Central Maine Healthcare

Where You are the Center

Bridgton Hospital

Orthopaedic Surgery

We know the thought of surgery can make anyone feel anxious. But with the experts at the Orthopaedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM), you’ll find everything you need for success.

All our orthopaedic surgeons are board-certified, performing a full range of procedures to treat knee, hip, shoulder, hand, wrist, elbow, foot and ankle pain.

Whenever possible, we use some of the most minimally invasive options available for joint replacement, spine surgery and more – each offering less pain, more mobility and a faster recovery.

From pre-operative education through personalized rehabilitation, we’ll here to support you at every step. And we’re part of your community, with orthopaedic care centers conveniently located near where you live and work. So, you can stay focused on healing. 

Orthopaedic Excellence, Close to Home

The Orthopaedic Institute of Central Maine offers locations near where you live and work – so you never had to travel far to find the world-class care you need:

  • Central Maine Medical Center – Lewiston, Maine
  • Bridgton Hospital – Bridgton, Maine
  • Rumford Hospital – Rumford, Maine

Non Surgical Options

Dealing with painful bones or joints can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to interfere with your life. And it doesn’t have to mean surgery.

At the Orthopaedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM), we offer a full range of non-invasive options that can help effectively manage or even cure your pain. These treatments are usually quick, easy, virtually painless and involve little to no downtime.

One of our board-certified orthopaedic specialists will work with you to find the best treatment for your specific condition. If needed, we also perform a full range of orthopaedic procedures, including our joint replacement, using the most minimally invasive techniques available for less pain and faster recovery.

Therapy Services

At OICM, one of our licensed physical therapists can design a regimen that reduces your pain while also strengthening the key muscles that affect your joint. Your therapist can work with you short or long-term to make sure you’re doing specific exercises that increase your mobility and decrease your pain. Common therapy methods include bodyweight and aquatic exercises.

Your physical therapist may also apply ice and heat to your painful areas. Or, they make work alongside your treatment team to suggest ultrasound therapy or other procedures that can increase blood flow to the skin, helping to reduce pain.

Injections

Injections of substances like may be used to lubricate the joint, which reduces pain and improves mobility. These injections are administered in-office, making it one of the quickest and most convenient options.

Medication

Medication, including oral pain relievers and topical creams with the numbing agent lidocaine or bupivacaine, may help control your joint pain. Your doctor will work with you to ensure you find the right prescriptions for your individual case to limit side effects and avoid drug interactions if you are taking other medications.

Cortisone Shots

Your doctor might also recommend a steroid injection to reduce the inflammation (or swelling) of your joint.

The steroids are injected at the site of inflammation, and usually work to relieve pain within a few days and last several weeks.

 Orthopaedic Excellence, Close to Home

Best of all, it’s all offered at locations near where you live and work – so you never have to travel far to find the world-class care you need:

  • Central Maine Medical Center – Lewiston, Maine
  • Bridgton Hospital – Bridgton, Maine
  • Rumford Hospital – Rumford, Maine

Education and Support: Orthopaedic Care

Joint, bone and muscle pain can really hurt – especially when they keep you from what you need and love to do.

At the Orthopaedic Institute of Central Maine, we can help you get back on track. Start with these helpful resources below.

Need in-person support? Come see one of our board-certified orthopaedic experts. We begin by listening, to understand exactly what you’re dealing with and how it’s impacting you. Then we’ll work together to create a personalized treatment plan focused on relieving pain, restoring function and helping you return to your active life.

Classes and Events

At OICM, our orthopaedic care doesn’t end in the office. We offer free, ongoing events to help our central and western Maine communities enjoy active and pain-free lifestyles. Whether you’re preparing for joint replacement surgery, seeking pain management strategies or need fitness and nutritional guidance, our experts have the answers. Explore upcoming classes and events near you.

Contact Us

Contact Us

Orthopaedic Institute of Central Maine
Central Maine Medical Center 300 Main Street

Lewiston, ME 04240
Phone: (207) 344-2288

Central Maine Orthopaedics
690 Minot Avenue
Auburn, ME 04210
Phone: (207) 783-1328

Bridgton Hospital Specialty Clinics – Orthopaedics
25 Hospital Dr
Bridgton, ME 04009
Phone: (207) 647-6064

For pre-admission testing:

Report to Pre-admission Testing inside of Central Maine Medical Center, using the 60 High Street entrance.

Phone: 207-795-7569

On day of surgery:

Report to Same Day Surgery inside of Central Maine Medical Center, using the 60 High Street entrance, go down the long corridor into the Memorial wing, take elevator to the 2nd floor, turn right and then take your first left into Same Day Surgery.

Phone: 207-795-5501

Head and Neck Cancer

At Central Maine Healthcare, we’re committed to bringing the most effective treatments for this cancer to our communities in central Maine.

About Head and Neck Cancer

Each year, about 110,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with head and neck cancer, a group of cancers that starts in or near your mouth, throat, larynx, nose or sinuses. Most begin in the cells that line the surfaces of these areas. Head and neck cancer may also be called oral cavity cancer or oropharyngeal cancer.

There are five main types of the disease, collectively called head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and named for the area they affect:

  • Oral cavity: Lips, gums, inside lining of the cheeks and other areas inside of your mouth
  • Pharynx (throat): Includes your tonsils, back of your tongue and your soft palate
  • Larynx (voice box): Holds your vocal cords and your epiglottis, a flap of cartilage at the base of the tongue
  • Nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses: Hollow area inside your nose and small spaces in the bones of your head around your nose
  • Salivary glands: In the lower part of your mouth near your jawbone

Each of these types has its own set of cancer symptoms.  Though head and neck cancers can affect anyone, major risk factors include heavy tobacco and alcohol use, as well as the human papillomavirus (HPV), a type of sexually transmitted disease.

Prevention

Cancer can’t be prevented in all cases, but your risk of cancer can be reduced if you have a healthy lifestyle. Nearly 85 percent of all head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use, so don’t start smoking. If you already smoke, quit. Learn how by calling the Maine Tobacco Helpline at 1-800-207-1230.

Other things that increase your risk include:

  • Exposure to human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Exposure to sun without protection increases risk of lip cancer
  • A diet that’s high in processed meat and low in fruit and vegetables
  • Not treating pre-cancerous growths like leukoplakia or erythroplakia

Detection

The key to treating—and beating—cancer is to catch it early. But like many cancers, cancer of the head and neck may not produce signs or symptoms until it’s already grown and spread to other tissues, making it harder to treat. That’s why some doctors recommend that you examine the inside of your mouth in a mirror once a month. If you notice any white patches, sores, or lumps, see your doctor. This kind of self-exam is especially important if you smoke – or used to smoke – and routinely drink alcohol.

Screening and Diagnosis

If you’re concerned you may have head and neck cancer, you want answers quickly. At Central Maine Healthcare, we understand not knowing can be the most difficult experience. That’s why we’re focused on providing the expert medical attention you need to get a diagnosis as quickly and accurately as possible.

Screening for Head and Neck Cancer

A screening test is developed to help your doctor see if you have cancer before you have any symptoms. Early detection is an important part of treatment and recovery. Unfortunately, for head and neck cancer, there is no routine screening test. The good news is that many pre-cancers and cancers in these areas can be found early (when they’re small) during routine exams by a doctor, dentist, dental hygienist, or by self-exam.

Especially if you smoke and regularly consume alcohol, you should do a self-exam once per month to check for any changes inside your mouth. If you notice any lumps, white patches, or sores, see your doctor.

At your regular dental check- up, your dentist may use special dyes and/or lights to look for abnormal areas, especially if you are at higher risk for head and neck cancer. If anything looks abnormal, another test will help your dentist decide if these areas might be cancer. He may take a biopsy, which is the process of removing a small bit of the suspicious tissue for further testing.

It’s very important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of head and neck cancer, especially if you are at higher risk for the disease:

  • Swelling or a sore that does not heal
  • Pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away
  • A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth
  • Lump, bump, or mass in the head or neck area, with or without pain
  • Bad breath that’s not explained by hygiene
  • Hoarseness or change in voice
  • Pain or difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving the jaw or tongue
  • A lump or thickening in the cheek
  • Jaw pain
  • Weight loss

Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancer

During your check-up, your doctor will look inside your mouth, nose and throat, and check for lumps in your neck. That’s especially important if you use tobacco or have in the past, or drink regularly.

If your physician finds anything suspicious, you may need additional tests. Common options include:

  • Biopsy: A small piece of tissue is removed and checked for cancer cells.
  • Panendoscopy: A complete exam done in the operating room under anesthesia. The surgeon looks inside your nose, mouth and throat through thin tubes called scopes and may perform biopsies of abnormal tissue.
  • CT scan: A special kind of X-ray that takes detailed pictures to see if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, lungs or other organs.
  • MRI scan: MRIs use radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays to take detailed pictures. MRIs can be used to learn more about the size of the cancer and look for other tumors.
  • Barium swallow: X-rays are taken while you swallow a liquid with barium in it. Barium coats the inside surface of the throat and helps get a good picture to see how you swallow.
  • Chest X-rays: Used to see if the cancer has spread to the lungs.
  • PET scan: You are given a special type of sugar that can be seen inside your body with a special camera. If there is cancer, this sugar shows up as “hot spots” where the cancer is found.

If cancer is detected, know that you have Central Maine Healthcare’s most experienced care team in your corner. These specialists will discuss all cancer treatment options with you and create a personalized plan. And you’ll have your own nurse navigator to guide and support you throughout the journey.

Treatment

If you’ve been diagnosed with head and neck cancer, we know how overwhelming that can be. That’s why at Central Maine Healthcare, we combine compassionate care with the most advanced technology available to help you fight cancer with confidence.

Full Range of Head and Neck Cancer Treatments

Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center (CMCCC) offers a comprehensive spectrum of cancer care for patients with cancers of the head and neck. This includes thyroid, salivary glands, nose, mouth, facial, skin and neck tumors or lesions.

Physicians at the Central Maine Medical Group Otolaryngology practice (better known as Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), or Head and Neck) specialize in state-of-the-art medical care and surgical options. Our team includes some of the region’s leading cancer specialists: medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons, highly trained nurses, dietitians, social workers and more. Together they will work with you to create the best possible treatment plan.

Your Personalized Treatment Plan

Treatment of head and neck cancer depends on many factors, including the type and stage of the cancer (early or advanced), how treatment will affect the way you talk, breathe or eat, your overall health and your personal feelings about certain treatments and possible side effects.

Your personal treatment plan may include one or a combination of:

Surgery

Surgery may be used to take out the cancer and a margin of healthy tissue around it. In some cases, all or part of the tongue, throat, voice box wind pipe, or jaw bone may need to be removed. Surgery may also be used to take out lymph nodes in the neck which may harbor metastatic cancer. Our team includes a plastic surgeon who offers reconstructive and plastic surgery, following surgical procedures.

Radiation

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays (like x-rays) to shrink or kill cancer cells and help prevent recurrence of the disease. CMCCC uses the most advanced radiation technology available to treat head and neck cancer. Options include:

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT): In EBRT, beams of radiation are focused on the tumor from a machine outside the body called a linear accelerator.

Because head and neck cancers are close to other critical body structures, getting a clear view of the areas during radiation therapy is critical. CMCCC uses the groundbreaking Versa HD accelerator to plan and deliver high-dose radiation with unmatched precision. The result is faster, more effective treatments that minimize the impact on healthy, surrounding areas.

Internal radiation therapy: Also called brachytherapy, this minor outpatient procedure involves implanting tiny radioactive seeds close to the tumor. These seeds, about the size of a grain of rice, remain in place and give off radiation to the tumor site for weeks or months.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells with powerful medicines delivered in varied cycles through either an IV or a pill. It may be used to shrink a tumor before surgery, to kill cancer cells that remain in the body after surgery or radiation, to treat tumors that have developed in other areas or to relieve symptoms when the cancer cannot be cured. Whenever possible, Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center uses newer medications that help maximize results and minimize side effects.

Immunotherapy

Recent FDA-approved drug therapies give people the ability to fight head and neck cancer using the body’s natural defense mechanism: the immune system. Immunotherapy works by making hidden cancer calls visible to the immune system, allowing white blood cells to fight and kill the cancer.

Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is a dangerous disease partly because patients rarely show symptoms before their cancer is too advanced to cure. Fortunately though, if it’s caught early, patients usually go on to full recovery. Central Maine Healthcare wants our entire community over the age of 45 to have colonoscopies so we can help stop this disease.

About Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer refers to cancer that begins in the colon or in the rectum. Colon and rectum cancer are grouped together because they have many features in common, like all cancers, colorectal cancer begins when cells in the body begin to grow out of control.

Prevention

While no cancer can truly be prevented, there are important steps you can take to significantly reduce your risk. It’s likely the best way to do this is getting your colonoscopy as soon as you turn 45. This test allows your gastroenterologist to detect pre-cancerous growths early, before they become cancer. These lifestyle changes are also associated with lower risk of colorectal cancer:

  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Increasing your physical activity
  • Reducing alcohol intake
  • Quitting cigarettes if you smoke
  • Increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet

Detection

Detecting colorectal cancer early is possible through a variety of screening tests. These include visual exams, like a colonoscopy, and stool-based tests, in which a doctor checks the stool (feces) for signs of cancer. Stool-based tests are less invasive but must be done more often, usually once a year. A colonoscopy on the other hand is usually needed only once every 10 years.

Treatment

Most polyps do not become cancer, but if you’re diagnosed, rest assured you’re in skilled and caring hands. Our multi-skilled team of gastroenterologists, colorectal surgeon, oncologists, specially trained nurses and support staff will work with you to create a personalized cancer treatment plan.

Extra Support in Your Fight Against Colorectal Cancer

Central Maine Healthcare is devoted to providing the best care for all our cancer patients. In addition to our highly skilled specialists, we offer features designed to give you full support during treatment and recovery. These include navigator nurses specifically dedicated to guiding you to resources that will support you and your family and oncology social workers who offer counseling.

Screening and Diagnosis

We understand no one is eager to get a colonoscopy, but it could save your life! Colorectal cancer is 90% preventable which is why, at Central Maine Healthcare, we’re committed to making the process as easy and convenient as possible so more people will get tested.

What is a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a test to view the inside of the rectum and colon, all of the large bowel and the lower part of the small intestine.

This routine exam is usually done as an outpatient procedure and is administered by a trained gastroenterologist or surgeon using a colonoscope. A colonoscope is a long, thin, flexible tube with tiny camera and light on one end that relays information to a video monitor.

Why Get a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a safe and effective way to monitor gastrointestinal (GI) health and to check for diseases of the colon.

Currently, a colonoscopy is the best defense against colorectal cancer as the most helpful tool in early detection.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., and is the third most common cancer in both men and women. Early detection through a colonoscopy could save your life.

Polyps are small growths on the inside wall of the rectum or colon that may become cancerous, removal of these during colonoscopy can actually prevent the polyps from becoming cancer.

A colonoscopy is also done to find irregularities in the intestines, or to further look for microscopic evidence of disease through a biopsy taken during the procedure or to treat GI issues.

When Should I Get a Colonoscopy?

The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk for colorectal cancer begin regular screening at age 45. If you have a family history of colon cancer, screenings should start earlier. Talk to your doctor about when to start regular screenings if you have a family history of colon cancer.

Colorectal Cancer Symptoms

You should also ask your doctor about a colonoscopy if you’ve experienced any of the following:

  • Blood present in stool
  • Change in bowel habits
  • Prolonged rectal pain
  • Prolonged stomach pain
  • Inflamed colon as determined by a CT (computerized tomography) scan

Additional Colorectal Cancer Screenings 

Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard in colorectal cancer screening, but we also perform other standard tests to help detect polyps and signs of cancer:

  • Fecal Occult Blood Test: This test, recommended annually, looks for blood in the stool. Polyps bleed more than normal tissue and these tiny amounts of blood can be detected by a test called hemocult.
  • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: This exam, recommended every five years, evaluates the lower section of the colon and rectum, where most polyps and cancers are located.

Treatment

If you’ve been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, we know how worrisome it can be. But the good news is that colorectal cancer is one of the most treatable cancers. Central Maine Healthcare wants to help you by providing all the compassionate care and support you need to fight this disease.

Treatments We Offer

The type of treatment your doctor recommends depends largely on the size and stage of the cancer (early or advanced), as well as your overall health, personal preferences and potential side effects. Our team will work with you to create a plan that you’re completely comfortable with and will focus on keeping you feeling well at every step.

Your personal treatment plan may include one or a combination of:

Surgery

Surgery to remove the tumor is the most common treatment for colorectal cancer, especially the early stages. Part of the healthy colon or rectum and nearby lymph nodes may also be removed.

If the cancer is small and completely contained within a polyp, your doctor may be able to completely remove it during the screening colonoscopy which has less complications and faster recovery, with a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure, using just a few small incisions in the abdomen.

If the cancer has grown into or through your colon, you may need a procedure called a colectomy, in which the part of your colon that contains the cancer is removed, along with a margin of normal tissue on either side of the cancer.

Many colostomy can be less often, some people may need a temporary or permanent colostomy after surgery. This is a surgical opening through which the colon is connected to the abdominal surface to allow waste to exit the body. This waste is collected in a pouch worn by the patient. Our specially trained ostomy nurses can help learn how to manage the pouch and make any lifestyle adjustments.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays (like X-rays) to shrink or kill cancer cells and help prevent recurrence of the disease. The rays can be specifically directed at the part of the body where the cancer is located, and is commonly used to treat colorectal cancer because the tumor tends to recur near where it originally started. It can also be combined with chemotherapy to increase effectiveness.

External-beam radiation therapy is another therapy we use at Central Maine Healthcare to fight colorectal cancer. With this treatment, a machine is used to precisely deliver a high dose of radiation to a small area.

For some people, internal radiation therapy may help get rid of areas that have spread to the liver when surgery is not an option. Brachytherapy is an example of this sort of radiation therapy. It uses radioactive “seeds” placed inside the body to treat the cancer.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells with medicines delivered in varied cycles through either an IV or a pill. It may be used to shrink a tumor before surgery, to kill cancer cells that remain in the body after surgery or radiation or to treat tumors that have developed in other areas of the body. Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer is usually given after surgery if the cancer has spread to lymph nodes, which may reduce the risk of a cancer recurrence. For advanced cancer that is no longer curable, chemo be used to help shrink tumors and relieve symptoms.

Targeted Therapy

Typically used for people with advanced colorectal cancer, targeted drug therapy works to block specific genes and proteins that allow cancer cells to grow, while limiting damage to healthy cells.

Immunotherapy

Some patients with advanced colorectal cancer may benefit from immunotherapy, which uses medicines to help a person’s own immune system find and destroy cancer cells.