Components of Care
Caring for people with cancer requires a comprehensive approach. At St. Vincent, patients and families can count on the medical, emotional and spiritual support of an experienced team of professionals.
Surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, nurses, rehabilitation therapists, pharmacists, social workers, and dietitians work together to develop each patient's comprehensive, individualized treatment plan, which may include the following therapies:
Chemotherapy
In chemotherapy, patients receive intravenous treatments of chemicals that interfere with the growth of cancer cells. We offer state of the art treatments, including access to new chemotherapy drugs as well as the newer molecular treatments. Chemotherapy is frequently used in conjunction with other forms of treatment.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy begins with the CT "Simulator," which creates a three-dimensional model of the patient. This mapping system targets the exact location of the cancer being treated. Advanced radiation high-energy treatment machines are used for radiation therapy. The LINAX linear accelerator delivers focused radiation to the cancer.
Stem Cell Support
The cells used in stem cell support — a procedure also know as peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplant — come from a person's own blood stream. The stem cells are removed from the body before a high-dose of chemotherapy is given, and then "transplanted" (reinfused) back into the bloodstream following completion of high-dose chemotherapy. This procedure hastens recovery after high-dose chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a treatment that stimulates your own natural defenses — your immune system — to fight disease, including cancer. Researchers have designed different types of immunotherapies to help the immune system recognize cancer cells and to strengthen the response so that it will destroy the cancer. Most immunotherapies are designed to stimulate a person's own immune system. In some cases treatment includes therapy with artificial antibodies to augment the patient's immune system.
Molecular Targeted Therapy
This treatment includes drugs designed at the molecular level of the cell to specifically attack and selectively kill the cancer cells of a specific type of cancer. These drugs are tailor-made to recognize specific molecules unique to specific cancers. This new treatment may be an alternative to chemotherapy.
Cancer Care and Surgery
The surgical team of St. Vincent Healthcare and the dedicated surgeons, who operate here, perform a number of advanced surgical procedures not readily available outside a large referral center.
An essential component of surgical oncology services is the coordination of multidisciplinary care between surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation therapists, and ancillary services to optimize patient outcome. One example of this approach is breast cancer where the combination of lumpectomy and radiation with adjuvant chemotherapy allows breast preservation without compromising the chance of cure. Another example is rectal cancer where accurate staging followed by preoperative radiation and chemotherapy allows sphincter preservation without permanent colostomy in the majority of patients.
Pain and Symptom Management
Cancer Care Services offers state-of-the art pain and symptom management. Patient comfort is a major goal on the cancer care unit. Patients are taught about using a pain assessment scale to rate their pain, and they are encouraged to participate in the pain management plan. Pain relief measures including oral analgesics, intravenous drips and patient-controlled analgesia, intraspinal analgesia, and nerve blocks are used. An oncology clinical nurse specialist and pain consultant is available to assist patients and families with the overall pain management plan.
Cancer Care Services also employs strategies to alleviate other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and others. The interdisciplinary team works together to develop an individualized plan for each patient. Enhanced comfort and quality of life is an ultimate goal.
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