Inspira Health Network

Exciting Advances in Cancer Treatment "Our access to national clinical trials through the Fox Chase Cancer Center Partners Program affords our patients the opportunity to receive cutting-edge treatments for a variety of cancers, right within our own community." — Carl J. Minniti, Jr., M.D., medical oncologist "Our cancer care team functions efficiently and compassionately to treat our patients like we would treat members of our own family." — Benjamin Negin, M.D., medical oncologist "With our new linear accelerator technology, we can accurately target many tumors in five or fewer procedures on an outpatient basis. The treatment is painless and non-invasive with minimal side effects. We offer patients in our community who have inoperable or surgically complex tumors the convenience of advanced cancer treatment without the need to travel to a larger facility." — Joseph Fanelle, M.D., radiation oncologist Today, oncologists (physicians who specialize in cancer treatment) have an increased array of medicines and surgical methods they can use to treat cancer. Today, the five-year survival rate for all cancers in the United States has risen to 67 percent — compared with 43 percent in the 1970s — and surgical, radiation and chemotherapy treatment options for many types of cancer are far more precise, effective and comfortable for patients. Several major paradigm shifts have occurred since the War on Cancer was declared with the signing of the National Cancer Act in 1971. Federal funding launched an avalanche of research investigations, which led to novel treatments for specific types of cancers. The number of cancer survivors in this country has subsequently increased from 3 million in 1971 to 12 million in 2012. A global victory in this war remains elusive, in large part due to the complexity of cancer — a group of diseases caused by cell mutations, differing in symptoms and impact from patient to patient and sometimes differing in the same patient over time. Nonetheless, several advances stand out as milestones: • Human genome mapping, completed in 2003, enables researchers to identify a mutated BRCA gene that indicates a high likelihood of developing breast cancer. SJH Family & Friends • Studies have identified associations between lifestyle choices — particularly those involving tobacco usage, diet, exercise and weight control — that lower the risk of developing cancer. • The adoption of routine patient screenings enables physicians to identify colon, breast, cervical, prostate and uterine cancers at earlier, more treatable stages. • Increasingly sophisticated treatments have improved outcomes while lessening negative effects on patients. These include advancements in minimally invasive surgery, precisely targeted radiation therapy and the development of novel medications. South Jersey For many patients, these Healthcare Cancer approaches are changing cancer Services has twice received from a fatal illness to a managethe Outstanding Achievement able disease. Award for quality care from the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) Commission on Cancer. CALL (800) 770-7547 FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR CANCER SERVICES. SPRING 2013 3

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