 Staff in the Rainy Lake Medical Center Chemotherapy Department, located at the Hospital Campus, work with patients through education and communication to make their treatment experience as comfortable as possible.
Communication is key. Chemotherapy nurses are essentially "switchboard operators," connecting patients to whomever or whatever they need to help their treatment go smoothly. A large part of their goal is to be the communication link between doctors and patients. Often a person in a rural area first gets a diagnosis of possible cancer from a family practice doctor. Then a general surgeon may confirm the diagnosis. Next the patient sees an oncologist who plans the therapy.
Staffed by specially-trained RN’s who have a wealth of knowledge and experience, the RLMC Chemotherapy department assists families and patients to find the support services they need.
Cancer remission is not the only goal of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can be used to create comfort and ease pain. Its use may reduce tumor size, which can diminish internal pressure, and that in turn lessens pain. It can be used to slow the speed of the cancer growth to gain time and quality of life.
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