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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Cancer Prevention Awareness: Complete Cancer Care Under One Roof

The MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute (TCI) at Long Beach Medical Center offers comprehensive care, advanced technology, nationally recognized physicians and innovative treatment to cancer patients in a warm and caring environment. TCI provides custom and targeted integrated medicine and healing for each patient. It empowers patients to achieve the best quality of life by promoting wellness in mind, body and spirit. TCI’s accolades include:

  • Accredited by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons
  • Named a “Breast Imaging Center of Excellence” by the American College of Radiology
  • Magnet Recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center 

CUSTOMIZED CARE TAILORED JUST FOR YOU

Personalized care developed for the unique needs of each patient is a clinical reality at the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center. Every patient has access to targeted, customized therapy treatments specially designed for their unique needs. In addition, patients have access to many research protocols and a wide range of programs to prevent or detect cancer in its earliest stages. But it doesn’t stop at the clinical care. Psychosocial support is woven throughout the plan of care to ensure total wellness.

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TREATMENT PLANNING – SO YOU GET THE BEST OUTCOMES

TCI specializes in the divisions of gynecology, breast, thoracic, gastrointestinal and urinary cancers. Through multi-disciplinary treatment planning conferences, TCI specialists review new or difficult cases and develop treatment plans suited to the specific needs of each patient. These tumor boards include an experienced team of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and surgeons who decide together what the best course of treatment is for each individual. This results in the personalized care plan for each patient, leading to better outcomes.

THE FUTURE OF CANCER CARE IS HERE

TCI blends the most advanced technologies and breakthrough therapies under one roof led by experienced, fellowship trained high-volume specialists. TCI’s capabilities include:

Minimally Invasive Surgery Options – TCI specialists use minimally invasive techniques, including robotic-assisted surgery for a variety of cancers. TCI has the latest da Vinci Xi Surgical System providing breakthrough minimally invasive surgical capabilities that minimizes risk and has fewer complications, resulting in shorter hospital stays and faster recoveries.

Precision Medicine is What TCI is About – TCI offers disease treatment and prevention that considers individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle for each person. TCI offers:

  • Immunotherapy
  • Biologics
  • Hormone Therapy
  • Chemotherapy, including cool cap chemo
  • Ambulatory Infusion Center, complete with 36 infusion bays, skylight views and a rooftop garden

Most Advanced Radiation Oncology & Therapy – The Thomas & Dorothy Leavey Radiation Oncology Center consistently achieves the best outcomes using top-of-the-line radiation therapy equipment, helping radiation oncologists to specifically target tumors. Computerized treatment planning systems create 3D tumor images that help in creating treatment plans that deliver the highest dose of radiation to the tumor site while preserving the healthy tissue around it.

AlignRT uses 3D stereo cameras to pinpoint your cancer’s exact location with sub-millimeter accuracy. It can sense the tiniest degree of movement, and immediately stops the radiation, should you move out of place. The treatment is ideal for left breast cancer patients, who want to ensure the accuracy is there to protect their heart.

High Dose Rate Brachytherapy is delivered using computer-controlled movements of tiny radioactive seeds, which is made to dwell in an applicator placed directly inside the tumor. The applicator positions and timing of source placement are precisely controlled, allowing the physician to shape the radiation dose to the target.

Hyperthermia is a specialized therapy that involves heating selected tumors to 106 – 108 Fahrenheit for up to one hour. Hyperthermia enhances the effects of radiation and helps in eliminating tumors.

TomoTherapy HD uses a CT scanner for image guidance to ensure the therapy is set up based on the patient’s internal anatomy. Tomotherapy’s ability to regulate the intensity of the radiation beam to conform around the target also sharply decreases dose beyond the tumor.

Intra-operative radiation therapy (IORT) is used for early stage breast cancer treatment, where a low energy therapeutic X-ray system delivers a concentrated dose of radiation therapy in the operating room to a tumor bed right after a lumpectomy. This eliminates the need for radiation therapy follow up after surgery. Treatment is all complete in one surgery.

Leading Diagnostic & Therapeutic Technology – TCI specialists have access to the latest technologies on the market to ensure that cancer is caught early and in the most treatable stages. This includes:

  • 320 slice CT scanner
  • Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy
  • Endobronchial ultrasound
  • Endoscopic ultrasound

Interventional Oncology Program – The Interventional Oncology Program uses the most advanced, image-guided techniques, providing a wide-array of minimally invasive non-surgical procedures to treat many types of benign and malignant tumors. These approaches offer non-invasive treatments for cancer, where tiny catheters deliver precisely targeted treatment anywhere inside the body – without the need for an open surgery or damaging healthy tissue.

Research-Driven, Patient Focused – TCI participates in national cooperative groups and novel pharmaceutical trials, giving patients access to many research protocols. Drugs and biologics are being developed and introduced as the new standard or care at an unprecedented rate. A cancer research program helps physicians stay at the forefront of new therapeutic discovery, giving their patients access to these drugs.

MEMORIALCARE BREAST CENTER AT TODD CANCER INSTITUTE

From a routine screening to women battling breast cancer, TCI offers leading breast-imaging technology to ensure the highest quality of the image and early detection of breast cancer.

One-stop shop where an entire work up, including a biopsy, can be done at one appointment.

All female fellowship-trained breast radiologists interpret every exam.

Full-service breast imagining capabilities offering 3D digital mammography, high-resolution breast ultrasound, breast MRI, Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), breast biopsies, ductography, tumor localizations and bone densitometry.

PSYCHOSOCIAL ONCOLOGY – SUPPORTIVE CARE FOR MIND, BODY & SPIRIT

TCI’s psychosocial support program empowers patients and families affected by cancer to achieve the best quality of life by promoting wellness in mind, body and spirit.

Resources Include:

  • Mind-Body Oncology Coach
  • Cancer Answers Hotline
  • Behavioral Interventions and Survivorship Programs
  • Women Guiding Women: Peer Mentor Support and Education Program
  • Support Groups

PATIENT EDUCATION & NAVIGATION PROGRAM

TCI has advanced practice nurses who serve as “navigators” to help patients through their cancer journey. Navigators can explain medical terms and processes, direct patients through the maze of diagnosis and treatment and lead the patient’s transition from treatment into long-term wellness.

CANCER RISK & PREVENTION PROGRAM

The Cancer Risk & Prevention team analyzes family cancer patterns and provides an accurate assessment of a person’s genetic risk of developing hereditary cancer. After a genetic test is done, the team works with the patient to develop a prevention plan to reduce risk.

CANCER REHAB & LYMPHEDEMA PROGRAM

Experts at TCI partner with our MemorialCare Rehabilitation Institute’s licensed physical therapists, certified in Complete Decongestion Therapy (CDT) to teach patients how to effectively manage their lymphedema – build up of protein and fluid in the limb. TCI also uses “pre-hab” to build a patient’s strength before treatment begins.

For TCI, it’s about being a comprehensive cancer center, so no matter the diagnosis you get the best care, at the right time, from leading experts, to produce the best outcomes for you and your family.

Learn more at memorialcare.org/TCI or call (562) 933-0900.

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