therapy treatments and other forms of cancer treatment at Seton are designed to be as gentle and manageable as possible for patients. When you choose Seton for your cancer care, you’ll be cared for by experienced cancer experts who understand your needs—body, mind, and spirit—and will put you in touch with resources to help you through this difficult time. For more information on cancer care at Seton, call 650.991.6728.

Solution for Joint Pain

Seton’s high-tech Joint Replacement Center gave Charlie Gardner a new hip—and a new lease on life

For more than a year after he suffered a near-fatal car accident, Charlie Gardner kept up his busy pace as a civil engineer and avid skier. As the months passed, however, the 51-year-old Montara resident found that the creeping discomfort in his right hip was worsening. “At first,” says Gardner, who speaks with the drawl of his native Tennessee, “I thought it was a hitch in my get-along, but the pain became excruciating.”

Gardner knew just where to turn: Seton Medical Center’s Joint Replacement Center, known for its state-of-the-art technology, highly experienced surgeons, and compassionate support. After consulting with Orthopedic Surgeon Michael Reyes, M.D., Gardner learned that his hip cartilage was badly worn down and that he needed a total hip replacement.

Dr. Reyes, who specializes in hip and knee replacement surgery, says that patients such as Gardner—in need of new knees and hips—are growing in number. The culprit is often arthritis, in which the cartilage cushioning the bones is worn down, causing pain and stiffness. An estimated 70 million Americans suffer from arthritis, and this epidemic is projected to worsen as baby boomers age.

“Seton Medical Center has long recognized this situation,” Dr. Reyes explains, “and we have become a leader in joint replacement surgery.”

Among the many reasons patients choose Seton Medical Center for their joint replacement surgery is state-of-the-art technology. One of the most exciting innovations at Seton is recently acquired computer-navigation technology—one of the first systems of its kind in the Bay Area. The new technology enables surgeons to implant prostheses with fine-tuned precision, reducing the risk of misalignment. Seton’s orthopedic surgeons employ minimally invasive surgical techniques that require smaller incisions than does traditional joint replacement surgery. With this approach, says Dr. Reyes, there is less pain, less trauma to the body, and a much quicker recovery time.

Despite these advancements, surgery is still serious news for any patient. At Seton, however, “everyone went out of their way to assuage my fears and concerns,” says Gardner. “I was pleasantly surprised by how well everything went.” Seton’s team of compassionate professionals takes time to address all patients’ concerns and to educate them on the surgery and rehabilitation process. “Our patients’ minds are put at ease because they know what to expect,” adds Dr. Reyes.

Gardner’s hip replacement surgery was a complete success. Through a tiny six-inch incision, which is smaller than the eight to 12 inches traditionally done for hip replacements, Dr. Reyes implanted a prosthesis made of cobalt chrome, a tough metal alloy projected to last up to 25 years—significantly longer than implants used in the past.

With his hip pain gone, Gardner can’t stop raving about his positive experience at Seton. Even though he’s not back on the slopes yet, he is exercising regularly and feeling great. “I just can’t say enough about Dr. Reyes and Seton,” says Gardner. “They changed my life.”

To reach Seton’s Joint Replacement Center or to make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Seton, call 650.985.7515 or visit our Joint Replacement Center.

Seton Provides Stroke Care

Seton Awarded Stroke Care Designation

Seton Medical Center has been designated a Primary Stroke Center—and that’s great news for you and your loved ones. The Joint Commission, which certifies hospital quality nationwide, awarded Seton its Gold Seal of Approval as a facility that meets the highest standards for stroke care and is set up to provide the fastest treatment possible.

“Rapid care is critical for stroke patients, when every minute counts,” says Edgardo Alicaway, M.D., a Neurologist and Medical Director of the Primary Stroke Center. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the risk of debilitating complications. When ambulance paramedics alert Seton’s Emergency Department that they are en route with a possible stroke patient, the Seton stroke team assembles within minutes and is ready the moment the patient arrives. “When stroke victims reach Seton, they may be eligible to be treated with tPA,” explains Dr. Alicaway. “tPA is a powerful clot-busting drug that can resolve a stroke immediately and greatly reduce the risk of permanent disability after a stroke if given within three hours of onset of stroke symptoms.”

Stroke Symptoms:
Face: Ask the person to smile; does one side of the face droop?
Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms; does one arm drift downward?
Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence; can he or she do it?
Are the words slurred?
Time: If the person shows any of these symptoms, note the time when
symptoms first appeared, know that a stroke is probable and that time is
critical. Get help fast.

It’s critical to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke and call 9-1-1 immediately.

Expanding Our Network

Seton Medical Center has partnered with three healthcare groups to provide quality care to a greater number of residents of San Mateo and San Francisco counties. If your physician is a member of Brown and Toland Medical Group, Physicians Integrated Medical Group (PIMG), or you are a member of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Blue Shield, you can access quality inpatient and outpatient services at Seton and at Seton Coastside. Physicians affiliated with these groups offer the highest caliber of services without requiring you to travel to a hospital outside your community.

Brown and Toland MedicalGroup offers a panel of 1,500 primary care physicians and specialists who practice in San Francisco and northern San Mateo County. PIMG consists of a panel of more than 500 physicians who practice in San Francisco and in Seton’s primary service area.* CalPERS Blue Shield manages pension and health benefits for more than 1.5 million California public employees and retirees and their families.

“We are very excited about these new relationships,” says Tim McMurdo, Seton’s Vice President of Medical Staff Services and Business Development. “We are looking forward to partnering with these doctors for the benefit of the community and to providing outstanding service to their patients.” Seton accepts all major HMO and PPO plans. If you need a physician, call our 24-hour referral line at 800.436.2404.

*Check your health plan to see which physicians are available through your network provider.

Good Idea for Bad Backs

The renowned experts at the San Francisco Spine Institute at Seton Medical Center are taking part in research to find the next generation of treatments for severe back pain. The Spine Institute is currently enrolling eligible patients in an important national clinical trial to test the effectiveness of the TOPS System, an implantable device designed to address a common problem called spinal stenosis—a painful narrowing of the spine that can develop in people who suffer back injuries or have scoliosis or arthritis.

Many spinal stenosis patients end up needing a spinal fusion, a complex surgery to stabilize vertebrae by fusing them together. “For the estimated 120,000 Americans who have fusion surgeries each year, the TOPS System could be an effective alternative,” says Seton Spine Surgeon Paul Slosar, M.D. “Rather than fusing the spine with rigid titanium rods, the TOPS System allows motion.” For more information on this trial or other advanced spinal treatments at the San Francisco Spine Institute, call 650.985.7500.

A Solution for Joint Pain - Seton’s high-tech Joint Replacement Center gave Charlie Gardner a new hip-and a new lease on life

For more than a year after he suffered a near-fatal car accident, Charlie Gardner kept up his busy pace as a civil engineer and avid skier. As the months passed, however, the 51-year-old Montara resident found that the creeping discomfort in his right hip was worsening. “At first,” says Gardner, who speaks with the drawl of his native Tennessee, “I thought it was a hitch in my get-along, but the pain became excruciating.”

Gardner knew just where to turn: Seton Medical Center’s Joint Replacement Center, known for its state-of-the-art technology, highly experienced surgeons, and compassionate support. After consulting with Orthopedic Surgeon Michael Reyes, M.D., Gardner learned that his hip cartilage was badly worn down and that he needed a total hip replacement.

Dr. Reyes, who specializes in hip and knee replacement surgery, says that patients such as Gardner – in need of new knees and hips – are growing in number. The culprit is often arthritis, in which the cartilage cushioning the bones is worn down, causing pain and stiffness. An estimated 70 million Americans suffer from arthritis, and this epidemic is projected to worsen as baby boomers age.

“Seton Medical Center has long recognized this situation,” Dr. Reyes explains, “and we have become a leader in joint replacement surgery.”

Among the many reasons patients choose Seton Medical Center for their joint replacement surgery is state-of-the-art technology. One of the most exciting innovations at Seton is recently acquired computer-navigation technology-one of the first systems of its kind in the Bay Area. The new technology enables surgeons to implant prostheses with fine-tuned precision, reducing the risk of misalignment. Seton’s orthopedic surgeons employ minimally invasive surgical techniques that require smaller incisions than does traditional joint replacement surgery. With this approach, says Dr. Reyes, there is less pain, less trauma to the body, and a much quicker recovery time.

Despite these advancements, surgery is still serious news for any patient. At Seton, however, “everyone went out of their way to assuage my fears and concerns,” says Gardner. “I was pleasantly surprised by how well everything went.” Seton’s team of compassionate professionals takes time to address all patients’ concerns and to educate them on the surgery and rehabilitation process. “Our patients’ minds are put at ease because they know what to expect,” adds Dr. Reyes.

Gardner’s hip replacement surgery was a complete success. Through a tiny six-inch incision, which is smaller than the eight to 12 inches traditionally done for hip replacements, Dr. Reyes implanted a prosthesis made of cobalt chrome, a tough metal alloy projected to last up to 25 years-significantly longer that implants used in the past.

With his hip pain gone, Gardner can’t stop raving about his positive experience at Seton. Even though he’s not back on the slopes yet, he is exercising regularly and feeling great. “I just can’t say enough about Dr. Reyes and Seton,” says Gardner. “They changed my life.”

To reach Seton’s Joint Replacement Center or to make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Seton, call 650.985.7517 or visit our website at setonmedicalcenter.org.

Crystal Clear Imaging - A new “sonar like” tool helps physicians make more accurate diagnoses

Physicians at Seton Medical Center can observe structures inside your body with amazing clarity to diagnose problems at early stages. One versatile tool they use is called endoscopic ultrasound, which enables examination of the stomach and intestines. Endoscopic ultrasound is so accurate that it provides the most precise treatment for the best possible outcome.

An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a light and a video camera on its tip. This is inserted through the mouth to navigate the esophagus, stomach, or colon, and gives doctors a live, crystal clear image of these organs’ linings. What makes endoscopic ultrasound unique is that it adds a second imaging technology—ultrasound—to its video camera. Ultrasound creates live images with high-frequency sound waves and their echoes, similar to the way a submarine uses sonar. With an ultrasound probe on the tip of the endoscope, physicians can see through organs’ linings and view clear images of their deeper layers, or even view adjacent structures. For example, the scope can see through the stomach wall to the nearby pancreas.

“With this technique, we can find tiny tumors that other imaging tests such as CT and MRI might not be able to detect,” says Vino J. Verghese, M.D., a Gastroenterologist affiliated with Seton. “Endoscopic ultrasound helps us to stage cancers as accurately as possible.” With highly accurate diagnoses, Seton’s physicians are able to provide the most appropriate treatments and offer their patients every advantage toward overcoming cancer and other diseases.