Cancer services

Columbus Regional Hospital

Address: 2400 E. 17th St., Columbus

Key departments: Breast Health Center, Cancer Center

Phone: CRH main, 812-379-4441 or 800-841-4938; Breast Health Center, 812-376-5064.

Website: crh.org

Services offered:

Medical oncology: Hematology, chemotherapy and immunotherapy

Radiation oncology: Tomosynthesis mammography or 3-D mammography

Chemotherapy, radiation, surgery.

Social work, clinical nutrition, rehabilitation.

Tobacco awareness, skin cancer screenings, lung screenings.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy: IMRT is a type of conformal radiation, which shapes radiation beams to closely approximate the shape of the tumor. Local or regional control of a tumor is the ultimate goal of an overall treatment strategy, especially for a patient with cancer.

Stereotactic body radiosurgery therapy: SBRT uses a system to precisely locate the tumor and deliver highly concentrated, highly focused radiation treatment. The custom mapping provided by the system plans the radiation to account for a patient’s anatomy, breathing and organ motion. The result is that less-to-no healthy tissue is exposed to radiation, making it ideal for cancers within or surrounding vital organs. Can be used for cancers of the body and brain.

Prone breast board radiation therapy: Radiation therapy positioning capability that allows a patient’s breast tissue to fall away from the body during treatment, keeping radiation away from vital organs such as the heart and lungs and focusing it solely on the tumor within the breast.

High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy: Radioactive seeds or sources are placed in or near the tumor itself, giving a high radiation dose to the tumor while reducing the radiation exposure in the surrounding healthy tissues. The term “brachy” is Greek for short distance. Is often a treatment option for many types and locations of cancers including breast, skin, prostate, lung and cervical and gynecologic tumors.

Screening mammography: These look for early warning signs of breast cancer, performed routinely on women 40 and older.

Digital mammography:  This is like using a digital camera to take a picture instead of a camera that uses film. The image is captured by a special X-ray detector, which converts the image into a digital picture for immediate review on a computer monitor. The digital image provides a bit more contrast.

Diagnostic mammography: Gives additional and special digital mammography views, beyond screening mammograms.

Diagnostic and screening breast MRI: A supplement to mammography, magnetic resonance imaging is an advanced tool that provides more detail about a possible abnormality. Useful in determining a course of treatment. Recommended for women with a history of breast cancer, and women with strong lifetime risks for breast cancer and some women with dense breast tissue.

Breast MRI guided biopsy: For areas to be biopsied that are not seen well by mammogram or ultrasound. Biopsy performed with magnetic resonance imaging guidance.

Diagnostic breast ultrasound: Sound waves used to detect solid or cystic lesions in the breast.

Ultrasound guided core needle biopsy: Small pieces of breast tissue removed under ultrasound guidance and examined for cancer cells.

Handheld vacuum-assisted ultrasound guided breast biopsy: This procedure allows the physician to use a handheld, vacuum-assisted needle to remove breast tissue under ultrasound guidance.

Stereotactic guided breast biopsy: Tiny pieces of breast tissue removed with computer guidance and examined for cancer cells.

Genetic high-risk education and testing: Women who report high risk for breast cancer based on family or personal history can obtain a printout of lifetime risk and also get information and genetic testing. Can help a woman and her health care provider determine her chances of getting breast cancer in her lifetime.

Breast Health Navigator Program: A navigator nurse serves as a resource and familiar face while assisting a patient through treatment and recovery, so the patient can focus on health and recovery.

Mammography assistance program: For people who need a mammogram but can’t afford one. Those who qualify can get a mammogram for $5. To qualify, participants must be at least 40 years old; have not had a mammogram in the prior year; cannot be pregnant or breast-feeding; have no history of breast cancer or breast problems; be referred by a doctor; have a household income at or below 200 percent of poverty level; and live in Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson or Shelby counties. Call the Breast Health Center to apply.

Cancer support services: Depending upon health history, same-day biopsy may be offered on the day that a problem is detected and 24-hour pathology result are nearly always available, rehabilitation services including physical and occupational therapy, nutrition and wellness guidance.

Schneck Medical Center

Address: 411 W. Tipton St., Seymour

Key departments: Cancer Center and Diagnostic Imaging Women’s Center, Endoscopy Center.

Phone: Main, 812-522-2349; Cancer Center, 812-522-0480; Diagnostic Imaging Women’s Center, 812-523-4874

Website: schneckmed.org

Services offered:

Board-certified medical and radiation oncologist

Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, surgery.

4-D Computed Tomography (CT) with respiratory gaiting: Images of the patient to determine the dose intensity pattern and the precise location to be targeted.

Linear accelerator that performs 3-D radiation therapy, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy and Stereotactic radiotherapy: These combine to provide pinpoint accuracy needed to treat only the affected tissue without compromising surrounding healthy tissue.

3-D tomography

Dedicated women’s center

Digital mammography

Breast ultrasound

Breast MRI

Same-day biopsies

Stereotactic breast biopsy

Ultrasound-guided biopsy

Self-referrals for screenings

Flexible scheduling for mammograms

Bronchoscopies

Endoscopies

Colonoscopies

Patient navigators

Pet therapy

Hospice and home care

Survivorship program

Support:

All Cancer Support Group meets in the Schneck Cancer Center Conference Room. For more information, call 812-522-0480.

American Cancer Society’s Look Good, Feel Better program, held every other month, provides wigs and free skin care products. ACS’s Road to Recovery program assists with rides for people that do not have a way to get to their treatments.

The palliative care team provides treatment of the discomfort, symptoms and stress of serious illness and chronic disease, with the main objective to relieve the pain and other symptoms to improve the quality of life and support families through their disease.

Holistic care, through palliative care, includes a dietitian for nutrition needs, pastor for spiritual care, social worker for financial and social concerns, nurse practitioner specialists in symptom management and psychologist for emotional distress.

Reach to Recovery helps people cope with their breast cancer experience by offering comfort, emotional support, and informed decision making.

High Risk Cancer Clinic: Includes genetic testing. Provides individualized recommendations for prevention and surveillance for those at increased risk, screening tests and education about the risk of breast, colon and melanoma skin cancer.

Screenings: Offers prostate, skin and oral screenings as well as clinical breast screenings and cervical cancer screenings at various times through the year. ColoCare kits for testing the stool for blood to screen for colon cancer also offered free throughout the year.

St. Vincent Jennings Hospital

Address: 301 Henry St., North Vernon

Key department: Imaging services

Phone: 812-352-4200

Website: stvincent.org/St-Vincent-Jennings/

Services:

Clinical breast exams are offered by providers through the St. Vincent Medical Group-Jennings, located on the second floor of the hospital. Call 352-4200 to set up an appointment with a provider.

Screening mammography

Diagnostic mammography

Breast ultrasound

Ultrasound guided core needle biopsy

Stereotactic guided breast biopsy

Ultrasound guided breast cyst aspiration: Fluid removed from the cyst under ultrasound guidance and examined for cancer cells.

Breast ductograms: Used to assist in the diagnosing of abnormal breast nipple discharge.

Breast needle localizations: A localization wire is placed in the precise location of the breast for the surgeon to know the precise location of the nodule he is removing.

$99 lung scans for lung cancer screenings

Assistance programs: Sign up for HIP 2.0 and financial assistance programs at St. Vincent Jennings Hospital by calling 812-352-4466 or 812-352-4220.

$49 heart scans: Call the imaging department at 812-352-4310.