Related Links Jordan Hospital

Cancer Center

Club Cancer Center Brochure

• Introduction


• Chemotherapy – Treatment with Anticancer Drugs


• Outpatient Clinic Treatment


• Problems with Digestion, Nausea and Vomiting


• Reduced Blood Cell Counts


• Other Side Effects


• When to Notify Your Doctor or Nurse


• Patient Data Sheet


• Lab Hours


• Links to Clinical Trials

More than simply a diagnosis and treatment facility for patients, the cancer center provides a team of physicians, nurses, physicists, therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers and clerical staff, all committed to one goal: providing the highest level of clinical expertise coupled with unrivaled compassion and respect.

Board-certified oncologists and oncology certified nurses along with other staff members work closely together to develop a personalized treatment plan for each patient. Services include cancer detection, surgical oncology, on-site and home chemotherapy, and on-site radiation therapy. In addition, the cancer center is affiliated with Boston Medical Center for nationally sponsored clinical trials, which provides patients many opportunities to participate in those trials. (See National Cancer Institute studies.) Physicians and nurses also have access to the most current research and educational programs available.

"Jim Shields, patient with Bruce Borgelt, MD (left), Stephan Hochstin, MD (right)"

To meet the increasing need for cancer services, the hospital’s expansion plan increased the size of the cancer center and added a second linear accelerator, used for radiation therapy.

In addition, the cancer center has developed a strategic affiliation with Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center for radiation oncology. This relationship means additional services for our patients and continues the hospital’s tradition of bringing high quality health care, close to home. Patients will have greater access to the most advanced radiation treatment therapies, and receive the benefit of additional expertise from a radiation oncologist from Massachusetts General Hospital.

Awards and Accreditations

The Jordan Hospital Cancer Center has received a three-year approval with commendation, the highest distinction possible from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Jordan Hospital has also been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in stereotactic breast biopsy imaging as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology (ACR). In addition, our nurses are specially certified in oncology.

Important Patient Information

The following provides patients with important information about your treatment including helpful suggestions and reminders to support instructions given to you by your doctor or nurse.

This information is also in booklet form and can be downloaded and printed out for your convenience. Click here to see the booklet. There is also a place in the booklet for you to record the type of therapy you are receiving. This information is useful if you need emergency care or when you need to speak to the on call physician.

Ask your doctor or nurse about anything that you do not understand. Always remember to inform your doctor or nurse if you are having any side effects from your treatment.

Medical Oncology Staff

Chemotherapy – Treatment with Anticancer Drugs

Chemotherapy describes the use of drugs to treat a disease. Although a number of diseases are treated with drugs, the term chemotherapy is usually reserved for describing the treatment of cancer with drugs. There are several ways that anticancer drugs may be administered to a patient. For example:

• By mouth with pills, tablets, capsules and syrups
• By injections or infusions into your bloodstream
• By injections into your muscles

Whatever the form of anticancer medication, chemotherapy is usually no more painful to take than any other drug given in the same manner.

Outpatient Clinic Treatment

The term “outpatient treatment” describes any treatment that does not require the patient to stay overnight in the hospital. Often, it is more convenient and / or less expensive to receive treatment as an outpatient in a clinic, than enter a hospital for the same treatment.

For example, it is possible for cancer patients to receive many medications – by mouth, by injection, or by infusion – in a clinic. Of course the medication is given under the supervision of a physician. In the Jordan Hospital Club Cancer Center all of your medications are given by an oncology certified nurse. The dosage has been carefully checked and recalculated following a four person check system that includes your physician, a pharmacist and two oncology nurses.

If you are given medication to take at home, you should follow very closely the instructions given to you by your doctor and nurse. Failure to properly take your medications as directed can lead to avoidable side effects, or make it less effective.

Be sure to ask how to properly store your medications. Be sure to notify your doctor or nurse if you experience any vomiting.

Any questions about your medications as an outpatient should be directed to your doctor or nurse.

During clinic hours, Monday though Friday – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., you may call the clinic at 508-746-1088 and speak to one of the oncology nurses. They are able to answer your questions and help with any difficulties you might experience. They consult closely with your physician. If necessary, your physician will call you back.

Chemotherapy Room

After clinic hours, or nights and weekends, your call will be answered by our answering service. This is the same telephone number: 508-746-1088. Please leave a detailed and brief message of your problem and the physician on call will return your call. The more information you are able to provide that physician the better he or she will be able to assist you. Be sure to know what drugs you are receiving and when you last took them. Be prepared to provide the telephone number of your pharmacy.

Someone is available to you 24 hours a day 7 days a week. If for some reason the phone is not answered, please call the main hospital number at 508-746-2000. The operator will assist you.

Problems with Digestion, Nausea and Vomiting

Anticancer drugs are often irritating to the stomach. In addition, anticancer drugs can affect that part of the brain that controls vomiting. For these reasons, chemotherapy may cause cancer patients to experience nausea and vomiting. But nausea and vomiting can be controlled and reduced or avoided. The methods to control nausea and vomiting include:

• Changes in diet
• Changes in eating habits
• Drugs that control vomiting (antiemetics)

If you are given any diet instructions and / or antiemetic drugs to take as an outpatient at home be sure to follow the instructions carefully. Antiemetic drugs are often given to cancer patients and are considered an important aspect of therapy.

Reduced Blood Cell Counts

Bone marrow, located in the center of bones, makes all the cells in the blood including:

CT Simulator maps radiation therapy treatments

• Red blood cells, which carry oxygen
• White blood cells, which protect the body from infections
• Platelets, which help the blood form clots after injury

Sometimes, chemotherapy affects the bone marrow. When that happens, the bone marrow may not be able to make sufficient quantities of red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets to maintain their normal function. This is called myelosuppression.

A patient whose chemotherapy causes myelosuppression may experience certain side effects during the period of treatment and recovery. For example:

• If there are too few red blood cells, not enough oxygen will be carried throughout the body. The patient may feel weak or tired.
• If there are too few white blood cells, the ability to fight infection is reduced. To help control the risk of infection, avoid crowds and people with contagious diseases. Most importantly wash your hands frequently, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Shower or bathe daily and put on clean clothes.
• If there are too few platelets in the blood, blood may not clot properly after injury. The patient may also bruise easily. Try to avoid activities that are likely to result in cuts and scrapes of the skin. Also, because some drugs (like Aspirin and Ibuprophen) may cause bleeding, do not take any drugs without first checking with your doctor or nurse.

Other Side Effects

All chemotherapy does not affect the bone marrow. All chemotherapy does not cause nausea and vomiting. Not all drugs will cause hair loss. Each drug has its own unique side effects. Be sure to read the specific drug information given to you by your doctor or nurse. Usually these changes are temporary, and disappear when the chemotherapy is completed. Hair loss can occur but usually re-grows within a few weeks following the completion of therapy. It can also start to slowly re-grow during treatment.

You may experience fatigue, loss of appetite, changes in menstrual cycle, muscle weakness, fatigue, numbness and tingling in fingers and toes, constipation, diarrhea, mouth sores, or nail discoloration. You may experience some or none of these side effects. Be sure to speak to you doctor or nurse about any side effects that you experience.

When to Notify Your Doctor or Nurse

You should tell your doctor or nurse whenever there is any unexpected change in your condition. You should let them know if something worries you or if you have unanswered questions.

Sometimes a change in you condition could be a sign of a possible emergency, such as infection or bleeding problem. Therefore, you should notify your doctor or the physician on call if you experience any of the following:

• Elevated temperature – 100.5 degrees or greater
• Chills, shakes or night sweats
• Uncontrolled cough or sore throat
• Uncontrolled nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Burning with urination
• Blood in stool or urine
• Bleeding in nose or mouth
• Unusual bruising

Do not take any medications without first talking to your doctor or nurse.

Patient Data Sheet

Click here to download the Patient Data Sheet to complete and printout.

Lab Hours

In order to provide more efficient care, we are now offering the following chemotherapy treatment options:

1. Your doctor visit and blood work on the same day with chemotherapy planned for the next day at a convenient time for you.
Please note if the laboratory draws your blood, you must have your blood drawn a minimum of 2 hours before your scheduled appointment to insure results are available. Patients with a VAD are drawn in the chemo room and are limited between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. or 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

2. Your blood work 1-2 days prior to your doctor’s visit, with your chemotherapy on the same day as your doctor’s visit.

Your oncologist and oncology nurse will help you choose a plan which will work best for your particular treatment plan.

All injections and VAD (Vascular Access Device) draws are done in the chemo therapy room and are limited to the following hours:

Links to clinical Trials

National Cancer Institute
"The U.S. National Cancer Institute provides accurate, up-to-date information about many types of cancer, information about clinical trials, resources for people dealing with cancer, and information for researchers and health professionals."

Southwest Oncology Group
"Southwest Oncology Group, one of the largest of the National Cancer Institute-supported cancer clinical trials cooperative groups in the United States. Their primary mission is clinical research in the prevention and cure of cancer in adults."

The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project
"The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) is a clinical trials cooperative group supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). We have a more than 40-year history of designing and conducting clinical trials that have changed the way breast cancer is treated, and, more recently, prevented."