When you hear a bell ringing at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center at UH Geauga Medical Center, someone has triumphed over cancer

By Laura Briedis

When you hear the bell ringing in the hallway of University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center at UH Geauga Medical Center, a Campus of UH Regional Hospitals, it is a reminder of how curable cancer is nowadays. A victory bell of sorts, it represents a patient’s perseverance, determination and triumph over cancer.

“When patients ring the bell after their last chemotherapy treatment, it is a symbol of survivorship and moving on to bigger and better things,” says Dr. Osei-Tutu Owusu, who joined University Hospitals last month. “People have a fear of cancer, but the fact is that nearly 70% of all cancers that are diagnosed in the U.S. are curable, based on five-year overall survival rates.”

An oncologist who also specializes in hematology, Dr. Owusu brings a global perspective to medicine as he studied in Ghana, the Netherlands and England before coming to the U.S. for a residency at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in New Jersey and a fellowship in hematology/oncology at Boston Medical Center. Now, he is part of a multidisciplinary team that helps diagnose, treat and manage cancer.

“I became interested in blood diseases while studying in Ghana because sickle cell disease is so prevalent in that region of the world, as one out of three persons there carry the sickle cell gene,” he says. “I was involved with an NIH [National Institutes of Health] study focusing on screening for sickle cell disease in newborns. And when I came to America, my studies here broadened my interest to oncology.”

Today, he not only treats blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, but all types of cancers, including colon, prostate, breast and lung cancers.

“As a general oncologist, I help patients manage all forms of cancer and develop treatment plans,” Dr. Owusu says. “Cancer care is always a shared responsibility. I educate my patients about their disease so they better understand what I am doing and why I am doing it, and then they’re encouraged to follow my recommendations. Communication with other family members is also important because cancer affects the whole family. Working together results in the best outcome.”

Working in Northeast Ohio since 2005, Dr. Owusu was attracted to the caring approach to medicine that University Hospitals is known for and joined the staff in December. “I like that the hospital has a community feel but at the same time also has a strong, academic medicine focus,” he says. My patients can benefit from clinical trials offered here at UH Geauga Medical Center and downtown at University Hospitals’ main campus.”

“We really do provide the best cancer care at UH Geauga Medical Center without patients having to travel out of their comfort zone because we are close to home,” he notes. “Our team here offers cancer care for breast, thoracic and GYN, physical medicine and rehabilitation, strength and quality of life during and after cancer treatment, palliative care, clinical trials, oncology certified nursing team and nurse navigation. We also have access to other resources across the health system, including advanced treatments such as transplants, if needed.”

Dr. Owusu stresses that though patients always fear a cancer diagnosis, he helps to ease their concerns by educating them and showing them that many cancers are curable, especially if found early.

“I recommend everyone work with their primary care provider to make sure they get screenings at the appropriate time,” he says. “I encourage all patients to follow preventative health care guidelines, including the recommendation that women get mammograms and cervical cancer screenings, men have prostate screenings, and everyone should schedule a colonoscopy at age 45 years old or earlier if your doctor recommends.”

UH Geauga Medical Center has all the latest technology to detect cancer early, including 3D tomosynthesis mammograms, PET/CT scans, MRI and access to genetic testing.

UH Geauga Medical Center is located at 13207 Ravenna Road, in Chardon. For more information, call 440-629-4005 or visit UHhospitals.org/Cancer.