Cancer survivor turned caregiver: Ashley Willis brings expertise to IU Health Tipton

By Emma Avila, epackard1@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health’s Indianapolis Suburban Region

Ashley Willis, a registered nurse at IU Health Tipton, brings a unique and empathetic perspective to her work in the Cancer and Infusion Services office, having been a cancer patient herself.

Ashley Willis makes sure to take special care of the patients who come to the Cancer and Infusion Services office at IU Health Tipton. That’s because she has been in her patients’ shoes.

Willis is a full-time registered nurse in the office. She’s worked at the hospital for almost two and a half years.

She shares she always knew she wanted to work with this specific group of patients.

“I’ve always wanted to take care of cancer patients,” she says. “I’ve always liked the flow of an infusion center.”

Willis was diagnosed with cervical cancer when she was 15. She believes her experience gives her a special connection with her patients.

“I think I have a lot more empathy because I understand what they are going through,” she says.

The Cancer and Infusion Services office offers cancer risk assessments and early detection programs, comprehensive treatment plans, the expertise of board certified hematololgists and oncologists and more.

Cancer care is not the only service provided in the growing office. The team can administer infusions and injections for many other disorders as well. Some of the most common include iron deficiency anemia, osteoporosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, among others.

Having cancer care and infusion services at IU Health Tipton allows patients to remain close to their loved ones while undergoing state-of-the-art treatment.

“It’s mostly people who are local, but we do have people who travel from other places in Indiana and don’t want to travel all the way to Indianapolis,” says. Willis.

For her, the best part of her job is the people she gets to know.

“I love creating relationships with my patients.”

To learn more about IU Health’s cancer services, visit iuhealth.org/cancer.