4 Things to Look for When Choosing a Cancer Treatment Center

EXPERT PHYSICIANS & HIGHLY CERTIFIED INFUSION NURSES The Cancer Center is home to some of the most talented, expert oncologists in the region. Trained at some of most renowned cancer centers in the country, they provide leading-edge medicine and compassionate care. Also, all infusion center nurses are Chemotherapy Biotherapy Certified through the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), which means they have met strict requirements for knowledge and experience and are qualified to provide the most skilled oncology care. In addition to these specialized nurses, an oral chemotherapy nurse, with an Oncology Nurse Certification (ONC), is on staff as well. With over fifteen years of experience, this dedicated nurse helps patients secure specialty drugs by working with specialty pharmacies. In addition, the Cancer Center’s Certified Nurse Practitioners are highly skilled and valued by patients as well. With their graduate-level nursing preparation, they play a vital role in managing overall care. Other dedicated team members also include two registered nurse navigators and a registered dietician.ADVANCED MEDICINE – IMMUNOTHERAPY The Cancer Center offers an emerging method of treating cancer that uses an individual’s own immune system to recognize, control and potentially cure cancers, and it’s called immunotherapy. It’s a unique approach that enables the body’s own immune system to eliminate the disease. Immunotherapy can come in different forms – treatment vaccines, antibody therapies and drugs. A patient can receive it through an injection, a pill or capsule, a topical ointment or cream or catheter. The side effects of immunotherapy drugs often are more manageable than those of traditional therapies.LEADING RADIATION THERAPY TECHNOLOGY The radiation oncology team uses advanced technology to provide the highest quality of care to patients. This includes the Elekta infinity linear accelerator that can use intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) leading to faster, more accurate treatments. Mary Bird Perkins TGMC Cancer Center is the only facility in the region to offer a new technology that is a game changer for prostate cancer patients. SpaceOAR is a minimally invasive prostate cancer treatment that offers both effectiveness and maximum comfort during radiation treatments. In the past, to protect vital organs during radiation, a balloon was inserted in the patient’s rectum during each individual treatment. With SpaceOAR, gel is inserted between the rectum and prostate only once and functions similarly to the balloon by protecting organs more effectively. The one-time injection is active for the patient’s entire treatment period and then is absorbed and leaves the body in the patient’s urine months later. You can find more information on prostate cancer and SpaceOAR here.NATIONAL CLINICAL TRIALS When it comes to the future of cancer care, research is key. Clinical trials are research studies patients participate in to test new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose or treat diseases. Along with LSU Health New Orleans and other partners, Mary Bird Perkins has been awarded a $13.6 million multi-year grant by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to expand its successful clinical trials network with a special emphasis on underserved cancer patients. This will allow patients at Mary Bird Perkins TGMC to enroll in national research studies. Click here to learn more about which clinical trials are being offered at the Cancer Center. If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, call (985) 850-6300.THERE’S MUCH MORE… As always, the focus of Mary Bird Perkins TGMC Cancer Center is our patients and your loved ones. Our mission is to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer for every patient we serve. To learn about even more the leading-edge services offered, click here. If you would like to make an appointment, please call (985) 876-9045.