Physician Specialties

Our practice offers consultant and treatment services in both Oncology and Hematology. Our practice treats both solid tumors as well as hematologic malignancies.

Medical Oncology

Medical Oncology is the treatment of cancer with medicine, such as chemotherapy, hormones, and analgesics.  Medical oncologists coordinate and direct a patient’s medical care. Your medical oncologist will provide several of the following services:

• Educate patients on their form of cancer and stage development
• Explain patients’ treatment options, make recommendations, and work with patients to develop a customized treatment plan that is right for them
• Monitor the care and treatments patients receive

Through its physicians and highly skilled oncology clinical staff, Virginia Cancer Specialists offers quality care for patients battling all types of cancers.

The VCS team works with patients to ensure they are receiving the best, individualized treatment plan possible. We closely monitor each patient’s progress and provide education for the various forms of cancer and the temporary side effects of chemotherapy.

Hematology

Virginia Cancer Specialists also provides hematology services which includes coagulation, or clotting, disorders and diseases related to blood and the generation of blood in the bone marrow. Hematology studies the red and white blood cells, their relative proportions and general cell health and the diseases that are caused by imbalances between them, notably leukemia, anemia, Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma and lymphoma.

Radiation Oncology

Radiation Oncology is the branch of cancer treatment that uses advanced radiotherapy delivery methods to target and treat a wide range of malignancies.  At Virginia Cancer Specialists (VCS), our physicians use advanced treatment planning systems and state-of-the-art radiation technology to deliver treatment that is safer, faster, and more precise than ever before.  Our highly trained staff works diligently to make your total experience as convenient and comfortable as possible.

Palliative Care

Several VCS locations offer Palliative Care services to patients.  Palliative care seeks to improve the quality of life for patients facing serious illnesses by helping with a variety of areas, such as alleviation of physical symptoms or emotional assistance. Support is provided by a focus on expert symptom management and developing an understanding of care from the patient’s perspective.

Hallmarks of palliative care include:

• A focus on symptom management, including treatment of pain, insomnia, anxiety, respiratory and gastrointestinal problems
• Fostering open and honest communication
• Understanding the patient’s hopes and expectations
• Facing the realities of treatment and how it affects one’s life, including finances, employment, and more
• Providing support to caregivers and family

It is important to remember that palliative care is not the same as hospice care. Although hospice care employs palliative care methods of symptom alleviation, hospice specifically is end-of-life treatment intended for those with six or less months to live. Palliative care consultation is appropriate for patients in all stages of cancer treatment, starting from the time of diagnosis. It is often provided while patients are receiving curative chemotherapy. The aim is to provide an extra layer of support to patients as they deal with the complexities of managing life with cancer.

Musculoskeletal Tumor Surgery

The musculoskeletal system is the part of the body made up of muscles, bones, and connective tissues. Tumors can form within these areas of the body, and when they become cancerous, they are called sarcomas. Because they are so rare, musculoskeletal tumors require proper diagnosis and treatment from experts who are familiar with them.

At Virginia Cancer Specialists (VCS), Dr. Felasfa M. Wodajo, dedicated musculoskeletal tumor surgery expert, will lead your care journey. With more than ten years experience in this field and specialization in the treatment of sarcomas, he has developed a regional reputation for excellence in diagnosis and surgical outcomes for both adult and pediatric patients. At VCS, your care will also be multidisciplinary where your surgeon, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist will work together as a team.

Services Offered within the Musculoskeletal Tumor Surgery Program Include:

• Benign Tumor Surgery
• Biopsy
• Chemotherapy
• Metastatic Bone Cancer Surgery
• Pain Management
• Radiation
• Sarcoma Surgery
• Surgery

To learn more about advanced care for musculoskeletal tumors at Virginia Cancer Specialists, you can also visit www.sarcoma.md.