HJBR Sep/Oct 2025

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  SEP / OCT 2025 43 Jennifer Perone, MD Surgical Oncologist Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center Beyond medical treatment, supportive services like nutrition counseling, painman- agement, and psychosocial support are es- sential. Mental health counselors, social workers, and psychologists help address the emotional and social challenges of a cancer diagnosis, while dieticians and re- habilitation specialists focus onmaintaining strength and on recovery. Some programs also incorporate complementary therapies like acupuncture, which has been shown to ease side effects like nausea and pain from chemotherapy and other medications. The Role of Clinical Trials Clinical trials provide access to cutting- edge treatments that are still under inves- tigation, but show promise in improving outcomes. Participation involves a detailed screening process, informed consent, and ongoing monitoring. Trials might focus on new drugs, combinations of treatments, or supportive interventions that improve qual- ity of life. In Louisiana, some treatment cen- ters participate in phase 1 trials, which are the earliest stage of testing new therapies. Technology and Access to Care Access to care is not just about physical proximity; it’s also about convenience and timely intervention. Telemedicine allows patients to consult with specialists without traveling. Remote monitoring programs, such as digital tools that track vital signs during chemotherapy, can help detect com- plications early, potentially reducing emer- gency visits and hospital stays. Local Availability Cancer care is available at multiple sites in Baton Rouge and across Louisiana, with specialized services including chemother- apy infusion centers, genetic-based treat- ment planning with pharmacogenomics, and advanced therapies such as CAR T cell therapy for certain blood cancers. Having these services nearby means patients re- ceive advanced care without leaving their community. By integrating expertise from multiple disciplines, incorporating supportive care, and expanding access to advanced treat- ments and technology, multidisciplinary cancer programs aim to treat the whole person, not just the disease. This approach reflects a growing understanding in oncol- ogy: Better coordination, communication, and comprehensive support can make a significant difference in both patient expe- rience and outcomes. n Jennifer Perone, MD, is a surgical oncologist at Och- sner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Baton Rouge. She earned her medical degree fromThe Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed general surgery training at the University of Texas Medical Branch–Galveston,where she also earned amaster’s degree in clinical sciences and conductedmelanoma research. She completed a surgical oncology fellow- ship at Moffitt Cancer Center/University of South Florida. Her expertise includes skin, soft tissue, gas- trointestinal, hepatopancreaticobiliary, and neuro- endocrine cancers, with an interest in palliative care. She is board certified in general surgery and surgical oncology and is a member of ACS, SSO, AAS, CMA and the Gold HumanismHonor Society. What Multidisciplinary Care Looks Like Cancer treatment often requires more than one specialty. A patient’s care team might include medical oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, dieticians, physical therapists, and mental health professionals. Together, they create a unique treatment plan using the national guidelines as a backbone, but tailored to the patient’s needs and their in- dividual cancer and situation. This level of integration greatly improves communica- tion while reducing redundancies and gaps in patient treatment. Regular tumor boards, meetings where specialists review and dis- cuss complex cases, further help ensure that every aspect of care is coordinated. Tumor boards are essential to the multi- disciplinary model in several aspects: • Collaboration brings together diverse medical expertise to ensure compre- hensive evaluation and treatment planning. • Personalized care customizes treat- ment plans to the unique needs of each patient and considers all avail- able options. • Pooled expertise, which helps ensure evidence-based decisions, potentially leads to better patient outcomes. • Provides a platform for continu- ous learning and knowledge-sharing among medical professionals. • Patient advocacy ensures patients re- ceive the most effective and appropri- ate care, often considering clinical tri- als or advanced therapies.