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In This Issue:
IMRT Explained
Which patients benefit most.
What you should know about this new radiation technique
available locally.
Local cancer patients with some of the more difficult-to-treat
malignancies are experiencing fewer side effects
from treatment because of intensity modulated radiation
therapy or IMRT, the most precise form of radiotherapy
currently available for clinical application. “We
are using IMRT in areas shown by peer review to
be beneficial to the patient,” said Lannis Hall-Daniels,
M.D., a radiation oncologist at Missouri Cancer
Care-Kisker office. “Those sites include head and
neck, pancreas, prostate and brain malignancies.”
MCC To Host Partial Breast Irradiation Study.
Missouri Cancer Care is participating in the
largest clinical trial of partial-breast irradiation
to date.
The randomized phase III study will determine
whether partial breast irradiation following lumpectomy
provides local tumor control equivalent to conventional
whole breast irradiation in the management of early-stage
breast cancer. Specifically, the study will compare
overall survival, recurrence-free survival and distant
disease-free survival of both groups.
Its implications are significant for women with
stage 0, I and II breast cancer.
“This is a national, NIH-sponsored intergroup trial
that evaluates the ideal method to deliver radiation
after breast-conservation surgery,” said Lannis
Hall-Daniels, M.D., radiation oncologist with Missouri
Cancer Care and principal investigator of the local
study.
MCC Pharmacy Service Now Available Aiming to
improve patient compliance, outcomes and convenience
Oncology-trained pharmacist to provide follow-up.
Missouri Cancer Care (MCC) has initiated a specialty
pharmacy providing oncology and hematology medications,
and related supplies. The pharmacy processes prescriptions
and claims, and arranges delivery of these products
to patients’ homes, or to the office of their oncologist
for pick up there. The goals of the pharmacy are
to boost patient compliance with prescribed medications,
and to provide a patient convenience.
Medications are offered at reduced prices, when
possible, because the Missouri Cancer Care pharmacy
orders directly from oncology drug makers. However,
financial assistance for specific pharmaceutical
products is also available to patients who are eligible
for additional aid. |
