Cancer is a disease that affects the entire family. At St. Mary Mercy Hospital, we are aware of the impact a diagnosis of cancer has on everyone involved, and our program is focused on treating the whole person — the body, mind and spirit. We care about you and your family from the minute you arrive, through treatment and follow-up support. Your full recovery is our goal.

One of the hallmarks of cancer care at St. Mary Mercy Hospital is the personal and individual attention our cancer patients receive. Each treatment plan is individualized with your health and recovery in mind. Our Cancer Program offers a continuum of cancer care services, ranging from prevention and screening to treatment of local or advanced malignancies using a multidisciplinary team approach. Our cancer patients are in good hands with our team of oncologists, nurses and other healthcare professionals, all dedicated to providing outstanding services in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care. Cancer survivor programs that provide post-recovery support and inpatient care and services are also available.

Our Lady of Hope Cancer Center:
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Program Accreditation: Commission on Cancer

The St. Mary Mercy Hospital Cancer Program is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. This certification demonstrates the dedication and commitment of our cancer providers at St. Mary Mercy Hospital, as well as the quality of cancer care available. In addition, St. Mary Mercy patients have access to the latest clinical trials through the hospital’s participation in the Michigan Cancer Research Consortium, Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP), one of only 50 programs in the country designated by the National Cancer Institute to link patients to the latest cancer care in the communities where they live. This link to advanced care provides reassurance to our patients who desire to receive care locally, having access to the latest clinical research available anywhere in the nation.

Diagnostic Services

Our extensive offering of diagnostic services provides fast, efficient and accurate results. We provide the latest technology and advanced techniques to assist in determining the best course of treatment for each patient. This technology includes

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanning with CT Capabilities
• Open-bore Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• 64-slice CT Scanning

Multidisciplinary Care

Cancer care at St. Mary Mercy Hospital involves a team of highly trained clinicians and support staff working together to improve coordination and to prevent unnecessary delays in treatment and care. As treatment options advance and new technologies are implemented, there is a greater need for multidisciplinary care. This model brings together physician specialists for interdisciplinary discussions, promotes ongoing physician education, keeps physicians current on the latest research and facilitates state-of-the-art care.

While personalized and coordinated care are a focus for all cancer care, we offer two specialized clinics:

Multidisciplinary Lung Program

The Multidisciplinary Lung Program at St. Mary Mercy Hospital offers hope and guidance for those diagnosed with lung cancer through an individualized team approach. Patient cases are presented at a weekly conference and are reviewed by our highly skilled team of cancer specialists. The individualized plan for each patient includes a specific treatment approach and a plan for recovery. This plan will include scheduling any necessary tests, such as laboratory and radiology studies. The Multidisciplinary Lung Program prevents unnecessary delays in treatment and care and provides referrals to support staff and specialists as well as evaluation for the latest national cancer research trials. A nurse navigator assists in the coordination of patient care and maintains communication with patients and their physicians.

Multidisciplinary Breast Program

St. Mary Mercy Hospital offers a Multidisciplinary Breast Program as a component of its Comprehensive Breast Center. Patients who have a palpable mass or abnormal breast imaging, or who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are seeking a second opinion regarding treatment options, can be referred to the Breast Program. In the program, patients meet with a surgeon for consultation and have additional imaging and/or an image-guided core biopsy completed the same day, if necessary. The patient’s core biopsy results will be available in a couple of days, and following the results, patients with biopsies that yield a malignancy will be presented at a Breast Conference.

At the conference, the surgeon will present the patient’s case, and the patient’s films and pathology report will be reviewed by the Treatment Planning Team, comprised of the surgeon, medical and radiation oncologists, pathologist, radiologist and nurse navigator. The team will then offer recommended treatment options for the patient and expedite any additional tests, surgery or treatments. The nurse navigator maintains ongoing communication with the patient and all treating physicians for continuity of care.