Treatment

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Cancer care specialists at Commonwealth Health provide a range of treatment options that are tailored to meet each patient's individual needs. Doctors plan treatment by consulting with surgeons, chemotherapy and radiation specialists to develop the most effective approach. In most cases, several approaches are combined to provide personalized treatment.

Part of Commonwealth Health's care program includes special support services to address the unique needs of cancer patients and their families. The multidisciplinary team includes primary care doctors, oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, nurses, pain management specialists, dietitians and other professionals who work together to provide individualized care.

Treatment options include:

• Chemotherapy
  Also known as medical oncology or hematology, chemotherapy uses chemicals to destroy or slow the growth of cancer cells. Surgeons often use chemotherapy in conjunction with surgery to destroy surrounding tissue after a tumor is removed.
• Hormone therapy
  Hormones can kill cancer cells, or slow or stop their growth. Doctors can prescribe medications that affect the activity or production of hormones, or may surgically remove a gland that produces hormones.
• Radiation therapy
  Radiation oncologists target radiation to destroy cancer cells and minimize damage to healthy, surrounding tissue. Doctors utilize a range of techniques to fit the needs of each patient, including:
  • Linear accelerator – A linear accelerator's primary goal is to deliver accurate radiation to the cancerous tissue, and patients also benefit because the treatments are a fraction of the time compared to earlier technology. The Cancer Center uses the linear accelerator to treat approximately 20 to 25 patients a day. Each treatment takes five minutes for each patient. Breast cancer patients can receive tattoo and mark-free therapy treatments.
  • Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) - Utilizes computer technology to create a 3-D image of the tumor so radiation beams can be focused precisely on the treatment area.
  • Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) – IMRT further refines 3D-CRT capability by allowing the radiologist to customize the dose of radiation to the size and shape of the tumor, and restrict exposure to healthy tissue. This method is used to treat tumors that are close to vital organs or structures, such as the spinal cord, brain or liver.
  • Brachytherapy – Small catheters (thin, flexible tubes) are used to administer high doses of radioactive sources directly into cancerous tissue. Brachytherapy can deliver a higher total dose of radiation over a shorter period of time than external-beam techniques. This method is often used to treat prostate, breast, cervical and lung cancer.
  • Radiosurgery – Also known as stereotactic radiosurgery, this non-invasive technique uses focused beams of radiation to treat cancerous tissues without a surgical opening. It is called "surgery" because it offers a similar result as actual surgery.

To learn more about cancer treatment options call 570-552-1300.

Surgery

The cancer care teams at Commonwealth Health carefully evaluate each patient's needs to determine whether surgery offers the best chance for success. When surgery presents the best option, doctors utilize minimally invasive techniques whenever possible - including robotic surgery, which may allow greater precision and may offer patients less scarring and a faster recovery.