If you have been diagnosed with cancer, the Liberty Hospital Cancer Center is here to help you by offering the latest treatment options. While each patient may undergo a different treatment course, some of the treatments we offer include:
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (also called chemo) is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly, such as those that line your mouth and intestines or cause your hair to grow. Damage to healthy cells may cause side effects. Often, side effects get better or go away after chemotherapy is over.
Many different types of chemotherapy drugs are available. Chemotherapy drugs can be used alone or in combination to treat a wide variety of cancers. Chemotherapy may also be used in combination with other forms of cancer therapy, such as radiation, and it may be used either before or after surgery.
Radiation
Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is a cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and stop them from spreading. At low doses, radiation is used as an x-ray to see inside your body and take pictures, such as x-rays of your teeth or broken bones. Radiation used in cancer treatment works in a similar way, except that it's given in higher doses.
Radiation therapy can be an external beam (when a machine outside your body aims radiation at the cancer cells) or internal (when radiation is put inside your body, in or near the cancer cells). Sometimes people get both forms of radiation therapy.
Surgery
If your cancer requires surgery, you can take comfort in knowing that Liberty Hospital’s operating suites are filled with the most up-to-date technology, all designed to provide you with the highest-quality care. The hospital’s staff has experience with mastectomies, lung resection, thyroid removal, brain tumor removal, and surgical treatments for cervical, uterine, ovarian and head and neck cancers. Some procedures can be done laparoscopically, such as colon resection, which means a faster recovery time for the patient.
Da Vinci Robot
One of the most advanced high-tech pieces of equipment in our OR is used during prostatectomies, which is a common treatment for prostate cancer. To perform prostatectomies, surgeons at Liberty Hospital utilize the da Vinci robot, which helps the doctor be more precise and effective. During the robotic prostatectomy, the surgeon sits at a console and views a three-dimensional image of the patient’s body. By greatly magnifying the area, the doctor is able to perform delicate movements and reduce possible damage to the sensitive nerves located near the prostate.
The robot itself consists of instrument arms that the surgeon moves during the operation. Each arm has a specific job to do, such as clamping, suturing or tissue manipulation. The surgeon controls the robot, positioning the instruments even more accurately than could be done with the human hand.
The result is a better surgery for the patient. When surgeons use the robot to perform this surgery, they are able to be very exact with their movements, which means we can greatly reduce the patient’s blood loss, shorten their hospitalization and cut down on the amount of time it takes to recover. Patients whose surgeons use the robot to assist with removing the prostate often return home the next day.
Radiofrequency Ablation for Cancer
Radiofrequency ablation (RF ablation) is a minimally invasive treatment for cancer. The treatment is an alternative when surgery is not a good option for patients for various reasons, often when other medical conditions increase the risk of surgery. RF ablation kills cancer cells by heating and destroying them. The physician inserts a thin needle guided by computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound through the skin and into the tumor. Electrical energy delivered through this needle heats and destroys the tumor. Months after the procedure, dead cells turn into a harmless scar.
Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy is a treatment which uses radiation to kill cancer cells. This treatment can make cancer tumors stop growing, shrink or go away. It may also help prevent cancer from spreading to other places in your body. During brachytherapy, radioactive seeds are placed inside and around your tumors. Seeds are small beads or bars which give off radiation in all directions around them. This radiation only reaches tumors and tissues that are close by. Cancer cells that get enough radiation may stop growing and the cancer cells may die. Some seeds need to be taken out after time, while others can be left inside your body. Brachytherapy may be given in several treatments.
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