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In America, half of all men and one-third of all
women will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Today, millions
of people are living with cancer or have been cured of the disease.
All forms of cancer involve out-of-control growth
and the spread of abnormal cells. These cells accumulate and form
tumors that may compress, invade and destroy normal tissue. If cells
break away from such a tumor, they can travel through the bloodstream
or the lymph system to other areas of the body. The sooner cancer
is found and the sooner treatment begins, the better a patient's
chances are of a cure.
Kansas City Clinical Oncology Program
St. Joseph Medical Center participates in the Kansas City Clinical Oncology Program, a cooperative effort involving 12 Kansas City area hospitals established by the National Cancer Institute to provide patients with access to national research studies while remaining in their own communities.
Screening and Detection
The American Cancer Society recommends the following guide for the early detection of cancer in people who do not have symptoms or a family history of cancer.
General Treatment
At Carondelet Health, a number of treatment choices
are available to people with cancer and the treatment to be prescribed
depends on the stage of the tumor, if it has spread and how far.
Treatment options may include surgery, radiation,
chemotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy or a combination
of any of these.
- Surgery offers the greatest chances for cure for many types
of cancer.
- Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or waves such as
x-rays or gamma rays to destroy or damage cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy is the use of medicines to treat cancer. These
drugs are administered into a vein or by mouth and enter the bloodstream
and reach all areas of the body, making this treatment useful
for cancer that has spread.
- Hormone therapy is treatment with hormones, drugs that interfere
with hormone production or hormone action or the surgical removal
of hormone-producing glands to kill or slow cancer cells growth.
- Immunotherapy is the use of treatments that support the body's
immune system response to a disease.
Our Approach to Patient Care
At St. Joseph Medical Center and St. Mary's Medical Center, we provide a full spectrum of services to meet
the physical and emotional needs of our patients and their families.
Physicians, nurses and other health care professionals work together
as a team with our patients to develop individual treatment plans.
Cancer Care Nurse Advocate Program
Are you newly diagnosed with cancer? Do you have questions about the diagnosis and treatment? Would you like more information about available resources? You can arrange to have a cancer care nurse advocate contact you. Just give us a call at 816-943-2281.
Helpful Internet Links
If you or someone you love has cancer and is experiencing side effects the "Coping with Physical and Emotional Changes" is a helpful place to go for information on coping with side effects and things you can do to minimize side effects.
More helpful links:
Getting a Second Opinion
If you have concerns about the recommendations for treatment, or would be more comfortable if you knew different physicians support a similar course of treatment, you may want to get a second opinion.
Here are some second opinion helpful resources.
The Consumer Health Learning Center
The Consumer Health Learning Center is an educational resource center providing current printed, videotaped or computer-based information on health, disease and wellness. The information is presented in an easy to understand format. If you do not have access to the internet or are not familiar with how to use it, check out the Consumer Health Learning Center at 816-943-2461.
For More Information
If you would like more information regarding the
oncology services available, please call:
St. Joseph Medical Center
816-943-2475
St. Mary's Medical Center
816-655-5401
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