Coming Home to Fight Cancer

William Noyes, M.D. ‘89, returns to his home state to open the Cancer Center of North Dakota,

adding another option for patients in the region.

Significant strides have been made in the field of oncology, says William Noyes, M.D. '89, radiation oncologist at the Cancer Center of North Dakota and clinical associate professor of internal medicine, Grand Forks. 

"There’s more of a team approach"  that encourages specialists to work together, he says.  At the Cancer Center of North Dakota "we designed the floor plan so that the different professionals have to work together.  That's what the future will look like - immunotherapy, radiation modalities, chemotherapy, various radioactive modalities, surgery," all working together for the benefit of the patient.

Opened in June 2005, the Cancer Center of North Dakota is the result of an idea that grew from an observation a couple of physician colleagues shared with Noyes, along the lines of "don't you think Grand Forks could use a center dedicated to comprehensive cancer care?"

The idea germinated, grew and, after much study on Noyes' part, became a reality that now enhances cancer patients' options in the region.

"We wanted to create a cancer center that would differentiate itself," he says, "where people could go and be the center of their care - not a number.  Where they would receive the same quality of care that's as good as anywhere else, in- or out-of-state.

"We researched our options and then invested in the latest generation of technology, including bringing the first On-Board Imager to North and South Dakota, to provide world-class cancer treatments here in Grand Forks, allowing people to stay close to family and friends."

The Cancer Center of North Dakota, a full-service, outpatient clinic which recorded more than 300 patient visits in the past year, is designed to accommodate up to four or five doctors, Noyes says.  He and his partner, medical oncologist, Richard Cambareri, M.D., have privileges at the local Altru Hospital.

Why oncology?

So what led this bright, personable and remarkably gifted North Dakota native to a career in medicine and eventually in radiology oncology?

"I thought about becoming a doctor off and on from high school forward," says Noyes who grew up in Cando, ND.  

In medical school at UND he says "it was difficult" to narrow his career choice; he was drawn to internal medicine and surgery.  He credits oncologist Judith Kaur, M.D. (B.S. Med. '77), then practicing and teaching in Bismarck, and Irwin Epstein, M.D., an internal medicine faculty member in Minot who has since passed away, as influential role models.

An "unbelievable experience" is how he describes medical school. The advantage that students have in a rural setting is the one-on-one relationship they can build with faculty members, he says.  "I was allowed to see, do, manage and treat things that others haven't."    

Intriguing disease process

After graduating medical school, he took training in internal medicine at Gundersen Medical Foundation in La Crosse, WI, and in general radiology oncology at the University of Wisconsin, followed by two fellowships.  As a fellow, he wrote grants and received funding to study the role of the drug, tamoxifen, relative to the effects of radiation and another to study anti-androgen therapy for prostate cancer.

Noyes was excited to see how the field was changing with the use of computers. Ultimately, he chose oncology because "the pathophysiology, the disease process of cancer - how it works, was very intriguing..."

Brighter prospects for patients

"So much more is known about cancer now, a lot of things are changing." 

Today, in his practice, "it's the rare patient who we can't offer anything for," he says, "however, it’s difficult when you see a younger patient" who's battling cancer.

"It would be great if we could hit home-runs all the time," he notes.  For example, the survival rate for bladder cancer, all stages, is 45 to 55 percent. 

"What we need to do is figure out what we're doing well and do it better so that number goes up to 85 to 95 percent."

"Even when patients are facing end-of-life, we can improve their outlook and improve quality of life for them and for their families," he says.  At such a time, "little things mean so much."

The hope lies in research, he says, adding that "we're getting ramped up to do clinical research.  There are several tumor groups that we're involved with."

Making a difference

As he considers the medical landscape of his home state, he recognizes the need for primary care doctors, especially in rural regions, as well as all types of physicians.

"There is a large need for primary care physicians," he says, but "when patients need a specialist, it becomes more obvious that there's a need across the board."

And further, he believes "people who were raised here are the best people to come back, stay and try to make a difference," he says.  He and his wife, Kari (B.S.N. '87), and daughters, Hannah, 11, and Rebekah, 8, reside in Grand Forks. 

"There's always something special about coming back to your homeland."  

-Pamela D. Knudson

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