Cancer Care: Areas of Expertise
Holy Cross Hospital Cancer Institute
Lung Care Center
Advances in the Treatment
The Holy Cross Hospital Lung Care Center offers patients the
newest advances in the treatment of lung cancer. Our Radiation Treatment
Center employs the most cutting-edge technologies and clinical expertise
in the treatment of lung cancer.
Radiation Therapy-Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy
(IMRT)
Radiation therapy is an option for selected patients at every stage
of lung cancer and may be combined with chemotherapy for multi-modality
treatment. Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is an advanced
form of radiation therapy available to lung cancer patients at Holy
Cross Hospital. This technology makes it possible to closely match
the radiation treatment area to the tumor and to finely shape the
area being treated. IMRT has proven to offer greater benefits to
patients by improving recovery time and reducing side effects and
complications associated with conventional radiation therapy treatments.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Holy Cross Hospital will offers stereotactic radiosurgery,
a treatment option where the radiation beam is shaped exactly to
the shape of the tumor. This new treatment option from Novalis® delivers
a higher dose of radiation directly to the tumor and minimizes
the dose to healthy tissue. The radiation beam is continuously
adjusted to the size and shape of the tumor, ensuring that the
affected area receives the full dose of radiation, while sparing
healthy tissue. Stereotactic radiosurgery does not involve any
incisions and is painless. No hospitalization is necessary, and
patients return to normal activity immediately after the treatment.
Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is available at
the Holy Cross Hospital Lung Care Center. It is a treatment that
uses a special photosensitizing drug and a type of light that kills
cancer cells. When the
photosensitizer is exposed to a specific wavelength of light, they
produce a form of oxygen that kills nearby cells. PDT is useful
in the treatment of esophageal and lung cancer and is currently under
study for other uses. PDT can be combined with other therapies
such as radiation and chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy
Holy Cross Hospital’s
medical oncologists offer clinical expertise and access to the
latest advances in the treatment of cancer with chemotherapy. With
access to clinical trials through cooperative groups, the National
Cancer Institute, and pharmaceutical companies, we offer the most
up-to-date treatment options featuring the newest drugs, and our
experts stay apprised of the most promising new therapies.