Our Services
The JPS Center for Cancer Care offers state-of-the art care to patients with cancer and blood disorders. Patients may use the center as a gateway to the exceptional care given at John Peter Smith Hospital, JPS Health Center for Women and many more services. Following are specific services that we make available to our patients.
Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy is a treatment that targets cancer cells to slow the growth of cancer cells, stop the spreading of cancer cells, and/or destroy the cancer cells. Chemotherapy is given in many forms. Treatment may be given intravenously (an IV), as an injection (shot), by a pill or liquid medication that is swallowed, or by a cream that is applied on the skin.
Immunologic Therapies:
Immunologic therapies are used to boost the body’s natural immune response and improve the immune system’s natural ability to fight such diseases as cancer, hepatitis, and AIDS. They may also be used to help the body recover from immunosuppression resulting from such treatments as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Targeted Therapies:
Targeted therapies are drugs or other substances that inhibit the growth and proliferation of cancer cells by interfering with specific molecules, or targets, known to play a key role in tumor growth and development.
Clinical Trials:
Clinical trials are research studies in which people volunteer to participate in tests that work to identify new drugs and procedures, new ways to detect and diagnose disease, and test other forms of treatment.
Radiation Therapy:
Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells by damaging their DNA beyond repair. Radiation can be delivered either externally by external beam radiation therapy or internally by brachytherapy, which places radioactive material in the body near the cancer cells. The objective of radiation therapy is to destroy as few normal cells as possible and focus the radiation on the cancer cells.
JPS Center for Cancer Care offers external beam radiation with IMRT on-site and brachytherapy through referral.
External Beam Radiation with IMRT:
IMRT stands for intensity-modulated radiation therapy. This technology allows the physician to target just the tumor and spare the surrounding tissues. IMRT can be used to treat areas next to critical organs and results in fewer side effects.
Computed Tomography (CT) Scanning:
CT scanning is a medical imaging procedure used to obtain cross-sectional images or “slices” of the body using x-rays. The images display detailed structures of the body such as organs, bones, and other tissues.
Laboratory Services:
A laboratory test is a medical procedure that identifies certain features or measures from samples of blood, urine, or other tissues to see if the results fall within a normal range. The results from laboratory tests can be used for prevention, diagnosis, and follow-ups. They play an important role in planning the course of treatment and evaluating the response to treatment.
Cancer Support Groups:
Cancer support groups provide emotional and social support to patients, patients’ families, and caregivers impacted by cancer and the effects of a cancer diagnosis.
The JPS Center for Cancer Care offers patients a support group calendar and information for local support groups.
Spiritual Support:
Spiritual support helps to alleviate spiritual distress by meeting the patient’s spiritual needs and assisting with spiritual issues during diagnosis and treatment.
At the JPS Center for Cancer Care, patients have access to our Chaplain, Tie.
Social and Financial Services:
Social and financial services include assistance for medications and nutritional supplements, transportation to and from appointments, rent and utility referral assistance, cancer information and counseling, referrals, providing answers to any Medicaid/Medicare questions, and providing American Cancer Society literature and services.
The JPS Center for Cancer Care has a Patient and Family Centered Support Team that assists patients and patients’ families with social and financial needs. This team consists of two Licensed Social Workers, a Patient Navigator employed in conjunction with the American Cancer Society, two workers dedicated to the Pharmacy Assistance Program, and an Eligibility and Financial Assistance coordinator.
Pharmacy Assistance Program:
Pharmacy assistance program provides pharmaceutical assistance to uninsured patients for high-dollar chemotherapy and oral drugs.
Spanish Interpreter:
A Spanish interpreter is trained in medical terminology and can interpret a doctor’s information for Spanish-speaking patients and families.
Language Services:
Language services offer a language line over the telephone to interpret other languages.