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Brain and Spinal Cancer

At Central Maine Healthcare we understand that a brain or spinal tumor diagnosis can be alarming. That’s why we offer the services of the cancer care team at Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center, an exceptionally skilled neurological oncology group to design your treatment plan and give you the best possible care, including the most effective approaches to combatting these diseases.

Brain and Spinal Tumors

A tumor is a mass of abnormal cells. These can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). With most cancers, benign tumors are much less of a concern than malignant ones. Benign tumors in the brain or spine are riskier to remove, and as they grow they may begin to press on and damage normal brain tissue or spinal nerves.

Prognosis will depend on your age, the type of tumor, and its location, not by how early it is discovered. As with any disease, early detection and treatment is likely to be helpful.

Prevention

Thanks to the blood-brain barrier, our bodies protect our brains from toxins that may affect other areas, so unlike many cancers, lifestyle choices like diet and exercise appear to have little impact on prevention of brain or spinal tumors. If you’ve been exposed to radiation, this may increase your chances of contracting the disease. According to the American Cancer Society, there is no known way to protect against these tumors. The good news is that they are not common.

Detection and Diagnosis

Brain tumors are often discovered when a patient begins to have headaches, seizures or other symptoms of pressure inside the skull (also known as intracranial pressure). It’s important to note however that the majority of headaches and seizures are not caused by a brain tumor.

If you have a spinal cord tumor, symptoms may include numbness, weakness, or lack of coordination in the arms and/or legs (usually on both sides of the body), as well as bladder or bowel problems. Again, these symptoms don’t mean you have spinal cancer but if you have any of these symptoms, see your provider promptly.

The process for detecting brain or spinal cancer starts with your provider getting your medical history and completing a physical exam. If they discover anything abnormal, they may refer you to a neurologist or neurosurgeon who will do a more detailed neurologic exam or other tests, which may include imaging tests like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan, positron emission tomography (PET) scan, or x-ray. These tests may show an abnormality but often they can’t tell the type of tumor. To make this determination, the provider may recommend a biopsy, which involves removing a bit of the tumor to further test it.

Treatment

CMH is committed to providing compassionate, high-quality brain and spine care. If you are in the process of being evaluated for or have received a brain or spinal cancer diagnosis, your provider will refer you to the appropriate specialist.

Our health system offers experienced providers who specialize in treating cancer of the brain and spine, including:

  • Radiation oncologists, who use high-energy beams or small particles to kill cancer cells
  • Medical oncologists, who administer anti-cancer drugs, usually given into a vein or taken by mouth
  • Neurosurgeons, who remove cancerous tumors, lesions and tissues

Support

Fighting cancer is a tough job and we’re here to take it on with you. Our oncology nurses and oncology social workers know your treatment plan and help you get the support you need, whether it’s educational, emotionally supportive and wellness programs or a place for your loved ones to rest at the Arbor House, a free residential space on the CMMC campus.

Screenings and Diagnosis

If you’re concerned you may have brain or spinal cancer, you want to know your diagnosis as soon as possible. Central Maine Healthcare understands that knowing the first step, so we strive to provide the most accurate diagnoses as quickly as possible. Our pathologists and radiologists use state-of-the-art assessments to determine the cause of your symptoms and provide the best treatment.

Screening for Brain or Spinal Cancer

Brain or spinal cancer is usually detected by the symptoms it causes, which include headaches, seizures, back pain and numbness in the limbs. While patients with these symptoms usually don’t have brain or spinal cancer, talk to your provider promptly if you are experiencing any of them.

There are no widely recommended tests at this time that can detect brain or spinal cancer before symptoms appear. (“Screening” is the term for these types of tests.) But as with any cancer, early detection puts you at an advantage so be sure to share any and all symptoms you have with your provider.

Diagnosis of Brain and Spinal Cancer

A number of technologies and sciences are used to help your provider determine whether you have a tumor, whether it is benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) and, if it is malignant, the type of cancer it may be.

A neurological exam may be ordered if you’re experiencing problems with your strength, reflexes, vision, coordination, hearing, or balance. Checking these areas helps your provider understand more about what areas of your brain or spine may be affected.

Pathology is another tool used to understand diseases, including brain and spinal tumors. If your provider suspects you may have one of these tumors, they may order pathology tests to examine the cells, tissues and/or fluids of your body. These samples are captured using the following techniques:

  • Blood tests
  • Resection, a technique for surgically removing areas suspected to be cancerous
  • Biopsies, which involve removing cells and tissue

Any of these tests are available onsite at Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) although some samples are sent to an outside testing lab. Your provider can answer any questions you have about the process and will let you know when you can expect results.

Radiology uses pain-free X-rays and other high-energy radiation to produce accurate images of internal body structures, allowing radiologists to detect the presence or absence of most tumors. CMMC’s Cynthia A. Rydholm Cancer Treatment Center is staffed with experienced radiologists who use a number of radiology scans to help providers find the cause of your symptoms, and if it’s a tumor, determine its type and best possible treatments. Radiology testing includes:

  • X-rays
  • Computed Tomography (CT) Scans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Treatment

If you or a loved one has received a brain or spinal tumor diagnosis, we understand it can be upsetting and even frightening news. At Central Maine Healthcare (CMH), we want to provide everything we possibly can to make the treatment process reassuring. The information below is a general overview of the types of treatments your provider may recommend, but we hope you’ll do further research, including asking your care providers any questions you have.

Surgical Oncology

A surgeon who has expertise in removing cancerous tumors, lesions and tissues from the body is known as a surgical oncologist. This is often the first step in the treatment of brain or spinal cancer and in some cases will involve removing as much of the tumor as possible without affecting normal function and then following up with radiation treatments. Used together, these treatments may control or cure many tumors.

Radiation Oncology at the Cancer Care Cancer Center

A provider who specializes in using radiation to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist. They use high energy rays or small particles to kill cancer cells. When a tumor is on or near your spinal cord or brain, the radiation needs to be aimed very precisely to avoid damaging these important organs.

The radiation team at Central Maine Medical Center’s Cancer Care Center, will determine the best angle and the lowest possible dose of radiation, with the goal of damaging the tumor while minimizing harm to your healthy tissue. Providers at the Cancer Care Center have advanced training and years of experience using radiation to help patients fight brain and spinal cancer.

One or more of the techniques below may be used to focus the radiation in the most therapeutic way possible:

  • IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy)
  • IGRT (image-guided radiation therapy)
  • Rapid arc / VMAT (Volumetric-modulated arc therapy)
  • Hexapod table movement
  • CT simulation
  • SBRT (stereotactic body radiation therapy)
  • 3D-conformal radiation therapy

Medical Oncology

A medical oncologist treats cancer using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and biological therapy to weaken the brain or spinal tumor. These drugs are delivered either intravenously (through a needle in the vein) or via a pill and are used to reduce a tumor’s size before surgery, to kill cancer cells remaining after surgery or radiation, or to treat tumors that have developed in other areas.

Medical oncologists undergo advanced training in the use of these drugs and create a plan to guide treatment. Patients at Central Maine Healthcare have peace of mind thanks to our relationship with the Hematology-Oncology Associates practice, which offers medical oncology specialists and a commitment to compassionate care. The practice features a state-of-the-art infusion center, as well as hydration, antibiotic, therapy and blood product transfusion services.

Bile Duct Cancer

What is Bile Duct Cancer? Your bile ducts are thin tubes that carry bile from the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas into your small intestine to help digest the fats in food. Bile duct cancer happens when cells in the bile ducts divide without stopping and spread into surrounding tissue. Because bile duct cancer occurs deep in the body, it is difficult to detect and there are no screening tests that can find it before it produces symptoms. The good news is that it is very rare, with only 8,000 people per year diagnosed with the disease.

Detection and Diagnosis: Symptoms of bile cancer can include pain in the belly, nausea and vomiting, fever, weakness and dark urine. But experiencing these symptoms does not mean you have the disease – it is quite rare. If you’re concerned about your risk of bile duct cancer, you want a diagnosis or to know the disease has been ruled out quickly. Central Maine Healthcare’s cancer care team is focused on providing fast, accurate testing, along with compassionate care. 

Treatment: Bile duct cancer is usually treated with either surgery or radiation and often with a combination of the two. With surgery, your provider removes as much of the cancer as possible. Sometimes all of it can be removed, curing the cancer. In other cases, the cancer is too advanced, but surgery can be done to remove as much as possible in order to relieve symptoms or treat complications.

The other form of treatment is radiation, which uses high-energy rays or particles to kill cancer cells. This approach allows your provider to try to eliminate cancer that could not be safely removed during surgery. If the cancer can’t be operated on but hasn’t spread to other parts of the body, radiation helps control the disease.

Support: Central Maine Healthcare’s cancer care team includes nurses specially trained for treating cancer patients, nurse navigators who guide patients and their loved ones to a variety of supportive resources, and oncology social workers who help you balance the demands of battling cancer with the rest of your life. Our residential facility, Arbor House, offers patients and families bedrooms, apartments, laundry facilities and a dining room all on the Central Maine Medical Center campus.

Screening for Bile Duct Cancer: Your bile ducts are deep inside your liver and gall bladder so detecting cancer in these areas during a physical exam is very difficult. And so far there are no reliable blood tests or other tests that can help providers discover the disease in its early stages. Usually, bile duct cancer is discovered after tumors have grown large enough to create symptoms. One of the most common is jaundice, a yellowing of the eyes and skin, that’s caused by a blocked duct. Other symptoms of bile duct cancer include:

  • Pain in your belly or sides, which can come from fluid buildup
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite/weight loss
  • Weakness
  • Itching
  • Light-colored stools
  • Dark urine

It’s important to note that bile duct cancer is quite rare – only about 8,000 people per year are diagnosed with the disease – so if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s not likely you have bile duct cancer.

Diagnosis of Bile Duct Cancer: Your provider will use a combination of methods to diagnose your condition, including:

  • Physical exam
  • Blood tests – blood is drawn from your body with a needle and examined in a lab
  • Endoscope ERCP spy glass cholangioscopy
  • Ultrasound – a pain-free imaging tool that uses soundwaves
  • CT scan – which uses powerful x-rays to make an image of the inside of your abdomen
  • MRI – image created by high powered magnets that a radiologist uses to detect tumors
  • Endoscopy – endoscope cable with a camera lets your provider see inside your body without surgery or be used to inject dye into bile ducts, which are x-rayed in a test referred to as ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography).
  • Laparoscopy – once sedated, your provider inserts a thin tube through an incision with a small video camera so they can see if – and how far – the cancer has spread.

Treating Bile Duct Cancer: Bile duct cancer is usually treated with surgery, radiation or some mix of the two. Your cancer care team will develop a treatment plan based on how advanced the cancer is, whether tests indicate it can be surgically removed, how well your liver is functioning, your age and general health condition, and a host of other factors.

Surgery for Bile Duct Cancer: Because bile duct cancer is difficult to detect, it’s usually only discovered after surgery could cure the cancer. If imaging tests or surgeries indicate the cancer has been caught early, a surgeon may be able to remove all the cancer, plus a margin of healthy tissue around it. This is referred to as curative surgery because it usually cures the cancer.

In most other cases, the cancer is too advanced or is in a spot where surgery to completely remove the cancer would be very risky for the patient. In these situations, your provider may consider palliative surgery, which means the procedure is done to relieve symptoms or treat complications, rather than cure the disease. Both curative and palliative surgeries are major operations that can require long recovery times, so you should be sure you’re well informed about the goals of the surgery, its risks and potential side effects.

Palliative endoscopy is often done to unblock a bile duct which can relieve jaundice or itching that is common with bile duct cancer. While it can help the patient feel better, it is not done to eliminate or cure the cancer. In some cases, a surgeon will rely on the best information available – which may come from imaging tests and/or exploratory surgeries like laparoscopy – to plan a curative surgery but realize when the surgery begins that the cancer is too advanced or widespread to be cured. At this point, they may decide to take palliative measures.

Radiation therapy for bile duct cancer isn’t common and providers disagree about how helpful it is. But your provider may decide in your case that its benefits outweigh its costs, which can include side effects like skin redness and blistering, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue. There are two main types of radiation therapy for bile duct cancer:

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) – uses high-energy rays aimed directly at the tumor to kill cancer cells. EBRT is the most commonly used radiation therapy for bile duct cancer

Brachytherapy – is also known as “internal radiation therapy.” A radiologist places small pellets of radioactive material next to or into the tumor. Since the source of the radiation is so close, it affects the cancer without causing much harm to nearby healthy tissue.

RFA Endoscopic Treatment – CMMC offers these treatments at the Cancer Care Center, which has state-of-the-art radiation therapy services, including EBRT and brachytherapy.

Chemotherapy for Bile Duct Cancer: the use of medical drugs to treat cancer. Also known as medical oncology, it involves giving these drugs in the vein (IV) or taking them by mouth. Since they go directly into the bloodstream, they reach all areas of the body. Like radiation therapy, providers may not agree on whether chemotherapy is helpful for bile duct cancer. Still, your provider may decide it is useful for your case. Chemotherapy may be used in one or a combination of several ways to treat bile duct cancer:

  • To shrink tumors before surgery to make them smaller and easier to remove
  • To lessen the odds that cancer will return after surgery has removed the tumors
  • To help people whose cancer can’t be operated on to live longer
  • To slow the growth of or reduce the size of tumors that are creating painful symptoms by pressing on nerves.

The Cancer Care Center at Central Maine Medical Center offers our cancer patients who need medical oncologists the services of Hematology-Oncology Associates practice, which is committed to offering the most current, individualized, compassionate and convenient care for cancer patients and their families.

Cancers We Treat

At Central Maine Healthcare, our cancer care experts specialize in the prevention, early detection and treatment of a wide range of cancers, from the common to the complex.

We understand that no two cancers – and no two people – are the same. Our care focuses on your individual needs—physical, emotional and spiritual.

At every step, you’ll have our dedicated cancer care team by your side, including some of central Maine’s leading medical oncologists, hematologists, cancer surgeons, specially trained nurses and more. These specialists will work closely together and with you to create a personalized plan to wellness and are always available to provide compassionate care for you and your loved ones.

We offer a full range of cancer support services for the whole family, including one-on-one counseling with LCSW’s, dietitians, and therapists, plus ongoing support groups and wellness resources.

Exceptional Cancer Care, Close to Home

Providers, nurses, and all team members at Central Maine Medical Center, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital take pride in bringing high-quality, personalized care to our communities in central, western and mid-coast Maine.

Oncology Clinics Convenient to You

Both Bridgton Hospital, Rumford Hospital and the Topsham Clinic offer oncology services, including medical oncologists, Infusion, and an oncologist always on-call on weekends.

Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center

Central Maine Medical Center has been recognized one of America’s Best Hospitals for Cancer Care by the Women’s Choice Award and accredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, so you can have peace of mind about the care you receive.

How to choose a Primary Care Provider

So, how do you make the right choice for you and your family? Use the information below to make your decision with confidence.

What is a Primary Care Provider?

A primary care provider (PCP) is a health care practitioner who sees people with common medical problems. The PCP will be a doctor, physician assistant or a nurse practitioner. Your PCP is often involved in your care for a long time, so it’s important to choose someone you feel comfortable partnering with.

A PCP is your main health care provider in non-emergency situations, and available to:

  • Provide annual wellness visits and routine check-ups
  • Provide preventive care and guide healthy lifestyle choices
  • Identify and treat common medical conditions
  • Make referrals to medical specialists when necessary

Primary care is most often provided in an outpatient setting. However, if you are admitted to the hospital, your PCP may assist in or direct your care.

Types of PCPs

Having a PCP can give you a trusting, ongoing relationship with one medical professional over time. At Central Maine Healthcare, those relationships are the foundation of our care, and we offer several different types of PCPs to meet your needs:

  • Family Medicine: Family medicine provides primary care for patients of all ages – adults, children and seniors. It includes immunizations and sick visits.
  • Internal Medicine: Internal medicine is only applicable to adults ages 18 and older. Internal medicine includes gynecological exams, minor in-office surgeries and acute illnesses.
  • Pediatrics: Pediatrics serves infants, children and young adults ages 0-21. Among the services available are developmental screenings and special, child-friendly treatment for acute illnesses.
  • Senior Health: Primary care providers can help senior patients effectively manage chronic conditions like diabetes, arthritis and hypertension, as well as prostate and sleep disorders.

Meet Our Primary Care Providers

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Heart Attack

If you think you or a loved one is experiencing a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Do not attempt to drive to the hospital.

Each year, about 800,000 Americans have a heart attack, which happens when the blood supply to your heart is cut off. Having a heart attack is a frightening experience, but the good news is about 85 percent of people survive if treated quickly.

The best cure is prevention: as part of our commitment to cardiac and vascular health, we sponsor wellness and prevention programs throughout the region.

Around 85 percent of heart damage occurs within the first two hours of a heart attack, so be sure to call 911 right away if you or someone you’re with shows symptoms of a heart attack.

Certified for Rapid Response: CMMC’s Chest Pain Center

We are proud of the fact that our CMMC Chest Pain Center, which is part of our Emergency Department in Lewiston, is certified for its rapid-response care. If you come in with chest pain, the emergency professionals in our Chest Pain Center provide the immediate care you need. We treat all patients with chest pain as potential cardiac patients until we determine a definite diagnosis.

If you arrive at our Emergency Department with chest pain or other heart attack symptoms, you will be immediately connected to a cardiac monitor, receive oxygen and started on intravenous lines so that life-saving drugs can be administered quickly if needed. Our experienced emergency professionals conduct diagnostic testing to determine what’s causing your symptoms and once your condition is stable, we connect you with one or more cardiologists for possible follow-up care.

Know the Warning Signs of Heart Attack

It’s important to be aware of the signs of heart attack so that if you or someone you’re with is having a heart attack, you can get emergency care as rapidly as possible. Warning signs include:

  • Chest pain or discomfort that occurs in the center or left side of the chest; it may last for a few minutes or more or it may come and go
  • Pressure or a feeling of squeezing or fullness in the chest
  • Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or your back, neck, stomach or jaw
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cold sweat
  • Nausea (with or without vomiting)
  • Light-headedness or fainting

The signs of heart attack may look different in men than in women. Although men and women may both feel chest pain or pressure, women often don’t have chest pain with a heart attack. Instead, they may have other symptoms, such as shortness of breath or dizziness, that are less commonly associated with heart attack.

Keep in mind that your chance of having a heart attack goes up if you have risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes or if you smoke or have had a previous heart attack or stroke.

Learn How We Provide Diagnosis

To determine whether you’re having a heart attack, our chest pain specialists may conduct one or more of the following tests:

  • Blood tests: These tests measure certain enzymes in your blood. For example, high levels of an enzyme known as troponin in the blood can indicate a heart attack has taken place.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): A test that measures heart rate, monitors the heart’s electrical system and provides images of the heart’s structures, assessing heart and valve health and blood flow.
  • Chest X-ray: X-rays may show whether the heart muscle has been damaged.
  • Echocardiogram: An ultrasound test that uses sound waves and the echoes they produce to obtain highly detailed images of the walls and chambers of the heart.
  • Cardiac stress test (also known as a treadmill test or exercise EKG or ECG): A test that measures how your heart performs in response to exercise or stress. This test monitors blood flow and oxygen levels as your heart beats faster and works harder.
  • Nuclear stress test: A test that assesses the blood flow to your heart by taking two sets of pictures of your heart: one set while you’re at rest and the second while your heart is being stressed by exercise, medication or a combination of both. Radioactive material is injected into your vein to highlight healthy and damaged tissue in the pictures.

Get Access to a Range of Treatments

Heart attack treatment varies based on several factors, including the type and severity of the attack and other health considerations. After we determine that you’re having a heart attack, we may provide one or more of the following treatments:

  • Medications: Depending on the type and extent of your heart attack, as well as any other health conditions you have, your provider may prescribe drugs such as anticoagulants, ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, cholesterol-lowering medications, diuretics or vasodilators.
  • Thrombolysis: A procedure in which a clot-dissolving agent is injected to restore blood flow in a coronary artery.
  • Catheterization and balloon angioplasty: A test in which an inflatable balloon-type tool is used to compress plaque against artery walls, allowing increased blood flow. Balloon angioplasty is performed during a catheterization.
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): Also known as angioplasty and stent treatment, PCI implants a tiny mesh tube in an artery to prevent plaque from blocking the blood vessel. After clearing blockage in an artery, your provider uses a catheter to place the stent in the newly opened artery. The stent helps hold the artery open and reduces the chance that plaque will block the artery again.
  • Coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG): Also known as heart bypass surgery, this procedure is open-heart surgery requiring general anesthesia. During bypass surgery the surgeon removes a piece of a healthy blood vessel from your leg, arm or chest wall to use as a graft to create a new path for blood flow around a blocked artery. One end of the healthy graft is sewn to the blood vessel just below the blocked artery. The other end of the graft is sewn above the blocked artery. Blood can then flow around the blocked area. After bypass surgery, blood moves more freely through the coronary arteries, lowering the risk of heart attack.

Recover with Cardiac Rehabilitation

If you have a heart attack or any other heart conditions, we offer cardiac rehabilitation as part of our Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program. Our cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program that helps you recover with an individualized plan that provides evaluation and instruction on physical activity, nutrition, stress management and other health-related areas as needed. Cardiac rehabilitation can make a significant difference in your quality of life after a heart attack.

  • Coronary artery disease
  • Angina
  • Coronary artery angioplasty or stents
  • Open heart surgery such as coronary bypass or valve surgery
  • Heart failure
  • Heart transplantation

As a heart attack survivor, you will also be invited to join Mended Hearts™, a patient-run support group affiliated with the American Heart Association that offers support and encouragement through its visiting program, monthly meetings and educational forums. To learn more, call: (207) 795-8230.

Coronary Artery Disease

In a healthy heart, blood flows smoothly and easily through clear arteries and the heart gets all the oxygen it needs. But if you are diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD), the arteries that bring blood to your heart become hardened and narrowed by plaque buildup, reducing the amount of oxygenated blood delivered to your heart.

As the leading cause of heart attacks and death in the United States, it’s important to take a CAD diagnosis seriously. Our board-certified cardiovascular providers can help ease your concerns and improve your outlook by providing a full range of state-of-the-art cardiac care. In our Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, known as our Cath Lab, we perform a range of diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures, including heart catheterization to assess and diagnose CAD, and treat with angioplasty and stent placement.

CAD: The Most Common Type of Heart Disease

If you have CAD, you’re not alone. It’s the most common type of heart disease in the United States. CAD occurs when cholesterol and other materials build up on the insides of your arteries. This buildup, known as atherosclerosis, starves your heart muscle of oxygen and may create pain, which is known as angina. If plaque breaks up, a blood clot can form and cut off blood supply to your heart, causing a heart attack. CAD can also lead to other heart conditions, such as arrhythmia or heart failure.

Although you may never experience symptoms from CAD, especially in the early stages, if you have any of these symptoms, talk to one of our specialists to determine if you have the disease.

  • Chest pain or discomfort, especially with activity or emotion
  • Heaviness or pressure on your chest, under your breast bone or in your neck, upper back, stomach or arms
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • A general feeling of weakness

Determining Your Diagnosis

We offer a full range of tests to diagnose CAD and other cardiac conditions. Our diagnostic tests, many of which are non-invasive, offer safe, painless ways to check your cardiac function and determine the extent to which plaque may be blocking your arteries. Our specialists use the latest tests and tools to diagnose CAD, including:

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): A test that measures heart rate, monitors the heart’s electrical system and provides images of the heart’s structures, assessing heart and valve health and blood flow. 
  • Cardiac stress test (also known as a treadmill test or exercise EKG or ECG): A test that measures how your heart performs in response to exercise or stress. This test monitors blood flow and oxygen levels as your heart beats faster and works harder.
  • Pharmacological (medication-induced) stress echocardiogram: A stress test that uses medication to stimulate exercise for patients who are unable to exercise safely.
  • Metabolic stress testing: A test that measures the performance of the heart and lungs while under physical stress. Like an exercise stress test, it includes an analysis of your respiratory system.
  • Nuclear stress test: A test that assesses the blood flow to your heart by taking two sets of pictures of your heart: one set while you’re at rest and the second while your heart is being stressed by exercise, medication or a combination of both. Radioactive material is injected into your vein to highlight healthy and damaged tissue in the pictures. 
  • Coronary arteriogram (or angiogram): With this procedure, X-rays are taken to locate the narrowing, occlusions and other abnormalities of specific arteries.
  • Echocardiogram (Echo): An ultrasound test that uses sound waves and the echoes they produce to obtain highly detailed images of the walls and chambers of the heart.
  • Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE): This test is like an echocardiogram but is for patients who have conditions such as serious lung disease, immobility or excess weight that may interfere with the creation of high-quality images with a standard echocardiogram. Instead of using an external ultrasound transducer, this test passes the transducer into the esophagus or stomach through a thin swallowing tube. 
  • Catheterization (Cath) and angiogram: This test, which is used both for CAD diagnosis and treatment, creates images that can be captured in an X-ray of artery blockages that may require repair. During the catheterization, a thin flexible tube called a catheter is inserted through a blood vessel in your groin (or sometimes in your arm) and guided toward the blocked vessel. Dye injected through the catheter allows images of your blood vessels to appear on a monitor for analysis.
  • Diagnostic peripheral arterial catheterization: This test is used to diagnose artery disease and blockage that occurs outside the heart, such as in the legs. 

Treatment Options Available to You

Once we have a full understanding of your condition, as well as your health history and your risk factors, we work with you to develop a treatment plan that best meets your needs. We provide a wide range of CAD treatments, including:

  • Catheterization and balloon angioplasty: A test in which an inflatable balloon-type tool is used to compress plaque against artery walls, allowing increased blood flow. Balloon angioplasty is performed during a catheterization. 
  • Angioplasty and coronary stent replacement: A stent is a tiny mesh tube that our providers implant in an artery to prevent plaque from blocking the blood vessel. Stents may be implanted in arteries in your heart (coronary arteries), neck (carotid arteries) or liver. After clearing blockage in an artery, your provider uses a catheter to place the stent in the newly opened artery. The stent helps hold the artery open and reduces the chance that plaque will block the artery again. 
  • Coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG): Also known as heart bypass surgery, this procedure isopen-heart surgery requiring general anesthesia. During bypass surgery the surgeon removes a piece of a healthy blood vessel from your leg, arm or chest wall to use as a graft to create a new path for blood flow around a blocked artery. One end of the healthy graft is sewn to the blood vessel just below the blocked artery. The other end of the graft is sewn above the blocked artery. Blood can then flow around the blocked area. After bypass surgery, blood moves more freely through the coronary arteries, lowering the risk of heart attack. 

Cardiac Rehab for a Smooth Recovery

We help our CAD patients get back on track with a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program. Our Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program ensures exceptional care for all our patients. Our team guides you and your loved ones to achieve a good quality of life after surgery or other cardiac treatment. The program is held on the first floor of the Young wing in the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Department.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program to help you recover by following an individualized plan that provides evaluation and instruction on physical activity, nutrition, stress management and other health-related areas as needed. Cardiac rehabilitation will help you achieve greater quality of life when recovering from CAD and other heart conditions such as:

  • Heart attack
  • Angina
  • Coronary artery angioplasty or stents
  • Open heart surgery such as coronary bypass or valve surgery
  • Heart failure
  • Heart transplantation

You will need to obtain a referral from your provider to enter our cardiopulmonary program; however, we encourage you to call us for more information (207) 795-8225 for assistance in accessing our services or to answer any questions you may have about our program.

A to Z Search for Services

Central Maine Healthcare covers all of your physical and mental health needs.
Click on a service below to learn more about what we offer and where to find care near you.

  • Addiction Services

    We are committed to understanding and serving people who are living with addiction. We provide compassionate trauma-informed care based on best practi… Learn More >

  • Bariatric Surgery

    Central Maine Bariatric Surgery understands how important weight loss is for patients. We have been established since 2007 and have a team ready to su… Learn More >

  • Breast Health

    When it comes to caring for your breast health, Central Maine Healthcare offers a spectrum of services to help screen, diagnose, and treat. From the m… Learn More >

  • Cancer care

    The Cancer Care Center at Central Maine Medical Center is an integrated, multi-disciplinary program that combines a full spectrum of services and med… Learn More >

  • Cardiovascular services

    Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute (CMHVI) brings skilled medical specialists and innovative treatments to the people of central Maine and bey… Learn More >

  • Diabetes and Endocrinology

    Diabetes and other endocrine-system conditions are complex, and when you’ve been diagnosed with one, it’s hard to know what to do next. Learn More >

  • Ear, Nose and Throat

    At Central Maine Healthcare, our board-certified ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists understand how this connected system works and can identify th… Learn More >

  • Emergency Care

    If you’re experiencing a life-threatening emergency, dial 9-1-1 immediately or go to your nearest ER. Emergencies happen when you least expect them,… Learn More >

  • Gastroenterology

    Your digestive system involves so many parts of the body – your throat, stomach, intestines, colon, rectum, pancreas, gallbladder and liver. So, whe… Learn More >

  • Imaging Services

    Welcome to Central Maine Medical Center Imaging Services. We take pride in providing our community with technologically advanced, up-to-date imaging s… Learn More >

  • Integrative Medicine

    At Central Maine Healthcare, we’re focused on the whole you — mind, body and spirit. That’s why we specialize in integrative medicine, with a va… Learn More >

  • Laboratory Services

    Central Maine Healthcare offers lab services at convenient locations for tests as part of your routine appointment or for screening of specific condit… Learn More >

  • Long-Term Care

    At Central Maine Healthcare, our long-term care feels exactly like home. We believe in taking complete care of you or your loved one’s physical, med… Learn More >

  • Neurology

    Central Maine Healthcare's neurologists and other doctors are specialists in epilepsy, movement disorders and other neurological disorders. Learn More >

  • Nutrition Services

    Clinical Nutrition A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a “food and nutrition expert” who has completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree ... <a class… Learn More >

  • Orthopedic care

    The Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM) serves the people of Central, Western and Midcoast Maine. OICM works collaboratively with our outpati… Learn More >

  • Palliative Care

    Central Maine Healthcare's palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing reli… Learn More >

  • Pediatrics

    CMH’s kid-friendly team members and ambience — as well as our kid-sized examination tables and tools — instantly put children at ease. And we fi… Learn More >

  • Pharmacy

    The CMMC Pharmacy is open to the public and accepts all major insurance plans. As part of your healthcare team, let our pharmacy assist you with manag… Learn More >

  • Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

    Plastic and reconstructive surgery is a personal choice, and a personal journey. At Central Maine Healthcare, our double-board certified physician a… Learn More >

  • Primary Care

    At Central Maine Healthcare, we make primary care easy and accessible to community members like you. We believe in providing compassionate, quality ca… Learn More >

  • Pulmonary

    At Central Maine Healthcare we provide diagnosis and treatment to our patients as well as education to both the patient and family. Learn More >

  • Rehabilitation and Therapy

    Whether you have suffered an injury at work or on the field, are recovering from surgery or just want to better manage pain, the Orthopedic Institute… Learn More >

  • Rheumatology

    Rheumatology is the study and treatment of rheumatic disorders, a wide range of conditions affecting the joints and connective tissue and typically ca… Learn More >

  • Sleep Medicine

    At Central Maine Healthcare, we know what a peaceful night’s sleep means for your health and life. Our board-certified sleep medicine specialist and… Learn More >

  • Surgical services

    Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute (CMHVI) brings skilled medical specialists and innovative treatments to the people of central Maine and bey… Learn More >

  • Telehealth Services

    Central Maine Healthcare now offers telehealth services, bringing you the care you need when you’re unable to leave home. Online and telephone visit… Learn More >

  • Trauma Center

    We offer three ERs right in the communities we serve – each staffed 24/7 with board-certified emergency providers and specialty trained team members… Learn More >

  • Urology

    Using the latest and most advanced screening technology allows our medical team to scan with amazing detail. This allows us to more accurately detect… Learn More >

  • Women’s and children’s health

    Women of all ages have unique health and medical needs, which is why Central Maine Healthcare has spent decades building services, treatment, educatio… Learn More >

  • Wound Care

    Central Maine Medical Center’s Comprehensive Wound Center is a centralized location for all aspects of wound care. Our team of specialists provides… Learn More >

Rumford Community Home

Rumford Community Home is an 85-bed, all-inclusive, active-living community in Rumford, offering residential care, secured dementia care, skilled rehabilitation and long-term care nursing services.  Rumford Community Home team members provide compassionate care to your loved one with 24-hour personal care, private and shared rooms, a full calendar of events and activities, laundry, housekeeping and healthy, delicious meals.

For descriptions of all of our services, please visit the Central Maine Healthcare Long Term Care system page.

Our Team Members

Each and every day, our dedicated team members from all disciplines work together to make sure our residents are healthy, happy, and well cared for.

Life at RCH

Check out our Facebook page to see what a day in the life of our residents is like.

Rumford Community Home
11 John F. Kennedy Lane
Rumford, ME  04276
207-364-7863
Directions

Offering Residential Care, Memory Care, Skilled Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care

Bolster Heights Residential Care

We are an 84-bed Assisted Living facility located in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

Bolster Heights is an 84-bed assisted living facility located in the Lewiston-Auburn area, providing onsite medical services and 24-hour personal care in private and shared rooms.  at Bolster Heights team members create a caring, joyful community for residents by providing a full calendar of events and activities, laundry, housekeeping and healthy, delicious meals.

For descriptions of all of our services, please visit the Central Maine Healthcare Long Term Care system page.

Our Team

Each and every day, our registered nurses (RN), certified residential medical assistants (CRMA) and personal support specialists (PSS) work as hard as possible to make sure our residents are healthy, happy and cared for.

Life at Bolster Heights

Check out our Facebook page to see what a day in the life of our residents is like.

Bolster Heights Residential Care
26 Bolster Street
Auburn, ME  04210
207-784-1364
Directions

Offering Assisted Living Care