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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.

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