Medical Oncology

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Medical Oncology

At Gettysburg Cancer Center, our team prides itself on our ability to provide the highest level of care for our patients. Our medical oncology practice has been established in the area for over 25 years, with a focus on providing the latest advancements in medical oncology treatment with a customized approach to meet the psychological, emotional, and sometimes spiritual needs of our patients.

What Is Chemotherapy?

Cell growth and division is a natural part of body function, but when cancer occurs, it means that once-healthy cells begin to reproduce uncontrollably, stealing space from healthy cells and pushing on organs, blood vessels, and tissue. A widely used cancer treatment, chemotherapy is a method that kills dividing cells to prevent them from continuing to grow, divide, and develop tumors.

What Does Chemotherapy Do?

Used either to prevent cancer from progressing or eliminate its presence entirely, chemotherapy refers to a range of drugs administered either through injection into the bloodstream or direct exposure to specific cancer sites. To stop cancer from continuing to grow, chemotherapy drugs can do the following:

  • Prevent further cell division
  • Target and eliminate the food source cancer cells need to grow
  • Trigger apoptosis, which is when cancer cells kill themselves
  • Stop new blood vessels from forming around tumors, starving the tumor itself

Side Effects of Chemotherapy

While often extremely beneficial in preventing cancer progression or bringing about remission, chemotherapy does come with its potential side effects, including:

  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Pain
  • Vomiting
  • Hair loss

Because of some possible risks and adverse side effects, it’s recommended for patients to receive blood tests before beginning treatment. Chemotherapy is performed in various sessions with breaks in between to give the body a chance to recover.

Oncology Services

Specializing in compassionate care that feels like home, we offer the following services at the GCC:

  • Chemotherapy infusions of all outpatient oncology medications
  • Targeted chemotherapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • Infusions of IV iron and other hematological therapies such as IVIG
  • Clinical trials
  • Injection therapies such as B12 and Prolia
  • Supportive care of existing patients by our specialty trained nurses with IV hydration, IV anti-emetics, and steroids
  • Therapeutic phlebotomies
  • Infusions of non-oncologic medications for neurological and rheumatological disorders such as Tysabri and Remicade
  • OCN certified clinical coordinator
  • Outpatient infusions services close to home

Oncology Team

Our mission is to improve patient adherence, patient safety, and patient satisfaction on site.

Dr. Satish Shah

Dr. Satish Shah

CEO

Dr. Shah graduated from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara in 1980 and completed a Medical Oncology fellowship at Penn State Hershey Medical Center in 1988. Shortly thereafter, in 1989, he opened the first oncology practice in Adams County and also pioneered the Cancer Program at Gettysburg Hospital. Dr. Shah’s areas of interest include solid tumors such as lung, breast, and colon as well as hematological disorders, anemia, lymphoma, and leukemia.

717-334-4033sshah@pcsri.com
Dr. Tina Khair

Dr. Tina Khair

Medical Director

Dr. Tina Khair joined the practice in 2012. Dr. Khair has rapidly become a respected part of the Adams/York County medical community. She is a triple-board certified physician in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, and Hematology. Her special areas of interest include breast cancer, head and neck cancer, lung cancer, and disorders of the blood.

tkhair@pcsri.com
Mandy Weikert

Mandy Weikert

CRNP

Mandy joined the Gettysburg Cancer Center in 2018 as a full-time nurse practitioner. She comes with several years of nursing experience, specifically in oncology, before earning her Master’s of Science in Nursing from Widener University. Prior to joining the cancer center, she worked with Penn State Hershey and Wellspan Gettysburg Hospital.

Jasmine Ross

Jasmine Ross

Medical Oncology & Hematology

Dr.Ross joins our practice from Danville, PA where she worked with the Geisinger Cancer Institute. Her practice includes all types of malignancies and blood disorders. Her specific areas of interest include cancer care in older adults, breast cancer, GI cancers, lung cancers, and melanoma. A native of Tennessee, she received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee then proceeded to St. George’s University for her MD. She is also board certified in internal medicine and completed residency training at Florida Atlantic University. She and her husband live in Mechanicsburg, PA.

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