When faced with the diagnosis of cancer, choosing the best care and treatment is of highest priority. St. Elizabeth Regional Health Oncology Services offers cancer treatment with a commitment to excellence and an interdisciplinary approach to patient care. St. Elizabeth Regional Health provides nationally recognized regional cancer services in a caring community setting. Integrated care services include: Surgery, Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology, Pathology, Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Oncology Nursing, Social Work and Discharge Planning, Food and Nutrition, Rehabilitative Therapies, dedicated Rehabilitation Center, Palliative Care, Lymphedema team, Spiritual Care, Specialized Wound and Ostomy Care services, skilled nursing services, Home Care/Home Infusion Services and Hospice team.

Nationally Accredited Cancer Program: St. Elizabeth Regional Health’s Oncology Services has been accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer for 20 consecutive years. This recognition underlines the strong interest and commitment of both the medical staff and hospital administration to state-of the-art cancer care in the Greater Lafayette community. Though only 25% of US hospitals have the distinction of having nationally accredited cancer programs, data reflects that 80% of all new cancer patients are diagnosed and/or cared for in these institutions.

Clinical Trials: St. Elizabeth Regional Health provides services to patients who are participating in national clinical trials. This cooperative philosophy allows patients to receive therapeutically advanced treatments close to home. St. Elizabeth Regional Health Oncology Services conducts and disseminates results of formal patient outcome analysis and contributes to the National Cancer Data Base.

Staff Training and Education: St. Elizabeth Regional Health nursing staff providing cancer care services undergo extensive education and training. Services are coordinated by nationally certified oncology nurses with advanced education and training in cancer care.

Community Support and Education: St. Elizabeth Regional Health Oncology Services has a strong commitment to community support and education. Extensive community programming is coordinated through the Kathryn Weil Center for Education and the Cancer Committee. Numerous cancer focused programs are presented through the year at minimal or no cost to the participants. Programs include but are not limited to: educational presentations, community cancer screenings, support groups and smoking cessation programs. Numerous programs are implemented cooperatively with the American Cancer Society. We also sponsor the Community Cancer Resource Collection at the West Lafayette Public Library.

Lymphedema: The lymphedema program utilizes the latest equipment and specialized skills to provide compassionate, carrying treatment to minimize or alleviate problems associated with lymphedema.

Lymphedema is a swelling of a body part, most often an extremity, caused by the abnormal accumulation of lymph fluid. It can also occur in the face, neck, breasts, genitals, abdomen, and trunk. Although it is a chronic and progressive condition, it can usually be brought under control by participating in an effective lymphedema therapy program and following certain basic rules. Lymphedema does not have to be disabling to your normal and active lifestyle.

The lymphedema program was developed approximately 10 years ago. We have five certified lymphedema therapists currently on staff with more than 50 years of combined experience. Four of our therapists are certified by LANA (Lymphedema Association of North America). This certification requires extensive experience, education, and training in the field of lymphedema. They specialize in treating swelling disorders related to head and neck, arms, legs, or any part of the body that may be affected with lymphedema.

The lymphedema therapists attend continuing education courses throughout the year in order to learn about current treatment techniques and new equipment available to better serve the patients and community. The lymphedema team also provides community education through speaking engagements. They have given lectures at the YWCA, Breast Cancer Support Group, various physicians’ groups in the area, Purdue University, IUPUI and “Lunch and Learn” groups.

In November 2006, St. Elizabeth lymphedema therapists were invited to be presenters at the biannual National Lymphedema Network conference in Nashville, Tenn. The poster presentation was a summary of the extensive research that was completed in our three year study. The research confirmed information about a modified version of the complete decongestive therapy (CDT) program that is used to treat patients with lymphedema. The study found that certain patients required only to be seen two to three days a week for lymphedema treatment as compared to five days a week, which is the standard protocol for the CDT program. The results were positive as the study proved that the same gains can be made with less therapy and still maintain the same quality of care.   

For more information and links to cancer-related web sites, click here.