No one is immune to the cancer experience. When cancer occurs, it can be a devastating blow to a person and to their extended family. Nearly one in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. For cancer patients, their entire world is turned upside down and becomes unfamiliar, sometimes for months and years, during treatment and recovery.

Aligned seamlessly with St. Vincent’s spiritually-centered mission and tradition of compassionate care, the Medical Center’s plans to enhance oncology services will greatly improve a patient’s cancer care. The considerable changes include:

• Consolidation of existing cancer-related services to one site offering high quality, comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, coordinated care.
• Enhancement of the most contemporary equipment and technology – doubling capacity in Radiation Oncology, a new Linear Accelerator with IMRT and IGRT technology will be added to the existing state-of-the-art unit and capacity for a third is planned. There will also be a PET/CT Dual Unit Scanner and one Simulator on Level I.
• Enhancement of Holistic Caring – Located on the third level in the Cancer Center will be the Infusion Center where patients will be able to receive treatment in a healing, compassionate environment. The Center will have its own entrance and will offer a boutique, spa services, nutrition counseling, social work, financial counseling, and a meditation area. Two courtyards/gardens will contribute to this environment and also will allow patients to move to the beauty and tranquility of nature while receiving their treatments.

The new Cancer Center will offer a multidisciplinary approach and be a model of convenience and efficiency. It will offer immediately accessible coordinated care with the latest treatments and diverse services such as screening, education, diagnosis, and psychosocial support for a population of patients who deserve the highest level of care. The goal is to reduce the time from diagnosis to completion of treatment plan design from several weeks at a variety of sites to four hours in one location.