|
Tri-City Medical Center provides both state-of-the-art diagnostic tools (including advanced CT and MRI imaging to provide precise information about a tumor's size and location) and conventional treatment tools.
Diagnosis Tools
- Radiology: advanced interventional radiologic procedures
- PET: Positron Emission Tomography scanning can detect tumors unseen by other imaging techniques
- MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging on-site, with the highest technical quality and sensitivity in San Diego County, including Open MRI
- Mammography: two new mammography units
- Nuclear Medicine: two dual-head SPECT gamma cameras
- ProstaScint: a new procedure to assess the spread of prostate cancer
- Biopsy: stereotactic breast biopsy table
- Sentinel Node Biopsy: an innovative procedure involving only one to three lymph node samples in the detection of breast cancer
Treatment Methods
At Tri-City Medical Center, a multi-disciplinary approach is taken to treat cancer. The surgeon, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist play vital roles in developing an individualized course of treatment, uniquely suited to each cancer patient.
Traditional cancer treatment methods at Tri-City Medical Center include:
- Surgery: removing the cancerous cells
- Radiation: using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells
- Hormone therapy: using hormones to stop cancer cells from growing
- Chemotherapy: using drugs to kill cancer cells.
Treatment Teams
At Tri-City Medical Center, we take a team approach to diagnosing and treating cancer. Medical specialists that work together for a specific patient may include several of the following:
- Gynecological oncologist: specializes in cancers of women's reproductive organs
- Medical oncologist: specializes in chemotherapy and drugs to manage disease and pain
- Radiation oncologist: expert in the treatment of cancer using radiation therapy
- Surgical oncologist: specializes in the surgical resection of cancers
- Rehabilitation therapist (physical and occupational therapists) and speech pathologists
- Cancer support team: a physician, nursing staff member, pastor, tumor registrar, oncology social worker, home-care coordinator, clinical dietitian, health educator, registered pharmacist and a palliative care nurse.
|
