To beat cancer, you have to find it - early
Your best chance of beating cancer comes with early detection and immediate treatment. St. Anthony is at the leading edge of diagnostic technology. They are one of only a few hospitals in the country that can integrate images and data from several diagnostic tests in order to identify cell function, structure and location. For their patients, this means they can often find and identify lesions – benign or malignant – without surgery. It also means they can precisely program radiation therapy for pinpoint accuracy, enabling physicians to deliver intensive therapy directly to cancer cells while avoiding healthy cells.

Equipped with the newest generation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), they can view images with stunning detail and resolution. When combined with the spiral CT, potential tumors and other internal structures are outlined in clear, three-dimensional detail. Add PET imaging which detects cancer at the cellular level, and they have the ability to reveal cancer long before symptoms appear. If surgery is the preferred treatment, these images guide the surgeon's hands more accurately than ever before possible.

Navigating your way through a cancer diagnosis.
Navigating a maze of medical tests and appointments while coping with insurance concerns can be slow, frustrating and frightening for cancer patients. In some places, it can take months to wade through all the necessary diagnostic tests and begin a course of treatment. It shouldn't be this way. And here, it isn't.

Their Nurse Navigator program has changed everything. Working with breast and lung cancer patients, the Nurse Navigator expedites all aspects of care. A certified oncology nurse, she begins by making sure patients are scheduled for the most appropriate diagnostic testing within days, not weeks. Once a diagnosis is confirmed and the cancer is staged, a multidisciplinary team convenes to develop a coordinated care plan. Throughout treatment, the Nurse Navigator is there to smooth the way, scheduling appointments, making sure the necessary paperwork is completed and coordinating care among the various specialists. For patients, coordinated care translates into better outcomes – a better shot at beating cancer.

Beating cancer more often
New technology, advances in the understanding of tumor structure and function, and a new generation of cancer fighting drugs are making a wide range of new therapies available for cancer patients. Medical innovations including minimally invasive tumor excision, high dose rate brachytherapy , chemotherapy and hormonal therapy are among the treatment options considered for each patient. Integrated medicine which combines complementary therapies with traditional medicine is also an option their physicians will consider.

If radiation therapy is needed, St. Anthony utilizes the data collected during diagnosis to pinpoint tumor location, size and structure for treatment with the Varian Linear Accelerator. This technology controls a beam of radiation which bends and twists through the body to target oddly shaped cancerous tissues or ones deep within the body while avoiding most healthy tissue. This reduces the side effects of radiation to the patient and provides the most accurate radiation therapy possible.

Vital Statistics & Resources
The Love Cancer Institute is located on the east side of the St. Anthony campus with easy access via the hospital's Dewey Street entrance. The Institute's inpatient facilities are staffed by certified oncology nurses and include a 20-bed inpatient unit with a family lounge and meeting room. Outpatient facilities include diagnostic radiology, outpatient chemotherapy and radiation oncology, as well as a resource center with educational materials for patients and their families.

Medical Team
Multidisciplinary medical staff includes board certified specialists in surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, internal medicine, rehabilitation, radiology, urology and family medicine.

Clinical Trials
The Cancer Institute gives patients access to the newest and most promising research and also participates in ongoing national cancer research, giving many patients the opportunity to participate in clinical trials. St. Anthony patients are accepted into these trials based on medical criteria.

Resources & Support Groups
The Selma Naifeh Patient Education and Resource Center includes the extensive Adelaide Flynn Wilson Library featuring a computerized cancer information system. Their patient education program offers access to National Cancer Institute publications and research, as well as information from other cancer organizations. A wide range of support groups help patients and their families cope with the challenges at hand.

Know Now: SCORE CancerCheck Self-Referred Screening Tests
St. Anthony is one of a few hospitals nationwide offering a full complement of self-referred cancer screenings, many requiring no physician referral. These include a spiral CT screening for lung cancer, MX8000 body scan to detect cancer in the major organs, colonoscopy and mammography screenings, as well as periodic prostate and skin cancer screenings. Call 405.231.8866 to learn more or schedule an appointment.

For more information on Breast Cancer, visit:

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