Tennessee Oncology originated in 1976 as Nashville Oncology-Hematology, PC, formed from the solo practice of Stuart Spigel, M.D. Since then, Tennessee Oncology has become one of the largest physician-owned oncology practices in the country.

Tennessee Oncology has grown by adding community-based clinics to better serve the area's growing population. Always remaining true to its philosophy of patient-focused care, Tennessee Oncology has strategically expanded its services to meet the needs of patients and their families.

Tennessee Oncology, PLLC is committed to leadership and excellence in oncology care. We believe that each patient deserves the highest quality of care that our practice has to offer. We are dedicated to delivering excellence of care. We are committed to clinical research and innovative treatment protocols in order to increase our patients' chances for better outcomes. We recognize families are an integral part of patients' lives and vital to their well-being so we are committed to providing education and emotional support for the family unit.

Integrated Clinical and Support Services

Tennessee Oncology offers a comprehensive range of services designed to make your treatment as convenient as possible. Our goal is to completely manage your treatment, relieving you of any concerns so you can concentrate on getting better. Each board certified physician is supported by a professional medical staff of nurses and lab technologists along with friendly, experienced administrative staff. Each local clinic is your point of entry into our integrated system of care, which includes:

• Specialized oncology nursing care: Certified oncology nurses assist your physician in managing your care. They work closely with you to ensure you are well informed and that the care you receive is second to none. They also assist in nutritional support and counseling services.
  
  
• Laboratory services: Many tests and x-rays are performed in our offices and processed in our own laboratories. This is convenient, while helping ensure accuracy and expediting your results.
  
  
• Outpatient chemotherapy: Each office is equipped with a comfortable treatment suite staffed with familiar faces. Our suites offer you the opportunity to develop supportive friendships with other patients during your treatments.
  
  
• PET/CT Services: Tennessee Oncology owns and operates two state of the art GE Discovery PET/CT scanners. One serving the Nashville area and one in Murfreesboro serving Rutherford and surrounding counties. These units provide simultaneous PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and CT (computer tomography) scanning, resulting in faster imaging results that can provide significantly improved tumor evaluation and cancer management.
  
  
• Billing and reimbursement consulting: Each office has friendly, experienced and caring administrative staff who are happy to guide you through the confusing array of options and paperwork. They will help you with insurance coverage issues and file claims on your behalf.

Oncology and Hematology Professional Services

The physicians and staff of Tennessee Oncology are dedicated to providing outstanding patient care coupled with convenient and compassionate personal service. To achieve this we have created an integrated system of healthcare services based on the philosophy that every patient deserves the very best care we can offer.

Tennessee Oncology is owned by physicians who are committed to the pursuit of excellence in community-based medical care. We believe that our approach, which emphasizes individualized patient care, offers you the finest treatment options available.

Tennessee Oncology's physicians develop a care plan specifically for you. Our physicians offer you their extensive knowledge and experience gained in some of the most prestigious medical schools and cancer care centers in the nation. Each physician is credentialed as a cancer specialist, and many hold additional certifications as well.




Patient Education

Tennessee Oncology is committed to providing complete patient education about the cancer experience. We want you to know what to expect and how your family or caregivers can be involved in your care.

• Personalized patient education: Our physicians and nurses work directly with you, answering any questions you may have. We get to know you and your individual needs and take the time to make sure you fully understand your diagnosis and therapy.
  
  
• Education manual: You receive a comprehensive manual written by Tennessee Oncology practitioners exclusively for our patients.
  
  
• Patient education library: We also provide supplemental educational materials such as booklets, pamphlets, videos and audio tapes that further explain cancer therapies.

Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine Services

Our licensed psychologists support Tennessee Oncology' commitment to providing integrated, convenient, and compassionate service. We know that stresses in the lives of you and your family, and feelings of depression, distress, fear and anxiety can affect your ability to respond well to treatment and may influence the treatment's long-term outcome. We also know that using all the tools available for treatment, such as relaxation training, visualization, and guided imagery, is important to many people. Additionally, you may want to change any health habits that decrease your changes of successful treatment, or you may want someone to tell you about some of the feelings you and your family could expect to experience while you are treated. Our goal is to provide high quality, specialized psychological services designed to help you and your family members prevent, control, and manage the stresses in your lives, especially those involved in receiving a cancer diagnosis and treatment. We also want to help you use the best of psychology in treating your disease, and changing health habits that concern you.

You or a family member may choose to meet individually with the psychologist, bring a spouse or partner with you, or come as a family. Therapy groups which focus on learning new coping skills and finding ways to have a fulfilling life while undergoing treatment are also available. We offer free support groups in which patients meet to talk about their experiences, learn from other patients, and receive a little extra support when needed. Tell the receptionist, your doctor, or one of the nurses that you would like an appointment with our psychologist. A convenient appointment time will be found for you.




Community Support Services

We realize the emotional stress of cancer is significant and that it affects the outcome of your therapy. For that reason, Tennessee Oncology serves as a resource to help coordinate additional family support and specialized services available in your community.

• Monthly support groups: These groups allow you to share your experiences with others and learn what they do to successfully live with cancer.
  
• Referral services: We can refer you to community agencies that provide services such as home health care, financial, social and psychological services.

Of course, there are times when all you need is someone to talk with. We are devoted to being good listeners and you are always treated with the individual respect and dignity you deserve.

Tennessee Oncology offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including

• Medical
  
• Dental
  
• Life Insurances
  
• Disability Insurances
  
• 401(k)/Profit Sharing Plan.

Over 90% of Prostate Cancers Detected Through PSA Screening Considered Clinically Significant

According to an article recently published in the Journal of Urology, over 90% of prostate cancers detected through prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening are considered to be “clinically significant” cancers.

In 2005 the American Cancer Society estimated that 232,000 men in the U.S. would be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and over 30,000 would die of the disease. Prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer as a leading cause of cancer death in men.

In the U.S., men 50 years or older are often offered PSA testing for the early detection of prostate cancer. The PSA test measures proteins that are produced and shed by the prostate. PSA levels are generally elevated when prostate cancer is present, but levels can also be elevated in benign (non-cancerous) conditions affecting the prostate.

A potential risk of screening for any type of cancer is that screening will detect a cancer that would never otherwise have come to medical attention. This is referred to as “over-diagnosis,” or detection of a clinically insignificant cancer. As a result of over-diagnosis, some individuals receive cancer diagnoses and treatments that they might otherwise have avoided.

As an example of over-diagnosis, consider an individual who has cancer, but who will die of another cause before the cancer causes noticeable health problems. This may happen particularly with slower growing cancers.

Screen-detection of such cancers would lead to unnecessary cancer treatment. This sort of situation is generally not possible to predict in advance, but understanding the frequency of over-diagnosis can help men make more informed decisions.

To address the issue of whether routine PSA testing may lead to the diagnosis of clinically insignificant disease, researchers from the U.S. conducted a study to evaluate prostate cancer characteristics in men who underwent PSA testing. This study included nearly 3,500 men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1989 to 2001. A radical prostatectomy was performed in 63% of patients. Several variables were taken into consideration to determine if these cancers were clinically significant.

According to this study, over 90% of the cancers were considered clinically significant, meaning that according to results from compiled data, these cancers would have been appropriate candidates for treatment.

The researchers concluded that PSA screening detects clinically significant cancers in over 90% of cases. Other issues involving PSA screening are still being evaluated; they include the specific level that may indicate the presence of cancer without unacceptable rates of over-diagnosis, rates that PSA levels indicate non-cancerous conditions, the specific type of PSA that provides the most accurate results, and finally, markers besides PSA that may be more accurate in the detection of prostate cancer.

Reference: Loeba S, Gonzalez C, Roehl K, et al. Pathological Characteristiccs of Prostate Cancer Detected Through Prostate Specific Antigen Based Screening. Journal of Urology. 2006;175: 902-906.