The Hope Cancer Care Center and the members of the Cancer Care Team are available to provide unique options and sophisticated care to the patients we serve. Our multi-disciplinary approach to cancer treatment includes integrating the expertise of leading local physicians, nurses, technologists and therapists in a personalized atmosphere.
Cancer Care Program at Longmont United Hospital Report
Longmont United Hospital, Hope Cancer Care Center and the Cancer Care Team respect and encourage your participation in your own care.
Patients treated at the Hope Cancer Care Center have the latest radiation treatment available, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy or IMRT. Sites of disease for which IMRT may be more beneficial than conventional or conformal radiotherapy include certain head and neck cancers, prostate cancers and breast cancers. It is also being used in some centers for GI and lung tumors.
The advantage of IMRT over conventional or conformal treatment is the ability to deliver higher doses of radiation to sites of disease while sparing radiation from
healthy tissues that do not need to be included in the radiation portal. Each treatment takes a little longer to deliver (2 to 5 minutes of beam time per field vs. 30 seconds with conventional fields) but the overall number of fractions and treatment interval is similar. Usually more beams or segments are required to complete an IMRT fraction than a conventional fraction.
Hope Cancer Care Center and the Cancer Care Team work to meet the needs of all radiation therapy patients. We collaborate with your physician to develop and implement progressive treatment regimens while using the most advanced diagnostic tools, state of the art equipment and proven treatment techniques.
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As a member of the Colorado Cancer Research Program (CCRP), the Hope Cancer Care Center, Longmont United Hospital and the Cancer Care Team physicians have access to the latest research studies and protocols available for cancer treatment. Our patients have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials which are a critical link between research and improving the standard of medicine already available.
Participating in clinical trials means you have access to the latest advancements for treating, controlling and even preventing cancer.
Visit CCRP for more information.
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We invite you to explore the Hope Cancer Care Center and the cancer related diagnostic and treatment options available at Longmont United Hospital. Examples of these services include our full service Diagnostic Imaging centers offering state of the art imaging equipment such as Computerized Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Mobile Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Mammography and Ultrasound.
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Physicians at Longmont United Hospital use nationally recognized systems of staging to categorize the seriousness of the cancer and outline your treatment plan. Results from diagnostic tests including X-rays, ultrasound, biopsies, blood tests and other tests are combined to create a complete picture of where the cancer is located, how large the tumor is (if a tumor is present), whether the cancer has spread and what subtype of cancer it is.
Staging is very important because it gives important diagnostic information in addition to defining therapy. Once the stage of the cancer is known, an individualized treatment plan can be developed.
Each type of cancer is staged according to specific characteristics. In general, though, "in situ" cancers have been diagnosed at the earliest possible stage.
Stage I or "local" cancers have been diagnosed early and have not spread.
Stage II has spread into surrounding tissues but not beyond the location of origin.
Stage III or "regional" has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage IV or "metastatic" cancers have spread to other parts of the body and are the most difficult to cure.
Please feel free to review the American Joint Committee on Cancer website for more information.
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Cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or biological therapy. Your cancer specialist may use one method or a combination of treatments. The choice depends on the type and location of the cancer, whether the disease has spread, your age, overall health, and other factors.
Longmont United Hospital and the Hope Cancer Care Center offer support services to both patients receiving radiation therapy and their families. The Cancer Care Team understands the impact—emotionally, physically and spiritually—a diagnosis of cancer has on the patient and the family. Our nurses and radiation therapists offer one-on-one counseling with patients, providing opportunities for patient education and better coordination of care. Each physician and staff member of the Hope Cancer Care Center is dedicated to answering your questions, addressing your concerns and maximizing your involvement in your care.
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Many side effects from cancer or its treatment, such as pain, nausea, fatigue and depression, can be prevented, reduced or eliminated through medical interventions. Don't suffer needlessly. Patients should notify their doctors or care providers so symptoms can be relieved. Your physician and the Health Center of Integrated Therapies have many unique options available to ease many symptoms.
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Choosing a cancer center and selecting a cancer specialist are important decisions. The questions you ask your cancer specialist will guide you in learning more about options for cancer treatment.
When choosing a cancer center, several factors should be considered:
- How close is the Cancer Center to my home or work place?
- Does the Cancer Center have a Linear Accelerator to provide radiation treatments?
- Does the Linear Accelerator utilize Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) technology?
- Does the Cancer Center offer Diagnostic Imaging in the same facility?
- Does the Cancer Center administer Chemotherapy in the same facility?
- Does the Cancer Center have a Board Certified physician serving as a Medical Director?
- Is the staff friendly and dedicated in meeting my needs as a patient?
These questions should be answered before you make a commitment to a Cancer Center for receiving your treatment.
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The Hope Cancer Care Center is located on north side of the Longmont United Hospital campus on 14th Avenue. If you have any questions, please contact us at 303.651.5252.
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A percentage of certain cancers - including colorectal, breast, ovarian, and melanoma - have a hereditary component that can be passed from one generation to the next. If you have a family history of cancer on either your mother's or father's side and/or a personal history of cancer, you should look for the following risk factors:
- Two or more family members on the same side of your family have had the same cancer
- A family member was diagnosed with cancer at an unusually young age (e.g. breast cancer <45 years; colon cancer <50 years)
- There appears to be a clustering of related cancers (i.e. breast/ovarian, or colon/uterine) in the family
- One of your family members carries a known genetic mutation (e.g. BRCA1, BRCA2, MSH2, MLH1)
For information regarding genetic consultation contact Dr. Fisher at 720.494.3125.
A genetic consultation will include:
- A detailed review of your family and medical history
- A risk assessment of the chance that the cancer in the family is hereditary
- A discussion of the risks, benefits and limitations of genetic testing
- An individualized schedule of screening examinations and discussion about cancer prevention
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