Your Path To Care Starts Here

Here at Bay Area Cancer Center, we’re dedicated to providing world-class care close to home.

Our center, located on the Bay Area Hospital campus, offers modern, sophisticated cancer treatment in a comprehensive, one-stop environment. With up-to-date facilities, board-certified physicians, and a professional, compassionate staff, we provide the same treatment protocols as much larger facilities. You’ll be cared for by highly skilled professionals who just happen to be your neighbors.

 

Telehealth

NOTICE: In light of recent changes with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bay Area Cancer Center has developed a telemedicine platform that allows some of our patients to receive high-quality care without having to physically be present in the clinic through the use of a system called Doxy.me.

Telemedicine is the use of telecommunications technology to provide real time healthcare to patients at a distance. It is delivered using video conferencing, audio communication, and/or text messaging using mobile phones, tablets, and computers.

Please view further ‘Getting Started For Clients’ information here with step-by-step instructions for how to check-in for your video visit.

Prior to starting a telemedicine appointment with your provider, please fill out and submit a consent form electronically to be able to receive telemedicine services. This consent form is good for one year. If you experience technical difficulties with the form, Bay Area Cancer Center is happy to assist you in completing the form electronically, or they can receive your consent verbally as well. Please fill out and electronically sign the form below:

Telehealth Consent Form (English)
Telehealth Consent Form (Spanish)

To join a telemedicine appointment with your Bay Area Cancer Center provider, please click on the appropriate link listed next to your provider’s name:

Dr. Bulumulle: https://bah.doxy.me/drbulumullesroom
Radiation Oncology:
Dr. Carl Jensen
Dr. Raymond Tan

Online check-inhttps://BAH.doxy.me/ohsuradiationonc

Our team is dedicated to a healthy South Coast — starting with you. Give us a call at (541) 269-4160.

Telemedicine

Why Choose Us?

Here at Bay Area Cancer Center, we’re dedicated to providing world-class care close to home.

Our center, located on the Bay Area Hospital campus, includes radiation therapy, medical oncology, and cancer support services. All services are housed under one roof, providing integrated care in a one-stop healing environment.

As part of our commitment to top-notch cancer care, we have built a brand new infusion center for chemotherapy patients and have installed the latest in radiation therapy planning and delivery equipment. Bay Area Cancer Center also offers a wide range of supportive services and educational opportunities to promote the continued well-being of our patients.

Thanks to our long-standing relationship with Oregon Health & Science University, our patients have access to the same kind of quality care found in larger, urban areas. In 2016, Bay Area Cancer Center became an OHSU Knight Cancer Network™ Member. This relationship ensures our patients have access to the best treatment right here at home.

Join the PATHFINDER 2 Study and help improve early cancer detection. The PATHFINDER 2 Study will evaluate the performance of a multi-cancer early detection test, Galleri, that can detect many types of cancer through a simple blood draw. Through our relationship with OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, you can enroll in this study, which is currently open to individuals aged 50 years or older who meet eligibility criteria and receive care at participating healthcare systems. You can enroll in the study right here in Coos Bay at the Bay Area Cancer Center. If you are interested in enrolling or have additional questions, contact the PATHFINDER 2 study team member by phone at 503-418-8150 or email at pathfinder@ohsu.edu.  Find more information at www.ohsu.edu/pathfinder-study.

Bay Area Cancer Center is dedicated to giving you the best care possible. That means providing you with a broad range of treatment and services:

  • Radiation therapy
  •  Chemotherapy
  •  Robotic-assisted surgery (allows minimally invasive procedures)
  •  Reconstructive surgery
  •  Post-surgical rehabilitation
  •  Nutrition therapy
  •  Pain management
  •  MyChart patient portal (allows you online access to medical records)
  •  Genetic testing
  •  Sentinel node biopsy
  •  Lymphedema treatment
  • Telemedicine for Oncology patients
  • Access to even more experience and expertise through our affiliation with Oregon Health and Science University.

Talk to your doctor about your options for cancer care, and then pick the program that’s best for you. For most patients, the treatment journey starts with a program tailored for you, right here at Bay Area Cancer Center. If your cancer is one of the few cases requiring specialized therapies in a major metropolitan hospital, we’ll help you connect with the care you need.

Bay Area Hospital is accredited as a Community Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. This status certifies that the hospital enrolls at least 100 new cancer patients each year; provides a full range of diagnostic and treatment services; and participates in cancer-related clinical trials. Nationally, only 25 percent of hospital programs are accredited.

In addition to our overall accreditation, our Tumor Registry also is accredited by the Commission on Cancer. And our Women’s Imaging mammography program is accredited through the American College of Radiology accreditation process.

For more information about Bay Area Hospital’s accreditations: click here.

Priority No. 1: You

Our mission goes beyond merely treating your cancer.  We focus on the whole person, not just the disease. Our team provides the emotional, spiritual, and medical support you need to face your challenges, while empowering you to participate in your own healing.

Eating right is always important, and it’s crucial while you’re fighting cancer. Your physician may refer you to a Bay Area Hospital dietician to help keep you going strong.

Our registered dieticians can meet with you to provide education, counseling, and encouragement for healthy food choices. Every cancer patient is different, and we’ll customize a nutrition plan for your needs.

We can provide informative literature and yummy recipes for high-protein, high-energy meals and snacks. We’ll coordinate with your physician to match your nutrition plan to your treatment plan. And we’ll take your personal likes and dislikes into account.

(Note: Medicare and some private insurance plans don’t cover nutrition consultations for cancer patients. Make sure you know what your plan covers before meeting with a dietician.)

If your cancer therapy leaves you feeling sick and rundown, your doctor may decide you need a day or two of rest and healing in the hospital. The staff of our Inpatient Oncology Unit is ready to provide supportive care to get you feeling fit and feisty once again.

Our multidisciplinary team’s approach is to treat the whole patient – not just the immediate symptoms. Treatment may include intravenous liquids, pain management, and infection control. But it also includes dietary consultation, self-care education, and spiritual support.  It’s an overall environment of supportive nurturing.

Led by nurses certified in cancer care, our staff puts you at the center of the treatment process. By respecting your choices and listening to your needs, we try to make a difficult time as pleasant for you as possible.

Your personal guide
As you traverse the challenges and complexities of cancer care, you can count on guidance and support from our Nurse Navigator. Certified and highly experienced in cancer treatment, the Nurse Navigator can help relieve some of the fears and uncertainties that go with a cancer diagnosis.

The Nurse Navigator educates patients and families about medical treatments, and she makes sure patients are given the best care even after they leave the hospital. She can help you avoid treatment delays by keeping tabs on referrals, appointments, and financial issues. She is your ally and advocate throughout your cancer journey.

Relief From Your Symptoms
Medical treatment can be difficult when you feel bad. So Bay Area Hospital offers comprehensive support for cancer in-patients. Palliative Care is a medical and nursing specialty that managing pain and symptoms, while offering social services, counseling and spiritual support.

Read More

Cancer patients at Bay Area Hospital participate in a nationwide system of cancer research and support.

The Bay Area Hospital Cancer Registry is strictly confidential, and it costs you nothing. It provides you with lifetime follow-up by our Cancer Registry staff and collects important data for cancer research.

As required by Oregon law, our Certified Cancer Registrar collects data about your age, ethnicity, occupation and other factors that might affect your health. Your cancer treatment and outcome go in the file as well. You’ll receive a brochure explaining this process.

Lifetime medical observation is considered one of the most important aspects of cancer therapy. So, once you’re enrolled in the Cancer Registry, our registrar will contact your physician annually, to check on your continuing health. If you haven’t seen a physician during the previous year, the registrar may contact you directly to check on your condition.

This process provides an ongoing account of your health history, diagnosis, treatment, and current status.

The data we collect helps researchers in their quest to improve cancer treatment. And local, state, and national agencies use it to make important public health decisions. As an accredited Community Cancer Center, BAH reports this data each year to the Centers for Disease Control. Strict rules protect your confidentiality.

Whenever you hear or read cancer statistics, the data likely came from Cancer Registries like the one at BAH. While you’re undergoing treatment for your own cancer, be proud that you’re making a contribution to the broader battle against the disease.

For more information:

Chemotherapy

A Dose of Confidence

Chemotherapy is a potent ally in your fight against cancer.  Our highly trained, compassionate team is dedicated to delivering the most effective treatment, while ensuring your comfort, safety, and dignity.

We understand patients may be anxious or fearful about chemotherapy and its potential side effects. Much progress has been made to reduce or control nausea and other unpleasant effects of chemotherapy. Our goal is to keep you feeling good and enjoying life throughout your treatment and recovery.

Advances in the treatment of cancer are an ongoing, ever-changing and improving science. Our oncology and hematology physicians maintain a high level of expertise by continuously researching the latest treatment options for cancer patients.

From their offices here in the Cancer Center, our medical oncologists work in conjunction with other specialists to create an integrated, individualized treatment program for our cancer patients. Some patients may have other medical conditions that must be considered when developing a cancer treatment plan.  Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, bio-response modifiers and many multimodality therapies are all considered to design the best treatment plan for our cancer patients.

Oncologists develop treatment plans and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to treat the whole patient along with the disease. They work to provide support in the areas of nutrition, emotional support, family involvement, symptom treatment, and supportive care.

The training and qualifications of our nursing staff meet and exceed national standards. In addition to regular nursing licensure, each of our nurses holds a chemotherapy provider card from the Oncology Nursing Society. National rules say the provider card must be renewed every two years. At BAH, however, every nurse who administers chemotherapy is required to demonstrate competency every year. In addition, advanced certifications in infusion and vascular access go beyond national standards to help assure you the best treatment possible.

 

Serious About Safety
Our staff is dedicated to exceeding national standards for patient safety. Special safety measures include:
  • We follow a strict procedure to make sure the nurse preparing your medication won’t be interrupted or distracted.
  • Your nurse completes a thorough pre-administration checklist.
  • A second nurse checks each infusion before it is turned on.
  • Nurses are intensely focused on your wellbeing throughout each treatment. If you develop a reaction to a medication, nurses respond immediately.
  • Patients with special medical needs are given particular attention. If a patient’s blood has a low white-cell count (neutropenia), the patient may be placed in a “Neutropenic Precautions Room” to protect against infections.  A patient with an infectious disease is likewise separated from others.
Chemotherapy is the use of medications to fight cancer cells. Depending on your individual cancer type, chemotherapy may be delivered through pills, through injections, or through an intravenous infusion. Bay Area Hospital’s two Infusion Centers — one in the cancer center building, the other in the main hospital — specialize in delivering medications to patients intravenously.  Highly trained nurses meticulously follow accepted protocols and your individual treatment plan.
Each time you come for treatment, our highly qualified oncology nurses will start by checking your weight and your lab tests, to make sure you’re healthy enough for a chemotherapy treatment.
An infusion session typically takes two to three hours from start to finish. But it also might take only a few minutes, or as long as eight hours.  Every cancer is different, and every patient is unique.
During your treatment, you can relax in a chair or a bed. You’re not confined to your seat – you can move around, visit the restroom, and chat with other patients.
How often you’ll come for treatment will vary. You might come every day for a week, then take a few weeks off before starting again. Maybe you’ll go two weeks on, one week off. You might come just once week or even once a month. It all depends on the nature of your cancer, the type of chemotherapy, and your individual treatment plan.
Senior Adult Woman In The Oncology Unit

Radiation Therapy

We know radiation treatment can seem mysterious and overwhelming. So our multidisciplinary team works hard to make you feel comfortable and well-informed. We don’t just target tumors – we care for the whole person.

Radiation therapy is the careful use of radiation to treat cancer. External beam radiation therapy focuses a high-energy X-ray beam on a specific area.  It destroys cancer cells while minimizing impact on the surrounding healthy tissue. The treatment is administered like an X-ray, using machines called linear accelerators. Our treatment modalities include:

  • Standard Radiation Therapy
  • Image-Guided Radiation Therapy
  • Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy
  • Radiopharmaceutical Therapy
At Bay Area Cancer Center, our goal is to do the least invasive procedures possible to achieve the most positive results. These procedures typically are done on an outpatient basis, and you can return home right after treatment. Radiation therapy may be combined with surgery and/or chemotherapy to achieve maximum benefit.
Our radiation therapy facility is the largest on the Oregon Coast, serving hundreds of patients each year.

One of the first people you’ll meet at the Radiation Therapy Center will be your Oncology Nurse. This highly trained, experienced professional will be your liaison and advocate throughout your treatment, with a door that’s always open to patients.

On the first visit, your nurse will spend time getting to know you and your family. She’ll want to know your whole health history, including the medications you take. She’ll find out what kind of support you may need during your treatment, such as a dietary consultation, assistance with insurance red tape, and even rides to and from therapy. She’ll make sure you understand your medical condition and the tests that have been conducted so far. Easing your anxiety about cancer treatment is an important goal.

After spending time with the nurse, you’ll meet your Radiation Oncologist, a physician who specializes in radiation therapy. The Radiation Oncologist will explain your radiation treatments, possible side effects, and your treatment schedule. He’ll make sure you understand your diagnosis and your test results, and he’ll give you a physical exam.

Your second visit is called a Simulation. Using a CT Scanner, our team will pinpoint the location of your tumor and begin designing your radiation plan. Precision targeting is essential to deliver the right radiation dosage to your tumor while protecting the healthy tissue nearby. The team will place reference marks on your skin, using felt markers or (in some cases) pinpoint tattoos.

After that visit, the Radiation Oncologist will work together with our Oncology Physicist and a Dosimetrist. This trio will collaborate to make a treatment plan to deliver just the right amount of radiation to just the right places. They’ll need about seven to 10 days to prepare that plan before scheduling your first treatment.

Your first treatment will take about an hour, as our Radiation Therapists take X-rays to confirm that you are correctly positioned to receive your treatment, and that the radiation beams are shaped the way they were designed in the plan. After that, you’ll visit us every Monday through Friday, with each treatment taking about 15 minutes.

Every patient’s treatment plan is different. You may undergo just a few treatments, or your treatment could last several weeks.

We understand that cancer treatment isn’t the only thing going on in your life. So we make every effort to accommodate your needs. We’ll try to schedule your treatments at the most convenient time of day. If you need to go out of town, your doctor may be willing to approve a day off from treatment.

Throughout your treatment, you’ll meet with the Radiation Oncologist and your Oncology Nurse every Tuesday. We’ll check on your condition, any side effects from treatment, and generally how you’re adjusting to the treatment process. We’ll make sure any pain you may have is being managed properly. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and express your wishes about your ongoing treatment. In between Tuesday meetings, you’re always welcome to visit your nurse to discuss any questions or concerns you may have.

The Radiation Therapy team at Bay Area Hospital is an elite corps of multidisciplinary professionals, each of them trained in oncology treatment. National certifications in their respective fields assure you up-to-date treatment, delivered with exacting precision.

Our Physicist

Our medical physicist, certified by The American Board of Medical Physics, is responsible for the technical aspects of your radiation oncology treatment. He consults with your physician about your prescription for radiation therapy, he supervises the computerized planning and precise placement of the radiation beams, and he confirms the proper functioning of the linear accelerator that delivers your radiation treatment.

Radiation Therapists

Radiation therapists, also known as radiation therapy technologists, operate the linear accelerator that delivers your radiation treatment. They monitor your condition over the course of your treatment, make adjustments to compensate for changes, and may alert your physician if they notice side effects or anything that might require an adjustment to the radiation plan.
Our radiation therapists are certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, with annual renewals. They also are licensed by the state of Oregon, with renewals every two years.

Medical Dosimetrists

Dosimetrists perform calculations to assure accurate delivery of the radiation oncologist’s prescribed dose. These computations take into consideration the protection of healthy tissue, taking particular care with sensitive areas such as the eyes, heart, and spinal cord.

Our dosimetrists are certified by the Medical Dosimetry Certification Board.

Nurses

The registered nurses working in our radiation therapy facility have extensive training and experience. Their job is to monitor your symptoms and your progress; keep you informed about your condition and your treatment plan; and communicate your needs to your doctor and other healthcare providers.
Your nurse will be your liaison, your advocate, and your guide as you navigate the sometimes perplexing process of cancer treatment. You’re always welcome to ask questions — or just stop in for a little encouragement.

 

Surgical Services

The Right Care Is Right Here

Bay Area Hospital is the Oregon Coast’s foremost center of surgical expertise.  Our specialized programs offer a multidisciplinary approach to evaluating and treating patient conditions, providing the most innovative and outstanding care for our patients.

Our surgeons are at the technological forefront of surgical care, employing minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopy, endoscopy, and arthroscopy. Bay Area Hospital’s acquisition of the da Vinci® Xi Robotic Surgery System in 2017 gives surgeons access to state-of-the-art technology, offering the precision and range of motion available only with robotic-assisted surgery.  This exciting technology puts our surgeons on the leading edge of minimally invasive surgery.

The physicians, nurses, and technologists working in the OR emphasize teamwork, with a shared goal of ensuring your safety and comfort. We put the patient at the center of care.

The surgeons at Bay Area Hospital offer expertise in a wide variety of surgical disciplines, including thoracic surgery, urology, gynecology, orthopaedics, podiatry, bariatrics, ophthalmology, otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat), and reconstructive plastic surgery. Many are assistant clinical professors at Oregon Health & Science University and fellows of the American College of Surgeons. The surgeons are assisted by a highly qualified team of nurses and scrub technicians, as well as the South Coast’s only physician-led anesthesia staff.

In addition to holding Oregon nursing licenses, our nurses undergo specialty training for the Operating Room. Bay Area Hospital provides an advanced training program for surgical nurses – an intensive six-month course to strengthen the skills learned in nursing school. Many of our nurses are nationally certified in surgical nursing.

Our well-qualified scrub technicians are trained to directly assist surgeons at the operating table, many with additional certification by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

With seven operating rooms and two-dozen qualified surgeons, Bay Area Hospital performs thousands of surgeries each year. Yet when you’re in our care, you’re the unrivaled center of attention. Your safety, comfort, and healing are your surgical team’s primary mission.

Caring for you starts long before you arrive in the Operating Room. If you’re not already an inpatient, you’ll check-in at our Short Stay Unit, where you’ll change to a hospital gown as our team begins preparations. A nurse will hook up an intravenous tube, and your anesthesia provider will confirm your anesthetic plan and consent.

If you’ve already been at the hospital overnight, the process is slightly different. You’ll be wheeled to a pre-operative waiting area, where a nurse will look after your comfort. Your surgeon may visit, and your anesthesia provider will stop by to verify your anesthetic plan and consent.

Our anesthesia team is led by board-certified anesthesiologists, who supervise and work alongside nationally certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). This diverse team of professionals ensures a high standard of patient safety.

Keeping you safe and comfortable is your surgical team’s uppermost concern. Before you’re given anesthesia, you’ll participate in our “safety time-out,” to verify your name, birth date, and procedure, as well as any allergies that might affect your care. After you receive your anesthetic, the team holds a second time-out, once again verifying key details to ensure your safety.

Throughout the surgical procedure, the team follows rigorous procedures to protect you from surgical errors and infections.

You’ll regain consciousness in our PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit, also known as the Recovery Room). The PACU nurses, specially trained to care for post-surgical patients, will monitor you until you’re ready to return to your room.

Clinical Trials

Leading-Edge Treatment

Bay Area Hospital’s participation in clinical trials gives our patients access to advanced treatment and experimental procedures, along with the opportunity to help expand scientific knowledge of cancer.

Clinical trials test new drugs, new approaches to surgery and radiation, new combinations of treatments, and new methods such as gene therapy. Clinical trials contribute to scientific discoveries, potentially leading to better ways to prevent, detect, and treat cancers.

Depending on your specific condition, a clinical trial may be one of your treatment options. Participation is entirely voluntary and you have the right to withdraw at any time for any reason. Ask your physician whether any clinical trials are available that are right for you.

A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical approaches. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease.

When your oncologist suggests participating in a clinical trial, you’ll be put in touch with our Clinical Trials Coordinator. She’ll provide you with more information and ask you to sign a consent form. You’ll be informed about all potential side effects.

After that, you’ll begin a treatment routine much like any other. Depending on the form of cancer you have, you may receive intravenous infusion treatments, pills or radiation therapy.

The trial will last a few months or as long as a year. During this time, the Clinical Trials Coordinator will call you frequently to check on your progress and any negative side effects. You may be asked to keep a diary of your medical condition and how you’re reacting to treatment.

If you report serious side effects, we may adjust your dosage. If the risks and side effects outweigh the drug’s potential benefit to you, we’ll remove you from the study.

The Clinical Trials Coordinator will follow up with you after the trial ends. She’ll check in on you from time to time for several years, tracking the long-term effects of the treatment you helped test. Some former patients come to think of the Clinical Trials Coordinator as an old friend.

  • You will receive expert medical care.
  • Your health will be closely watched throughout the study.
  • In some types of trials, you may be among the first to benefit from a new treatment or new knowledge about a current treatment.
  • You will help others by advancing medical and scientific knowledge.
  • Because the treatment is experimental, there’s no guarantee it will be more effective than standard treatment. The researchers hope it will be, but they need to do the study to find out.
  • The experimental treatment may have unpleasant side effects.
  • You may be assigned to the control group.  If that happens, you’ll still receive the normal care for your specific cancer, instead of the experimental treatment.  A control group is a crucial part of research, providing a baseline to measure the new treatment’s effectiveness.  Participating in a control group is an important contribution to medical science.
  • Like any cancer treatment, the experimental treatment may not work for everyone.
  • Participation may require more tests and more visits or treatments than regular care.

Every clinical trial at Bay Area Hospital is reviewed and approved by our Institutional Review Board (IRB). This board consists of physicians, nurses, local clergy, and ordinary citizens.

The IRB assures that the rights, safety, and welfare of participants in clinical research studies are protected. The ethical and legal codes that govern medical practice also apply to clinical trials.

Each trial follows a carefully controlled protocol — a study plan which details what researchers will do in the study.

That depends on the study. For a trial involving a new drug, the pharmaceutical company developing the drug usually pays whatever costs your own insurance won’t cover. In other studies, the drug itself may be provided, but the patient’s insurance is billed for the costs of administering it.

Ask your physician whether any available trials are appropriate for you. You also can contact Clinical Trials Coordinator Cherie Cox, RN, at 541-269-8392.

For a list of current clinical trials at Bay Area Hospital, click here.

For more information about clinical trials nationwide, click here.

Pills in the palm of woman's hand

Resources

Bay Area Hospital offers a variety of classes and learning opportunities aimed at improving and maintaining your health. Explore the links below to find offerings specific to your needs.

We know commuting for daily chemotherapy can be a strain.  If you live more than 50 miles from the hospital, we may be able to provide temporary accommodations on the hospital campus.  We have a small number of apartments as well as several RV hookups. These accommodations are free for cancer patients. Ask your oncology nurse about availability.

The American Cancer Society has programs and services to help people with cancer manage their lives through treatment and recovery, help them and their loved ones understand cancer and find the emotional support they need.

Road to Recovery (Rides to Treatment)

Every day, cancer patients need rides to treatment. Some may not be able to drive themselves, and family and friends cannot always help. Our Road To Recovery program provides rides to patients who have no way to get to their cancer treatment. Call us at 1-800-227-2345, and we can tell you more about this program.

Reach to Recovery (Breast Cancer Support)

If you have breast cancer, you may want to talk to someone who knows what you’re feeling – someone who has “been there.” Through our Reach To Recovery program, we can match you with a volunteer who will talk with you about coping with your breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Call us at 1-800-227-2345, and we can tell you more about this program.