Sentara RMH Medical Center - Cancer Services

You can be confident in the care received at the Sentara RMH Hahn Cancer Center. We've received multiple accreditations for meeting and exceeding rigorous standards in clinical cancer care, patient safety and treatment outcomes.

These accreditations mean our patients can be sure they're receiving care that follows best practices, stays up-to-date with the latest advancements in oncology and provides access to specialized services and a multidisciplinary team. Additionally, they reflect our commitment to continuous improvement and accountability, a mark of quality and excellence in patient care.

The Sentara RMH Hahn Cancer Center has been awarded the following accreditations and certifications:

• Certification from the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) Certification Program, an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
• American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Integrated Network Cancer Program accreditation
• American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) accreditation

Find a cancer specialist:

• Radiation oncologists
• Medical oncologists
• Surgical oncologists

Meet some of our cancer specialists:

• Caroline Brand, Nurse practitioner
• Maofu Fu, hemotologist/medical oncologist
• Jessie Gao, hemotologist/medical oncologist
• Sarah Kashanian hemotologist/medical oncologist
• Mary Helen Witt, hemotologist/medical oncologist
• David Morgan, radiation oncologists
• Heather Morgan, radiation oncologists

At Sentara RMH Hahn Cancer Center, we're proud of our physicians, nurses and staff. Not just because they come from some of the finest institutions in our nation but also because of their compassion, dedication and commitment to the health of our community. 

Our team's training and education show their commitment to excellence in cancer care. 

• The Sentara RMH Hahn Cancer Center is a recipient of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer three-year accreditation with commendation. 

• Many of our nurses are oncology certified through the Oncology Nursing Society. To receive this certification, a nurse must have worked in oncology for two years and pass an examination proving their knowledge of oncology care. 

• Our pharmacists, dietician and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) all specialize in oncology. 

• The Hahn Cancer Center has a full-time board-certified medical physicist and certified medical dosimetrists. 

Nurse navigators 

The Sentara RMH Hahn Cancer Center nurse navigators are here to guide you through your cancer care journey by offering emotional support, facilitating communication among care team members, and answering questions about diagnosis, treatment and test results. They also help resolve any barriers to your care. 

Get in touch with our nurse navigators: 

Breast navigator: 540-689-6814

General cancer navigator: 540-689-7067

From screenings to specialty treatments, Sentara Hahn Cancer Center offers a full spectrum of treatments to support our patients. We're dedicated to bringing together the right team and the latest advanced technology - locally and through the resources available across the Sentara Cancer Network - to provide the best cancer care in our community.

Learn more about cancers we treat

Highlights of cancer treatments offered at Sentara RMH Hahn Cancer Center:

Our state-of-the-art center has the latest cancer treatment technologies, so our patients don’t need to travel out of the area to receive high-quality care.

Our latest cancer treatments include:

• A linear accelerator for shorter treatment times as it spares the surrounding healthy tissue by treating cancer with a beam that can be aimed with pinpoint accuracy.
• High-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy which limits the amount of radiation that affects surrounding healthy tissues. HDR is helpful in treating cancers of the breast, cervix, prostate, rectum, uterus and lungs.
• Image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), considered to be the highest quality in cancer treatment.
• Tattoo-less radiation therapy, a technique that uses a 3D camera system to track a patient's skin surface instead of permanent tattoos to position them for radiation treatment. This is also known as Surface Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT). The accuracy of SGRT allows better quality assurance, increases patient safety, improves treatment comfort and speed and expands the range of services we provide.

Chemotherapy and scalp cooling

Hair loss can be an emotionally difficult side effect of chemotherapy. You may feel like everything is out of your control and you don’t look or feel like yourself any more. To help ease this burden, we offer Paxman Scalp Cooling to help you retain your hair.

Chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells. Hair cells, which are the second fastest dividing cells in the body, are often affected by chemotherapy treatment. By cooling the scalp, blood vessels are constricted and cell division slows. This constriction reduces the amount of chemo that reaches your hair follicle cells and can prevent or reduce hair loss. If you choose to use a cooling cap, you wear the cap before, during and after receiving your chemotherapy treatment. Cooling caps are attached to automated machines that continuously circulate cooling fluid through the cap.

The FDA has approved the use of cooling cap systems for women with breast cancer. Depending on the specific chemotherapy, cooling caps can also be used in cancer patients with other solid tumors. The decision to use scalp cooling is personal, so please talk to your oncologist to see if it is right for you.

Infusion center

Our infusion center is where our caring and experienced team of oncology nurses administers chemotherapy and biotherapy in a comfortable setting following Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) recommendations. Patients receive the latest chemotherapy and biotherapy, as well as blood products, antibiotics and fluid replacement, proteins to boost immune function or agents to increase iron levels.

The infusion center is beautifully designed to provide maximum patient comfort, with restful recliners in naturally lit private or shared spaces with private televisions, wireless high-speed internet and extra seating for family and friends. Patients also have a view of our Reflection Garden, which has water features, native flowers, greenery, and a simulated stream.

The team at the Sentara RMH Hahn Cancer Center treats more than just your cancer. We also treat you. We realize that treating the entire person, not just the illness, can reduce recovery time, lessen side effects, improve energy levels and more. Our integrative health programs provide personal support and the latest medical technologies right here at home.

The Twila Showalter Supportive Care Clinic

The Twila Showalter Supportive Care Clinic provides holistic care that addresses a cancer patient's emotional, physical and informational needs from diagnosis to treatment and post treatment. Providers at the Sentara RMH Hahn Cancer Center connect cancer patients to these services, which currently include medication assistance, travel assistance, hair loss prevention, yoga and mammograms.

Case management

Oncology case managers at Sentara RMH Hahn Cancer Center assist patients and families with navigating the complexities of their treatment and care. This service is designed to help patients with care coordination - such as scheduling treatments, patient education, advocacy for the patient’s needs and symptom management. It also provides support with things such as financial assistance, transportation, home care and counseling. Case managers work with patients and their families to identify care issues and make referrals to appropriate sources. 

Social work and counseling 

Our licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) specializes in stress reduction and the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis. Individual and family counseling is available to help cope with the stress of cancer, depression, anxiety, family and marriage issues, and sleep issues. 

To learn more about counseling options, please call 540-689-7065.

Onsite pharmacy services

Our onsite pharmacy saves our patients and families valuable time by providing medications for patients treated at Sentara RMH Hahn Cancer Center or those admitted to our oncology unit. A clinical oncology pharmacy specialist oversees our onsite pharmacy, which is staffed with technicians who specialize in preparing chemotherapy and biotherapy agents.

The oncology pharmacy specialist provides instructions and answers questions for patients and family members concerning medication, side effects and drug interactions. The pharmacist also consults with physicians to try to predict, prevent, identify and resolve any complications that may arise from medication.

Onsite laboratory services

The Sentara RMH Hahn Cancer Center has an onsite clinical laboratory for easy, convenient and fast turnaround of lab tests. Our state-of-the-art laboratory is certified by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and staffed by certified medical technologists with more than 20 years of experience. This service enhances the quality of care we provide while minimizing patients' time at the center.

Nutrition counseling

We offer nutrition counseling for all our cancer patients with our board-certified dietician specializing in oncology nutrition.

You can reach our oncology nutrition specialist at 540-689-7046.

Nutrition services can help you:

• Eat for optimal health
• Avoid weight loss during treatment
• Manage side effects of treatment such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, sore mouth or throat, difficulty swallowing, poor appetite and taste changes 
• Plan meals based on your specific needs (weight loss/gain, diabetes, etc.)
• Find information on complementary nutrition/supplements

Learn more about Sentara nutrition services

Location:
1931 Medical Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-564-5600

Dealing with cancer and its symptoms can be difficult. Palliative care is a medical specialty that focuses on how serious illness affects you as an individual, as well as your family. The goal is to relieve pain and symptoms, help you make decisions regarding your care and to improve your quality of life. Palliative care does not replace other treatments and occurs at the same time as all other treatments. Unlike hospice care, which is meant for people in the final months of life, palliative care does not depend on whether or not a condition can be cured.

Sentara Palliative Care Specialists offer palliative care services to patients with a variety of serious illnesses, including patients with cancer.

Palliative care provides:

• Treatment of symptoms including pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, numbness and sleep problems
• Assistance for patients and families with decisions by providing a better understanding of a patient’s medical condition and choices for medical care
• Coordination of care among all healthcare providers
• Emotional and spiritual support for patient and family
• Assistance with discharge from the hospital by helping with referrals for care at home or another setting

Learn more about palliative care

The Sentara RMH Hahn Cancer Center provides patients and their families with expert cancer care in our community. From chemotherapy to counseling, we're devoted to enhancing and saving lives. And your support makes it possible.

Donations to the Sentara RMH Hahn Cancer Center have provided:

• Cutting-edge digital mammography equipment that better detects breast cancer

• Training for nurses on the latest advancements in care

• Assistance in providing medications to patients in need

Your donation to the Sentara RMH Hahn Cancer Center will provide life-saving equipment, upgrades in technology and staff training on the latest treatment techniques.

If you'd like to support Sentara RMH, please visit our Sentara RMH Foundation.