Oncology

Our gynecologic oncology and prostate cancer programs use highly advanced, minimally invasive robot-assisted surgery for appropriate cases.

Robotic surgery is designed to provide surgeons with enhanced capabilities, including high-definition 3D vision, a magnified view and better control. This advanced technology allows the surgeons to perform complex procedures through just a few tiny openings, resulting in:

• Faster recovery
• Less pain
• Less scarring
• Quicker return to normal activities

The Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute provides advanced diagnosis and treatment for blood cancer, including aplastic anemia, autoimmune diseases, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), leukemia, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), myeloma, including multiple myeloma. Our team comprises experts who collaborate at weekly meetings to create treatment plans for each patient.

Our program uses comprehensive, individualized treatment plans that benefit from our many offerings, which include:

• Access to blood marrow or stem cell transplants
• Access to clinical trials
• Advanced laboratory technology for measuring blood counts
• Immunotherapy
• Infusion center services with chemotherapy-certified nurses
• Nutritional support
• Psychosocial oncology
• Radiation therapy

We are a leader in the field of neurology and the treatment of brain and spinal cord tumors. One of the ways we do this is through offering stereotactic radiosurgery, sometimes referred to as "knifeless" surgery.

If you have recently been diagnosed with a tumor, call our brain tumor support hotline for assistance with discussing and identifying treatment options, second opinion services and emotional support resources. We are available for questions Monday through Friday between 3:00pm and 4:00pm.

To reach the brain tumor support hotline, please call (303) 788-5500.

Stereotactic radiosurgery

We offer specialized stereotactic radiosurgery which provides treatment options for formerly inoperable tumors. Stereotactic radiosurgery delivers doses of pinpointed radiation to treat brain tumors and other neurological diseases with minimal damage to normal brain tissue.

Benefits of stereotactic radiosurgery include:

• It is covered by Medicare and most insurance providers.
• Patients are usually discharged within 12 hours, reducing the cost of treatment compared to traditional brain surgery
• Patients experience virtually no pain, discomfort or side effects
• Patients usually return to preoperative lifestyle the day following the procedure
• Safe, accurate, reliable and noninvasive outpatient procedure
• There is a lower incidence of postoperative complications, infections and internal hemorrhage.

We have partnered with the Invision Sally Jobe Breast Network to provide you with individualized, innovative breast and breast-related services. We guide you and your family members through diagnosis, treatment, recovery and survivorship.

Invision Sally Jobe Breast Network is a leader in the diagnosis of breast disease. They offer a full range of breast screening and diagnostic services, including mammography, ultrasound, stereotactic and ultrasound-guided biopsy and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Breast MRI is an advanced technique that further enhances MRI sensitivity, particularly in women who have a compromised mammogram.

Our facility is home to the Center for Diseases of the Liver & Pancreas — one of the region’s most advanced centers for gastroenterological cancer care. This includes the treatment of gallbladder, liver and pancreas cancers. The Joint Commission recently awarded us a Gold Seal for our pancreatic cancer care.

We use leading-edge imaging technology and advanced surgical procedures to treat complex tumors and provide the best possible outcome for our patients. If you have gastrointestinal cancer, many new technologies and treatments can help you live a longer and healthier life.

These include:

• Drug therapies
• Gastroenterological treatments
• Interventional radiology
• Radioembolization and chemoembolization
• Radiofrequency ablation

Gynecologic oncology services are used to identify and treat cancers of the female reproductive organs. It includes cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, vaginal cancer and vulvar cancer.

Care plans for gynecologic oncology treatment may include chemotherapy, surgery and/or radiation therapy, including high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy.

We have experience in providing brachytherapy for endometrial, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers. Talk to your provider about incorporating brachytherapy into your treatment plan or call us for a second opinion at (866) 779-3347.

Our lung cancer program, which earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for lung cancer care, brings together top providers who meet weekly to discuss your treatment plan and progress.

If you are a patient with lung abnormalities found on medical imaging, our lung nodule program is here to help. As a virtual program, the Lung Nodule Clinic connects patients with nurse navigators who collaborate with your entire healthcare team to help you navigate through diagnosis, appointments, hospital and community resources, treatment decisions and survivorship.

We were the first hospital region to offer state-of-the-art robotic-assisted lung biopsy for minimally-invasive diagnosis. This highly precise procedure can reach areas of the lung that can be difficult to reach with surgical methods and helps prevent the need for repeat biopsies

Based on your scan, your nurse navigator will make recommendations for follow-up care — including a specialist referral, if needed — and coordinate the proper care throughout your care journey.

For more information about lung cancer screening, contact our lung nodule coordinator at (303) 788-4759.

Lymphedema is a condition resulting from impaired flow of the lymphatic system causing swelling or a collection of fluid in the arms or legs. Often a side effect of cancer treatment where lymph nodes are removed, lymphedema can also be brought on by certain cancer-fighting treatments such as tamoxifen (a hormone therapy drug) and radiation therapy.

To help you as a lymphedema patient, our Center for Lymphatic Restoration offers both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options and combines innovative techniques with traditional treatments for effective results.

How lymphedema treatment works

Although there is no cure for lymphedema, it can be treated through early diagnosis, care by a specialized healthcare team and attention to your affected limb.

Nonsurgical treatment options include:

• Compression garments
• Diet
• Exercise
• Manual drainage
• Massage
• Skin care

Surgical treatment options include:

• Lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA)
• Debulking procedures such as suction-assisted protein lipectomy (SAPL)
• Vascularized lymph node Transfer (VLNT)

For more information about our Center for Lymphatic Restoration contact our patient navigator at (303) 788-6466.

Our Complex Melanoma and Skin Cancer Treatment Center offers interdisciplinary care for skin cancer. We also encourage preventive screenings as early detection and proper treatment of skin cancer are very important to increase the ability of curing the cancer. Our primary care physicians and dermatology specialists in the region can help guide you through skin cancer screening.

We are one of the few facilities in the country with a dedicated program for skull base tumors. Through our comprehensive skull base program, our specialized physicians and leading-edge diagnostic and treatment options offer you advanced skull base tumor care.

Our clinical team treats skull base tumors with a variety of surgical procedures, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Our surgical options for skull base tumors include:

• Interventional neuroradiology treatment
• Minimally invasive surgical techniques
• Open incision surgical techniques

Our cancer center offers expert radiation therapy from a dedicated team of specialists. We are an accredited American College of Radiology (ACR) radiation oncology practice led by a board-certified radiation oncologist and nursing staff certified by Oncology Certification for Nurses (ONS).

A less invasive treatment option that uses radiation to treat cancer cells, radiation oncology is often used alongside surgery and chemotherapy. Using advanced imaging tools, radiation treatment is targeted to affected cells with minimal damage to healthy tissue.

Our options for radiation oncology include:

• Irreversible electroporation
• Linear accelerator
• Stereotactic radiosurgery

HDR brachytherapy

Our radiation oncology team is highly experienced in providing HDR brachytherapy. Designed to eradicate cancer while preserving your quality of life, this treatment uses a targeted, precise delivery system to place a high dose of radiation directly against (intracavity) or in (interstitial) the tumor. Patients with gynecologic cancers often have a high success rate with this type of treatment, as it can be customized to your specific needs at the time of treatment.

Performed as an outpatient procedure, you receive the radiation dose through an applicator, which is then removed. You leave the hospital with no radiation left in your body and may resume normal activities on the same day as treatment.

Irreversible electroporation for cancer treatment

We are one of the first hospitals in the region to offer irreversible electroporation to destroy cancerous tumors without high heat or extreme cold, making it safe for sensitive areas.

Irreversible electroporation has been successful in the treatment of cancers of the pancreas, liver, colon and bile ducts. This minimally invasive treatment option is available at our Center for Diseases of the Liver & Pancreas.

How irreversible electroporation works

Using imaging techniques, we guide electrodes around the tumor. The electrodes deliver a series of high-voltage, low-energy direct currents to create nano-size defects in the cell membrane, leading to cell death.

This specialized treatment:

• Allows you to often experience less pain and scarring and faster recovery times than other traditional ablation options
• Effectively treats tumors without damaging surrounding critical structures or vessels
• Is cleared by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the surgical ablation of soft tissue
• Provides an option if you have a tumor in difficult-to-treat areas and if you are not a good candidate for surgery

To find out more about irreversible electroporation call, (303) 788-3478.