Cancer Center
Contact: John Panicek, Administrative Director of Cancer Services
Phone: 860-889-8331 ext. 3415
Address:326 Washington Street | Norwich, CT 06360
The William W. Backus Hospital offers a wide variety of cancer programs and services for the people of eastern Connecticut, including some that patients once had to travel long distances to receive. Now, patients who come to Backus Hospital for cancer treatment have access to the most advanced and comprehensive technology, right here on our local campus. The added convenience of receiving treatment close to home is important for both patients and their families, whose support is so vital in battling this disease.
Backus Hospital's Cancer Services Department, with a staff of multi-disciplinary medical/surgical professionals, including 24 oncology-certified nurses, is committed to providing the best cancer care to the community by offering a wide range of comprehensive programs and services.
Being diagnosed with cancer is a difficult experience for patients and their loved ones. At Backus Hospital, we recognize that such a diagnosis can create issues and concerns that may influence a patient's ability to deal with this disease. We also believe that no patient should have to live with cancer diagnosis and related treatments without support services. Our oncology team provides a tremendous amount of ongoing support and one-on-one teaching with the patient and his or her family to help them manage the physical and emotional aspects of living with cancer.
Cancer Services Offered
• Medical Oncology
• Surgery
• Radiation Therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Pain Management
• Intravenous / Intramuscular Therapy
• Hospice Care
• Discharge Planning/ Continuing Care
• Diagnostic Imaging / Intervention
• Rehabilitation
• Social Services
• Psychiatric Services
• Nutritional Support
• Religious Support
• Support Groups
• Professional Cancer Education
• Community Cancer Education
Cancer Services Departments
Inpatient Oncology/Medical-Surgical Unit:
Location: 2nd Floor of A building
Hours of Operation: 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
The inpatient oncology/medical-surgical unit is a 20-bed facility (including 12 private rooms) that offers a full range of services for cancer patients including complex chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, palliative and hospice care, pain and symptom management, and neurology/neurosurgery.
Outpatient Ambulatory Medical Care
Location: Entry level of hospital
Hours of Operation: Mon - Fri, 7:00 am - 4:30 pm with extended hours to accommodate patient needs.
Backus Hospital's Outpatient Ambulatory Medical Care provides an array of intravenous and intramuscular therapy, including blood transfusions, chemotherapy, and antibiotic therapy, as well as minor surgical and medical procedures. The Ambulatory Medical Care nurses also provide assistance with the pain management clinic.
Dr. Sultan Ahamed Radiation Therapy Center
Location: First floor of Medical Office Building
Hours of Operation: Mon - Fri, 7:30 am - 4:30 pm with extended hours to accommodate patient needs
The new medical office building on the Backus Hospital campus houses the Dr. Sultan Ahamed Radiation Therapy Center. The radiation department offers the latest technology, equipment, and protocol treatments in radiation therapy for patients of all age groups suffering from a variety of cancer diseases. This includes consultation, external dual energy beam radiation therapy, X-ray, treatment planning, symptom management, and follow-up care.
Backus Hospital is working in collaboration with an onsite staff from Yale-New Haven Hospital to provide the most comprehensive care for our cancer patients.
American Cancer Society Resource Center
Location: First floor of Medical Office Building in the Lobby of the Dr. Sultan Ahamed Radiation Therapy Department
Hours of Operation: Mon - Fri, 7:30 am - 4:30 pm
The American Cancer Society (ACS) Resource Center provides a variety of information for cancer patients and their families. Resources include books, pamphlets, videos and a computer center that accesses ACS education information on types of cancers and treatment options. The Resource Center is staffed by volunteers from the ACS. You'll find the volunteers very supportive and always willing to assist you.
Cancer Registry
The Cancer Registry Department collects data on all cancer cases and registers the data and statistics with the National Center Data Bank. The collection of this information is confidential. The data assists a national effort to improve treatment and survival in patients.
Cancer Support Services
Support Group Meetings for Cancer Survivors, Caregivers and Significant Others
Meets the last Wednesday of every month, 7:00- 8:30 PM, Backus Hospital Conference Room, Radiation Therapy Building. For more information, please call 889-8331; Suzanne Smith at ext. 4240.
Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group (Norwich)
Second Thursday, alternate months, 7PM, Backus Hospital. For more information call 887-3551 or 887-2547. Every six weeks. Different locations. No Fee, registration required. Call the American Cancer Society at 887-2547 press 3. Sponsored by The Compassionate Friends (TCF) to offer friendship, understanding, and hope to families following the death of a child. Usually held on the fourth Tuesday of the month in the Backus Hospital Medical Office Building conference room. Program free; no registration required. Call 468-0018 for more information. For breast cancer patients and their families, facilitated by a Backus social worker. Usually held on the third Tuesday of the month, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Backus Hospital Radiation Therapy Waiting Room, Medical Office Building
Program free; no registration required. Call 889-8331, ext. 4239 or 2777 for more information. Cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, significant others and families are invited to discuss how cancer has affected their lives. Usually held on the fourth Wednesday of the month, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Backus Hospital Radiation Therapy Conference Room in the Medical Office Building
Program free; no registration required. Call 889-8331, ext. 4239 or 2777 for more information.
Bereavement Support Group, Hospice Southeastern Connecticut
A national program with sites across the country, Schwartz Center Rounds are funded by the Kenneth B. Schwartz Center, a Boston-based nonprofit dedicated to advancing compassionate healthcare.
In a typical Rounds session, a panel of caregivers presents a patient case that brought up interesting and important psychosocial issues. Topics have included: delivering bad news; when religious or spiritual beliefs conflict with medical advice; taking care of a colleague; and losing a patient.
Hospital staff then share their own thoughts and feelings related to the day’s topic. Unlike grand rounds, these sessions are not about clinical problem-solving, but rather about exploring and processing the emotions that come up in the daily work of hospital staff.
A comprehensive study of Schwartz Center Rounds has shown them to help caregivers connect better with patients emotionally; enhance their understanding of the effects of illness on patients and their families; improve communication among caregivers and decrease feelings of caregiver isolation and stress. Schwartz Center Rounds are held monthly. For more information about Schwartz Center Rounds, visit www.theschwartzcenter.org.