masseycancercenter.org

IWAMS — the Irish Wolfhound Association of the Mid South — is the original name of the club now known as the Irish Wolfhound Association of the Carolinas (IWAC). The organization was founded in 1992 by a group of long-time Irish Wolfhound owners and breeders, incorporated as a not-for-profit 501(c)7 in 2009, and received American Kennel Club (AKC) accreditation in April 2022. That accreditation required the name change, because the club wanted its name to reflect the region where most of its members actually live.

If you are looking for IWAMS today, you are looking for IWAC. The club serves North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, and its rescue work extends into neighboring southeastern states including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

What the club does

IWAC's stated objectives fall into three areas:

• Education — teaching owners and the public about the breed's health and welfare.
• Responsible breeding — promoting quality breeding in line with the standards of the Irish Wolfhound Club of America (IWCA) and the AKC.
• Rescue support — backing Irish Wolfhound Rescue of the Mid South (IWRMS) in rescue and placement across the region.

Education and events

The club's largest public outreach happens at regional St. Patrick's Day parades, Irish and Celtic heritage festivals, and specialty events. These are chances to meet the breed in person and talk with owners. IWAC also holds club gatherings through the year with educational programming; past gatherings have featured keynote speakers specializing in behavior and health. Check the club's Events pages for current dates and locations.

Health resources

IWAC works with the Irish Wolfhound Foundation (IWF) and IWCA on health initiatives, studies, and testing, and recommends that breeders follow IWCA's Standard of Behavior for Breeders. Two practical resources stand out for owners:

• Heart screenings offered throughout the year, with locations including IWAC Specialty shows, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine in North Carolina, and a Virginia site with Dr. Bill Tyrell.
• Regional veterinarian recommendations — the club answers questions and points owners toward vets experienced with Irish Wolfhounds, a breed with specific medical concerns.

Rescue and placement

Rescue is handled through Irish Wolfhound Rescue of the Mid South (IWRMS), which IWAC supports in providing rescue and placement for hounds across its region and the neighboring southeastern states. If you are considering adoption or need to surrender a hound, IWRMS is the entry point rather than the club itself.

How to get involved

• Attend a St. Patrick's Day parade, Celtic festival, or specialty show to meet members and hounds.
• Watch the Events pages for club gatherings and heart screening dates.
• Contact the club with health or veterinarian questions for your region.
• Reach out to IWRMS for rescue and placement matters.

The website does not list membership fees, event pricing, or sign-up requirements, so confirm those details directly with the club before planning around them.

Treatment for bone and soft tissue tumours is planned around the specific tumour type, its grade and stage, and where it sits in the body. Most patients are treated by a multidisciplinary team at a specialist sarcoma centre, and the core options are surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and newer systemic or targeted therapies — often used in combination rather than alone. The sections below explain what each option does, how the sequence is decided, and what to expect during and after treatment.

The main treatment options

Surgery

Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for most bone and soft tissue tumours, and for many patients it is the only treatment needed. The goal is usually wide local excision: removing the tumour together with a margin of normal tissue around it, so that no tumour cells are left behind.

• Limb-sparing surgery removes the tumour while preserving the affected arm or leg. It is possible for many patients and is generally preferred when a safe margin can be achieved.
• Amputation is reserved for tumours where limb-sparing surgery cannot remove the tumour safely, or where the limb would not function afterwards.
• Reconstruction may follow removal of bone: options include metal prostheses, bone grafts, or other implants. The choice depends on the tumour's location, the patient's age, and how much bone was removed.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs that travel through the bloodstream to kill tumour cells. In musculo-skeletal oncology it is used mainly for:

• Certain bone tumours, such as osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma, where it is a standard part of treatment.
• Some high-grade soft tissue sarcomas, particularly those at higher risk of spreading.
• Advanced or metastatic disease, to control tumour growth.

Chemotherapy is usually given as a series of cycles over several months, with rest periods in between.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation to damage tumour cells. It is used more often for soft tissue sarcomas than for bone tumours, and can be given:

• Before surgery to shrink a tumour and make it easier to remove.
• After surgery when the margin is close or uncertain, to reduce the risk of local recurrence.
• As the main treatment when surgery is not possible or would cause unacceptable damage.
• For symptom relief in advanced disease.

Targeted and other systemic therapies

Beyond conventional chemotherapy, treatment may include drugs that act on specific molecular features of a tumour, or other systemic agents. Whether these are appropriate depends on the tumour's subtype and biology, and they are typically considered within specialist or trial settings.

How a treatment plan is decided

No single factor determines treatment. The team weighs several things together:

This is why treatment for the same named tumour can differ between two patients.

The role of the multidisciplinary team and specialist centres

A multidisciplinary team (MDT) brings together surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and specialist nurses to agree on a plan. Because these tumours are rare and their treatment is complex, guidance consistently points to management in specialist sarcoma centres, where teams see enough cases to make reliable judgements about margins, reconstruction, and systemic therapy.

The European Musculo-Skeletal Oncology Society (EMSOS) exists to advance the science and practice of diagnosing and treating bone and soft tissue tumours and to promote a common high standard of musculo-skeletal oncology across Europe — a reflection of how central specialist, team-based care is to this field.

Typical treatment sequences

Treatment is often described by where it sits relative to surgery:

• Neoadjuvant therapy — chemotherapy or radiotherapy given before surgery. It may shrink the tumour, make surgery easier, and in some tumours allows the response to treatment to be assessed.
• Adjuvant therapy — chemotherapy or radiotherapy given after surgery to reduce the risk of the tumour returning or spreading.
• Definitive or palliative treatment — when surgery is not the main approach, systemic therapy or radiotherapy may be used to control the disease or relieve symptoms.

Not every patient needs every step. Some are treated with surgery alone; others receive several treatments in sequence.

What to expect during and after treatment

• During treatment, expect regular imaging and clinical reviews to check how the tumour is responding and to catch complications early. Side effects depend on the treatment type and are managed by the care team.
• After treatment, follow-up usually continues for several years, with imaging and clinic visits at intervals. Follow-up looks for recurrence, spread, and late effects of treatment.
• Rehabilitation is often a major part of recovery, especially after limb-sparing surgery or amputation. Physiotherapy and, where needed, prosthetics or occupational therapy help restore function.

Questions to ask your care team

• What type and grade is my tumour, and what stage is it?
• Is surgery possible, and can it be limb-sparing?
• Do I need chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and if so, before or after surgery?
• What are the expected benefits and risks of each option?
• Is my case being discussed by a multidisciplinary team, and is it being managed at a specialist sarcoma centre?
• What follow-up and rehabilitation will I need?

The answers to these questions are what turn a general description of treatment into a plan for a specific patient.

Cancer is a group of diseases in which abnormal cells grow and divide without normal control, and in many cases spread into surrounding tissue or to other parts of the body. Treatment usually combines one or more approaches — surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or hormone therapy — chosen based on the cancer type, its stage, and the patient's overall health. This overview covers what cancer is, common types and warning signs, how treatment is decided, and what to look for in a local care setting such as South County Hospital in southern Rhode Island.

What Cancer Actually Is

Normal cells follow a built-in life cycle: they grow, divide to replace worn-out cells, and die on schedule. Cancer begins when changes (mutations) in a cell's DNA disrupt that cycle. The cell keeps dividing, and the resulting cells can:

• Grow uncontrollably and form a mass, called a tumor.
• Invade nearby tissue, which is why some tumors cause pain, bleeding, or organ problems.
• Spread through blood or lymph vessels to distant organs — a process called metastasis. This is what makes late-stage cancer harder to treat.

Not all tumors are cancer. Benign tumors grow but do not invade or spread. Only malignant tumors are cancer.

Common Types and What Raises Risk

Cancer is named for the organ or cell type where it starts, even after it spreads. Frequently diagnosed types include breast, lung, colorectal, prostate, skin (including melanoma), and blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.

Risk factors fall into a few broad groups:

Having a risk factor does not mean you will develop cancer, and having none does not guarantee you won't. Risk factors shift probabilities, not outcomes.

Warning Signs Worth Checking

Symptoms vary widely, but changes that persist for weeks deserve medical attention: unexplained weight loss, a new lump, unusual bleeding, a sore that won't heal, persistent cough or hoarseness, changes in bowel or bladder habits, and night sweats or ongoing fatigue. These signs usually have other causes, but they are the reason to get evaluated rather than wait.

How Treatment Is Chosen

Treatment planning typically starts with a diagnosis confirmed by biopsy, plus imaging (CT, MRI, PET, ultrasound) and lab work to determine the cancer's type and stage. A care team then weighs:

• Cancer type and stage — early, localized disease is often treated differently from metastatic disease.
• Tumor biology — lab tests on the tumor can identify features that make targeted therapy or immunotherapy effective.
• Patient factors — age, other conditions, and personal preferences.

The main treatment categories:

• Surgery — removes the tumor and sometimes nearby lymph nodes.
• Chemotherapy — drugs that kill fast-dividing cells throughout the body.
• Radiation therapy — high-energy beams aimed at a specific area.
• Targeted therapy — drugs that attack specific molecular features of cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy — treatments that help the immune system recognize and attack cancer.
• Hormone therapy — blocks hormones that fuel certain cancers, such as some breast and prostate cancers.

These are often combined. A common sequence is surgery followed by chemotherapy or radiation to reduce recurrence risk, but the order and mix depend entirely on the individual case.

Screening and Risk Reduction

Screening looks for cancer before symptoms appear, when treatment tends to work better. Common screening tests include mammography, colonoscopy or stool-based tests, cervical screening (Pap and HPV testing), and low-dose CT for certain high-risk smokers. Which tests apply to you depends on age, sex, family history, and other risk factors — this is a conversation to have with a clinician, since guidelines differ by organization and personal history.

Risk reduction measures with the broadest support:

• Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol.
• Stay physically active and maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, and whole grains; limit processed meats.
• Protect skin from excessive sun and use sunscreen.
• Follow recommended vaccinations, including HPV and hepatitis B, which are linked to some cancers.
• Attend recommended screenings on schedule.

Where Local Care Fits In

Cancer care often involves multiple specialists — medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, and pathology — and coordination between them matters. South County Hospital describes itself as an independent, non-profit healthcare provider in southern Rhode Island with more than 100 years of history, serving Washington County, RI, and beyond.

One detail relevant to cancer patients weighing travel versus local care: South County Health states it was the first in Rhode Island to join the Mayo Clinic Care Network, and that its healthcare professionals can consult Mayo Clinic expertise when they determine it would benefit a patient, at no additional cost to the patient. According to the hospital, this provides additional clinical input while supporting care close to home, and expands the tools and expertise available to local clinicians for complex cases and specialized needs.

The hospital's site also lists practical access points: a patient portal for medical records, bill pay, and self-scheduling appointments; a "Find a Provider" tool; appointment scheduling; and an emergency department with a posted wait-time estimate. If a condition is life threatening, the site directs patients to go directly to an emergency department or call 911.

For anyone newly diagnosed, useful questions to ask a local provider include: Which specialists will be involved in my care, and are they on site or referred out? Is my case one where a second opinion or network consultation is available? What screening or follow-up schedule applies to me after treatment?

Bottom Line

Cancer is abnormal cell growth that can invade and spread, and it is treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or hormone therapy tailored to the specific cancer and patient. Screening and lifestyle measures reduce risk but do not eliminate it. When choosing where to receive care, weigh the full range of specialists available, how coordinated the team is, and whether resources like network consultations or a patient portal make ongoing treatment easier to manage.

VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Richmond, Virginia, offering multidisciplinary cancer treatment across central Virginia and Hampton Roads. It is one of two NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Virginia. If you are looking for cancer care in Virginia, want to join a clinical trial, or need to refer a patient, Massey provides a structured path to care through provider search, appointment requests, and patient support services. This article explains what the designation means, what Massey treats, and how to start care there.

What "NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center" Means

The NCI designation is the key differentiator in Massey's own description of itself. According to the center, Massey is "one of two NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Virginia" and describes itself as "leading the nation in a community-centric approach to a future without cancer."

In practical terms, an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center designation signals that a center meets national standards for both research and clinical care, and that research directly informs treatment. Massey states that its clinical care is "informed by our innovative research and a community-centered approach." The center also notes it has "over 200 cancer-related studies," which matters if you are considering clinical trials as part of treatment.

Massey is also marking "50 years of excellence," describing a history of "providing cutting-edge cancer care and groundbreaking research."

What Massey Treats

Massey organizes care by cancer type, with a team of subspecialized experts from multiple disciplines working together on each case. The center's published list of cancer types and treatments includes:

• Blood cancers: Leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome, myeloproliferative disorder
• Breast cancers: Breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, male breast cancer
• Digestive and abdominal: Anal cancer, appendix cancer, bile duct cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, hepatoblastoma
• Gynecologic: Cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, fallopian tube cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, vaginal cancer, vulvar cancer
• Head, neck, and endocrine: Laryngeal cancer, oral cancer, paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer, parathyroid disease, pituitary tumors, thyroid cancer
• Lung and chest: Lung cancer, mesothelioma
• Neurological: Brain tumors, central nervous system tumors
• Skin and soft tissue: Melanoma, Kaposi sarcoma, skin cancer, soft tissue sarcoma
• Urologic: Bladder cancer, kidney cancer, penile cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer
• Other: Adrenal tumors, amyloidosis, bone cancer, cancer of unknown primary, childhood cancers, sickle cell disease

Massey also publishes a separate "View All Treatment Options" list, so treatment approaches are organized independently from cancer types.

How to Get Care at Massey

Massey's site lays out distinct paths depending on who you are. The main entry points are:

If you are a patient

1. Find a provider — use the provider search to identify a specialist for your cancer type.
2. Make an appointment — request an appointment directly through the site.
3. Access resources and support services — patient resources and support services are listed separately from clinical care.

If you are a referring provider

• Refer a patient — a dedicated referral path exists for physicians.
• Find a provider and find a clinical trial are also listed for referring clinicians.

If you are looking for research or trials

• Find a clinical trial — search available trials.
• Research programs, shared resources, and funding opportunities are listed for researchers.

If you want to support Massey

• Make a donation, get involved, or become a corporate champion.

Locations

Massey serves patients at locations throughout central Virginia and Hampton Roads, Virginia. The center's published service area keywords include Richmond, central Virginia, Henrico, and Chesterfield. If you are outside these areas, the provider search and appointment request are the practical first steps to confirm whether a location works for you.

Billing, Insurance, and Price Transparency

Massey publishes two relevant resources for planning the financial side of care:

• Billing & Insurance — Massey's own billing and insurance information page.
• Price Transparency — VCU Health's price transparency page for VCU Medical Center.

These pages are the appropriate starting points for cost and coverage questions. The available information does not specify which insurance plans are accepted or whether financial assistance is available, so those details should be confirmed directly through the billing and insurance page or by contacting the center.

Clinical Trials and Research

Massey emphasizes research as part of its clinical identity. It states it has "over 200 cancer-related studies" and describes its mission as discovering and developing "new drugs and better treatments." For patients, the practical implication is that clinical trial participation may be an option alongside standard treatment. Massey provides a dedicated clinical trial search, and referring providers can also search trials on a patient's behalf.

Quick Reference

What to Confirm Before You Commit

The site does not state accepted insurance plans, appointment wait times, or whether a referral is required for all visit types. Before scheduling, confirm:

• Whether your insurance is accepted (via the Billing & Insurance page)
• Whether you need a referral from your current physician
• Which Massey location is closest to you and offers your cancer type
• Whether a clinical trial is relevant to your diagnosis

Massey's combination of NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center designation, subspecialized multidisciplinary teams, and an active research program makes it a reasonable starting point for cancer care in Virginia. The fastest way to move from information to care is to use the provider search and appointment request, then confirm coverage through the billing page.

Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is a serious form of abusive head trauma (AHT) caused by violently shaking an infant, and it is preventable. The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS) frames prevention around a single, normal trigger—infant crying—and gives caregivers a concrete coping plan: soothe safely, and if you feel overwhelmed, put the baby down in a safe place and walk away. This article explains what SBS/AHT is, why crying is the usual trigger, what to do when a baby won't stop crying, which signs need emergency care, and where families and professionals can find support.

What SBS and AHT mean, and why the terms differ

Shaken baby syndrome describes the injuries that result when an infant is shaken forcefully. Because shaking is one mechanism within a broader category of inflicted head injuries, the clinical and prevention field increasingly uses the umbrella term abusive head trauma (AHT). The NCSBS pairs the two as "SBS/AHT" throughout its materials, reflecting that the same prevention message covers both.

The distinction matters mainly for how the topic is discussed:

For caregivers, the practical content is the same: the risk comes from a momentary loss of control in response to a normal infant behaviour, not from ordinary handling, play, or soothing.

Why crying is the trigger—and why it isn't the caregiver's fault

Infant crying, particularly early infant crying, is the situation most often preceding SBS/AHT. The NCSBS's Period of PURPLE Crying program is built on the premise that crying in the first months is normal, can be prolonged, and is not caused by bad parenting or a caregiver's failure.

The PURPLE framework is designed to help caregivers recognise that early crying:

• is normal and expected in young infants,
• can be unsoothable at times no matter what you try,
• peaks and then gradually decreases,
• is not a sign that the baby is angry at you or that you are doing something wrong.

Understanding this changes the emotional math. A caregiver who expects crying to stop on command may feel frustrated or helpless when it doesn't; a caregiver who knows crying is a developmental phase is better positioned to stay calm and use a safe coping plan.

What to do when a baby won't stop crying

The core prevention skill is having a plan before frustration peaks. The NCSBS approach emphasises safe soothing followed by a safe break.

Safe soothing steps

1. Check the basics first—feeding, diaper, temperature, and whether the baby seems unwell. Rule out simple needs.
2. Try calming methods such as gentle motion, holding, swaddling, or quiet surroundings. The Period of PURPLE Crying app includes a library of articles and videos on infant crying, sleeping, and soothing, plus a tracker for crying, feeding, sleeping, and growth.
3. Accept that some crying won't stop. If soothing isn't working, that is consistent with normal early crying—not evidence that you need to try harder or faster.

The safe break

If you feel yourself losing patience:

• Put the baby down in a safe sleep space—on their back, in a crib or bassinet—even if they are still crying.
• Step away for a few minutes to calm down.
• Return when you feel steady, and repeat the soothing or the break as needed.

Never shake a baby, and never handle a baby roughly out of frustration. Crying alone does not harm a baby; shaking can cause severe injury or death.

Warning signs that need emergency medical help

A baby who has been shaken may not show obvious external marks. Seek emergency medical care immediately if an infant has any of the following after a possible shaking incident or an unexplained change in condition:

• Extreme irritability or inconsolable crying
• Difficulty staying awake, extreme sleepiness, or unresponsiveness
• Breathing problems
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Pale or bluish skin
• A change in feeding or alertness that seems sudden and unexplained

If you suspect a baby has been shaken, do not wait to see whether symptoms improve. Get emergency help and be honest with medical staff about what happened—accurate information affects treatment.

Prevention resources for families, caregivers, and professionals

The NCSBS is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to prevent SBS/AHT and promote infant well-being through programs, policy, research, and education for families, caregivers, and professionals. Its stated vision is to prevent shaken baby syndrome and improve overall infant care, and its stated belief is that all babies can be safe from harm.

Resources described on the site include:

• Period of PURPLE Crying—the flagship prevention education program, with a companion app offering articles, videos, and tracking tools for crying, feeding, sleeping, and growth.
• Family resources—materials aimed at parents and caregivers.
• Training—education for professionals; the site lists audiences including hospitals, public health, pediatricians, social workers, and home visitors.
• Research—a page dedicated to the latest research on SBS/AHT.
• Conferences—including the 2026 International Conference on SBS/AHT in Nashville, scheduled for September 22–24, 2026, with a full program available. The site notes the conference has been approved for social work continuing education, and separate pages describe approval for nursing and legal continuing education.
• Volunteer and support options—a volunteer interest form and donation options.

For a parent or caregiver, the most immediately useful entry points are the PURPLE Crying materials and the app. For a professional—nurse, social worker, pediatrician, home visitor, or public health staffer—the training and conference offerings are the relevant starting points.

The bottom line

SBS/AHT is a preventable injury, and prevention rests on two things: knowing that early infant crying is normal and not the caregiver's fault, and having a rehearsed plan to soothe safely and take a safe break when frustration builds. If you ever feel close to losing control, put the baby down safely and step away—that single action is the difference the prevention message is built around.