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Where you receive your cancer care does make a difference. At WCA, we believe that when a person faces the difficult decision of choosing a treatment program, our exceptional standards and state-of-the-art technology will stand above the rest.

As new advances are made in surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and other areas of cancer treatment, we are committed to bringing them to you. Our aim is to set realistic treatment goals according to the national standards, while meeting medical, psychological and nutritional needs. We provide patients and their families with the answers they need about diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

One of the most essential parts of healing and recovery is caring for the emotional as well as physical needs of each patient. Because cancer patients and the families have a variety of needs that extend beyond traditional medical care, WCA provides continuous education and valuable support services. Whenever you need us, we're here.

Why Choose WCA?

Exceptional Standards:

• Board Certified Physicians
• FDA approved treatments in Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy
• Accredited by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons
• Lymphedema Management
• Multidisciplinary Team
• Lifelong patient follow-up through our Cancer Registry
• Cancer Education and Support Program

Sophisticated Technology:

• 3D Treatment Planning system
• Linear Accelerator
• Sterotactic Breast Biopsy
• Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping and Biopsy
• Brachytherapy
• PET Scan (Position Emission Tomography)

You are in Good Hands

No two people are alike... No two cancers are alike.

Our dedicated, patient-centered team of experts understands this. That is why each treatment plan is individualized to most effectively meet your needs.

Additionally, a Cancer Treatment Committee composed of individuals specializing in every aspect of care for patients with malignant diseases reviews all cancer-related activities at WCA Hospital. By evaluating educational programs, interpreting Cancer Registry data and analyzing results of patient care studies, the Committee continues to raise the level of cancer care at WCA.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses special drugs to destroy cancer cells. Taken by mouth or IV (Intravenous), these drugs may be combined with radiation treatments, or surgery or used alone for the treatment of cancer. Chemotherapy requires varying lengths of treatment time depending on the patient's needs. The medication is given while reclining in a comfortable chair or lying on a bed.

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Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses painless, high-energy rays aimed at cancer cells. A simulator is used to pinpoint the exact location of the cancer and where it will be treated. A physician will discuss how your treatment will proceed. A Board Certified Radiation Oncologist, Physicist and Radiation Technologist supervises, reviews and designs a precise treatment dosage. Once these steps have been completed and checked for accuracy, the actual treatment begins using a state-of-the-art Linear Accelerator and computerized plan.

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Lymphedema Management

• Many women suffer from Lymphedema, the abnormal swelling of an arm following breast cancer surgery. There is no cure, however there are many treatment options that greatly reduce negative effects.
• With a prescription from a physician, our specially trained staff can provide various treatment options. Specialty services include: message techniques, compression bandaging, skin care and individualized exercises.
• For more information call the WCA Occupational Therapy Department at (716) 664-8660.

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3D Cancer Treatment Planning System

A 3D Cancer Treatment Planning system, a state-of-the-art computer system which allows the radiation unit to pinpoint more exactly the site of a tumor, has been made possible through a six-year $165,000 pledge of the WCA Auxiliary.

With this new equipment, the radiation staff may see a tumor site three-dimensionally rather than on a two-dimensional plane. "The radiation destroys the cancer cell as well as the normal cells", stated Dr. Stanley Byun, Radiation Oncologist. Dr. Byun says that the new system can direct higher doses of radiation directly to the target area and relieve a great deal of damage to the normal cells. According to Dr. Byun, "This will maintain a higher quality of life for patients due to fewer complications."

This planning treatment will be recommended for the patient who has a visible tumor. The treatment team will review every aspect of the patient's case and decide the technique that is suitable for them.

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Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping and Biopsy

A new procedure is being used which allows a physician to identify the first (sentinel) lymph node(s) that cancer is likely to spread to from the primary tumor. This procedure is referred to as Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping and Biopsy. A dye or radioactive substance is injected near the tumor. This material flows into the sentinel lymph nodes. The physician then looks for the dye or uses a scanner to find the node(s). After excision of the node(s), a biopsy is performed to look for the presence of tumor cells.

The Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping and Biopsy procedure may reduce the number of lymph nodes that need to be removed for biopsy and possibly prevent or lessen the severity of Lymphedema (swelling in the affected arm following a mastectomy).

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Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy (break e therapy) is a radiation therapy that is used to treat patients who have been diagnosed (in the very early stages) with prostate cancer.

The Brachytherapy procedure generally involves placing radioactive seeds in the prostate gland to kill cancer cells.

For more information, talk with your doctor.

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Commission on Cancer

The WCA Hospital Cancer Care Program was awarded a Certificate of Approval by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.

Receiving care at a Commission on Cancer approved cancer program such as the one at WCA, ensures that a patient will have access to:

• quality care close to home;
• comprehensive care offering state-of-the-art services and equipment;
• a multispecialty team approach to coordinate the best treatment options available to cancer patients;
• information about cancer clinical trials, education, and support;
• lifelong patient follow-up through a cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment results;
• and ongoing monitoring and improvement of care.

Approval by the Commission on Cancer is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to provide the best in diagnosis and treatment of cancer and to undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of its performance. "It's about how we care for the patient." stated Dr. Daniel Glotzer, volunteer Cancer Liaison Physician who provides leadership and support to the Approvals Program. "The Certificate of Approval gives patients peace of mind that the place they receive their cancer care has set the standard of excellence."

Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1932, the Approvals Program sets standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to make sure they conform to those standards. Recognizing that cancer is a complex group of diseases, the program promotes consultation among surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. This multidisciplinary approach improved patient care. "At WCA," stated Dr. Glotzer, "you can be assured that we have met the standards in providing quality comprehensive cancer care close to home."

The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 1,284,900 cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2002. Slightly more than one-fifth of the country's hospitals have approved cancer programs, and more than 80 percent of patients who are newly diagnosed with cancer are treated in these facilities.

The WCA Cancer Care Program is one of the 25% of NY programs accredited by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Our program includes prevention education, screening, diagnostics, data collection and registry, and a holistic approach to Cancer Care.

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