CANCER CARE CENTER
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Our expert team of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and surgical oncologists use the most advanced diagnostic tools to create an individualized cancer treatment plan for each patient. At O’Connor Hospital, you can take comfort in our high success rate: Our outcomes are higher than national averages for many different types of cancers, including breast and colon cancers.
O’Connor's Specialized Treatments
- Solid malignancies such as breast cancer, lung cancer, gastrointestinal malignancies and lymphoma
- Hematologic (blood) disorders such as anemia, bleeding disorders and blood clots
CANCER DIAGNOSIS
Early cancer detection is the key to a successful outcome. Our highly skilled, board-certified team of cancer specialists uses the most advanced diagnostic tools to detect cancer at its earliest stage and create a customized and targeted treatment plan.
Advanced Diagnostic Tools Offered
- Octreotide scan: We use this nuclear medicine scan (a scan that uses a small amount of radioactive materials) to detect a rare type of tumor called carcinoid, which is a slow-growing type of tumor. Learn more about nuclear medicine.
- Endoscopic ultrasound: This ultrasound detects cancers in the esophagus, pancreas and rectum. It also helps determine the staging of the cancer (how big the tumor is and if it has spread).
- CT PET scan: A combined PET (positron emission tomography) and CT (computed tomography) scan can provide a more detailed picture of your body than either exam on its own.
- Next-generation sequencing (NGS): We have access to this advanced tool that provides important information about cancer genes inside a tumor.
Other Diagnostic Tools
- Clinical laboratory: Lab tests such as blood tests and urine analysis can help detect and diagnose certain cancers.
- Digital mammography: A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Digital mammography stores this image on a computer. Compared to conventional film mammography, digital mammography provides more detailed images to detect breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue.
- Ultrasound: This is a noninvasive tool that uses sound waves to examine changes in breast tissue. Your doctor may also use an ultrasound to guide a biopsy procedure.
- MRI: This device uses radiofrequency waves to help detect tumors.
- Interventional radiology: Our highly trained interventional radiologists use imaging technology to help guide them during tissue biopsies.
- Angiography: We use this imaging device to help detect cancer in blood cells.
CANCER TREATMENT
Cancer treatments have advanced rapidly over the past few decades. Our oncology team keeps up-to-date on the latest research and most effective treatments. We work in a coordinated effort to create targeted, safe and personalized treatment plans.
O’Connor Cancer Treatment Facilities
- Outpatient infusion center
- Inpatient oncology unit
- Radiation therapy department
- Interventional radiology department
Advanced Treatments
- Chemotherapy: Our medical oncology team uses a combination of conventional chemotherapy as well as innovative treatments. These advanced treatments are effective at killing cancer cells with fewer unpleasant side effects. Innovative therapies include:
- Immunotherapy: O’Connor’s oncologists are early adopters and skilled practitioners of using this advanced therapy. This treatment stimulates different parts of the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells.
- Gene therapy: We use the newest generation gene therapy drugs, which modify the abnormal gene that caused the cancer. This therapy blocks the gene and can result in long remission and sometimes a cure.
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy: We give you these chemotherapy drugs before surgery to shrink the tumor. The surgical team then has a better chance of removing the entire tumor during the procedure.
- Radiation: Our staff of board-certified radiation oncologists works with specially trained physicists, nurses, therapists and technologists to provide safe and effective radiation treatment. Radiation treatments include:
- Intense modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): We use this advanced form of high-dose, high-precision radiation therapy together with an imaging device such as an MRI or CT. The imaging technology helps the therapist determine the size, shape and location of the tumor, providing a more accurate, effective treatment.
- 3-D conformal: We use imaging devices to determine the 3-D shape of the tumor. This information allows us to deliver the maximum amount of radiation to the tumor and minimize radiation to the surrounding tissue.
- Surgery: Our surgical oncologists are among the most skilled and experienced in the region. We perform a variety of surgical procedures, which include:
- Biopsies to remove a small sample of body tissue to determine the presence, type and stage of cancer
- Curative surgery, when the cancer is most likely only in one part of the body and has not spread
- Debulking surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible without damage to nearby organs or tissue
- Supportive and palliative surgery to improve symptoms caused by cancer
- Reconstructive surgery, such as breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, to improve appearance or body function after other types of cancer surgery
CLINICAL TRIALS FOR CANCER
In clinical trials, patients have the option of using advanced therapies that might not otherwise be available to them. Currently, we are enrolling patients in clinical trials for solid tumors, bladder cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.