Oncologists in Amarillo, TX
A cancer diagnosis can be very distressing for patients and their loved ones, but at BSA Health System, we aim to make your cancer journey as comfortable as possible. Our oncologists pair leading-edge technology with compassionate care to bring you a wide range of cancer treatment options. BSA’s Harrington Cancer Center provides services like chemotherapy, radiation oncology, and diagnostic imaging services. Our nurse navigators are here to help you through your cancer journey, and we also offer support groups, a 24-hour survivorship program, and patient liaison services to ensure you receive exceptional care at every turn. Whether you’re screening for cancer or seeking post-treatment support groups, our board-certified cancer specialists are prepared to offer exceptional care from the moment you enter our hospital.
Our Cancer Treatments and Services
When you need convenient, accessible cancer care delivered by skilled physicians and cancer specialists, look no further than BSA Health System’s Harrington Cancer Center. Our cancer treatment center is staffed by board-certified oncologists and hematologists who work with a care team committed to your complete care, from diagnosis to treatment and survivorship. Using state-of-the-art technology, our cancer care team offers a wide range of oncological services, including:
- Chemotherapy services
- Diagnostic imaging
- Hematology services
- Inpatient oncology care
- Oncologic surgical treatments
- Radiation oncology
Our accreditation from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons speaks to our knowledge, experience, and the success of our leading-edge treatments. No matter your needs, the Harrington Cancer Center is prepared to offer comprehensive services, emotional support, and the guidance you need to beat cancer.
Radiation Oncology
The radiation specialists at the Harrington Cancer Center blend innovative technology with compassion and support to provide exceptional radiation oncology treatments. We understand the emotional and physical toll that cancer treatment can take on a patient and their loved ones. That’s why we offer shortened course therapy for several treatment sites to ensure you can spend more time at home with loved ones.
As a leading cancer center accredited by the American College of Radiology and the American Society for Radiation Oncology, we proudly provide a wide range of radiation therapy treatments, including:
- Brachytherapy — This therapy uses radiation to treat patients internally. If you are to receive implant brachytherapy, you will stay in a protected room until the source of radiation is removed.
- High dose remote afterloading — This form of therapy uses a temporary radioactive source. The procedure is offered on an outpatient basis.
- Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) — This treatment allows your radiation oncologist to increase the radiation dose to the tumor volume while minimizing radiation exposure to normal, healthy structures.
- Iodine 131 therapy — This therapy treats thyroid cancer by administering a capsule containing radioactive iodine 131, which destroys cancer cells.
- Prostate seed implants — These implants use radioactive seeds of either iodine 125 or palladium 103, which are permanently implanted to treat prostate cancer.
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) — SBRT uses advanced imaging techniques to deliver a targeted radiation dose to a tumor. An advanced coordinate system is used to precisely locate the tumor to ensure proper placement of the tracking devices. During treatment, your doctor will deliver concentrated, highly focused radiation treatment to the tumor.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) — This treatment provides the most advanced and accurate non-invasive surgical technology available to treat brain tumors and other abnormalities. SRS sends a thin beam of high-energy radiation to brain irregularities to destroy the diseased tissue.
- Varian TrueBeam linear accelerators — This treatment provides image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery with high precision. It targets tumors and lesions.
Please call us to learn more about our radiation oncology treatments.
Hematology and Medical Oncology
The medical oncologists at the Harrington Cancer Center collaborate with a skilled team of physicians to develop personalized treatment plans tailored to your needs. Your plan of care will depend on your type of cancer, the extent and stage of the disease, and the most effective treatment available. Major components of treatment include:
- Biological therapy is based on the idea that the human immune system can play a role in destroying cancer cells. This type of therapy consists of treating the immune system with highly purified proteins that help activate it, helping it fight cancer cells more effectively.
- Chemotherapy is a type of drug treatment that uses medication to shrink or kill cancer cells. There are many new types of chemotherapies currently being developed that target cancer cells without affecting normal, healthy cells.
- Hormonal therapy targets cancers that depend on hormones to grow. This type of therapy uses medications to block hormones, leaving cancer cells unable to grow. Though it is not recommended for everyone, hormonal therapy is often highly effective and has fewer side effects than other forms of cancer therapy.
- Immunotherapy trains your immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells. This is done through medications called checkpoint inhibitors, which interfere with the signals sent by cancer cells that deactivate your immune system.
- Medication plays a vital role in cancer treatment by targeting specific cancer cells, shrinking tumors, and alleviating symptoms. These medications can include targeted therapies, anti-cancer drugs, and supportive care treatments aimed at managing side effects or enhancing the effectiveness of other therapies.
Using these advanced therapies, our doctors provide care for brain cancer, breast cancer, bone cancer, head and neck cancers, prostate cancer, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Visit the Harrington Cancer Center today to discover how our dedicated hematologists and oncologists can support you throughout your cancer journey.
Cancer Patient Support
A cancer diagnosis can take a heavy toll on your physical and emotional wellbeing. Financial concerns, treatment side effects, and other factors can contribute to the stress you feel during your cancer journey. At BSA Health System’s Harrington Cancer Center, we provide a number of resources to support you and alleviate your stress. Our dedicated caregivers provide supportive care for our cancer patients and their caregivers, offering counseling services, nutritional guidance, as well as comfort and symptom management.
Our Cancer Center offers access to a wide range of resources to help our patients feel supported. This includes:
- Harrington Cancer Center Boutique — Located on the main floor, our boutique offers free wigs, caps, turbans and seat belt covers for our patients. To schedule an appointment for a personal wig fitting, please call 806-212-1994.
- Counseling services — Individual and family counseling is available for cancer patients coping with stressors related to their diagnosis. All counseling is provided by licensed professional counselors. Call 806-212-1991 to schedule an appointment with a counselor.
- Lymphedema consultations — Consultations are offered twice a week at our center. The consultations are guided by certified lymphedema specialists.
- Nutrition services — Nutrition plays an important role during every stage of your cancer journey. Our board-certified oncology registered dietician is available to assist with nutritional questions and concerns. Call 806-212-1993 to set up a consultation.
- Social work services — Social workers are available to connect patients and their families to various community resources. This includes transportation, temporary lodging, financial assistance and other resources for help at home.
- Spiritual care — We provide nondenominational spiritual support for patients and families. Individual and group prayer time, conversation, and spiritual direction are also available.
- Volunteer opportunities — Help make a difference in your community. Learn more about our volunteer opportunities here.
Support Groups
Helping our patients feel supported is one of our primary goals at the Harrington Cancer Center. We offer a number of support groups for patients, including:
- Better Together — Our Better Together support group helps patients cope with any fears or challenges that may arise throughout your cancer journey. Meetings occur on the first Friday of the month from noon to 1pm at the Harrington Cancer Center’s conference room, located on the first floor. Lunch is served during these meetings.
- Caregiver education and support — These sessions offer caregivers an opportunity to share concerns and learn self-care skills in an individual setting.
- Dialogue support group — This group focuses on healthy survivorship. It is open to all cancer survivors and their caregivers. Sessions are held in the Harrington Cancer Center conference room, located on the first floor.
- Pampa support group — This group brings patients, survivors and caregivers together for a complimentary lunch and support. Meetings are held monthly at Central Baptist Church in Pampa.
For more information about our supportive care services, please call 806-212-1991.
Survivorship Program
The oncologists at BSA Health System’s Harrington Cancer Center are committed to helping patients smoothly transition survivorship and wellness after cancer treatment. We proudly partner with the 24 Hours in the Canyon Survivorship Center to provide our patients access to helpful resources, including art and exercises classes, and massage therapy.
Once you are finished with treatment, your physician will give you a referral to visit the 24 Hours in the Canyon Survivorship Center. From there, a certified oncology registered nurse will meet with you and provide you with your treatment summary and survivorship care plan.
The survivorship center offers a wide range of classes and resources to help our patients live a healthy, happy life after cancer treatment. This includes:
- Expressive art classes
- Group exercise classes
- Meditation, mindfulness, and body classes
- Nutrition classes
- Oncology massage therapy
For more information on the resources provided please call (806) 331-2400, email info@24survivorship.org or visit www.24survivorship.org.
Clinical Trials
BSA Harrington Cancer Center offers clinical research trials as part of our commitment to bringing new and advanced treatment options to our patients. Trials are scientifically selected by our research team for various cancer types, and are available to cancer patients who may be newly diagnosed, advanced staged or those who have run out of standard of care options.
There are many benefits to participating in clinical trials. A clinical trial study can:
- Identify findings to improve cancer prevention and care delivery
- Identify the most effective treatments with the least amounts of side effects
- Investigate the benefits of enhanced surgical methods and radiation therapy techniques
- Look for a new indication of a previously approved treatment
- Test the safety and effectiveness of new treatments
Clinical research trials vary by type, and every research trial is specifically selected by our research team to ensure maximum effectiveness and safety.
Nurse Navigators
Our nurse navigators at the Harrington Cancer Center provide unprecedented support and medical expertise to our cancer patients. Our registered nurses have oncology-specific clinical knowledge. This allows us to provide education and resources to facilitate informed decision-making, as well as timely access to quality cancer care. By providing individualized assistance to patients and their caregivers, we are able to help navigate potential barriers in the healthcare system throughout all phases of your cancer journey. In addition, the Harrington Cancer Center is accredited by the Commission on Cancer. This accreditation speaks to our commitment to provide the highest quality cancer care possible.
Our nurse navigators act as your personal GPS throughout your cancer journey as you travel from cancer diagnosis to treatment, survivorship, and beyond. Our nurse navigators fulfill many roles and duties, including:
- Facilitating coordination of testing, treatment, and follow-up care
- Providing education about cancer treatment and treatment options
- Provide emotional support and guidance following a cancer diagnosis
- Refer the patient to a cancer social worker, support groups, and additional resources
- Serve as a liaison for cancer patients, families, physicians, and other healthcare professionals
For more information about the Oncology Nurse Navigator Program or to refer directly call:
Shelley Sappington, RN
Oncology Nurse Navigator
806-212-1924
Vanessa Vargas, RN
Oncology Nurse Navigator
806-212-0632
Barbara English, RN
Oncology Nurse Navigator
806-212-1994
Patient Liaison Program
BSA Health System’s ew patient liaison program at the Harrington Cancer Center provides patients and their family’s one-on-one support in understanding the cancer care process. By empowering patients to confidently navigate our resources, services and facilities, the program aims to alleviate any anxiety or apprehension patients may have and to help make the transition into cancer care as easy as possible.
Through this program, the Patient Liaison will meet with each new patient for an orientation, where they will:
- Learn about our various services and resources
- Discuss potential barriers of care
- Tour the BSA Harrington Cancer Center facilities
For more information, please call Chene Logan at 806-212-1018.
Patient Education
We offer the following programs and educational resources to our patients:
- Chemotherapy class — This weekly class helps patients learn what to expect while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Topics covered include general side effects, when to call your doctor or nurse, and other basic cancer treatment principles.
- Radiation education — Provided by individual appointment, our radiation education program offers information about what to expect from radiation therapy.
- Tobacco cessation program (link) — We offer individual support for patients ready to be free of a nicotine addiction. Please call 804-463-QUIT (7848) for more information.
Class dates and times are provided by our cancer center’s clinical scheduler. Please speak with your clinical nurse to register.
Tobacco Dependence Program
Every year, more than 480,000 people in the United States die from tobacco use and secondhand smoke. However, smoking is the single largest cause of death and disease that is entirely preventable. Quitting tobacco can have numerous health benefits, and we are prepared to help you and your loved ones take that step towards a healthier life.
Our tobacco cessation services
Our smoking cessation support services offer guidance to patients who need help to quit tobacco use. The program includes:
- Quitting class — This upbeat, motivational group session provides support, education, and motivation to those who are ready to be free of a nicotine addiction. Throughout this course, you will learn new coping mechanisms to help you remain tobacco-free for life. This class addresses the use of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
- Quit Club — This ex-tobacco user’s support group is offered to individuals who have had experience with a nicotine addiction. During this session, patients are encouraged to share their success stories and tips to help others.
We also offer individual counseling, which can be done in person or by phone and is available by appointment only. For more information about our tobacco cessation services, please call 806-463-QUIT (7848).