Advanced Cancer Care for Cedar Rapids
Receiving a diagnosis of cancer is difficult. St. Luke's is here for you and your family during every step of your journey with services that treat mind, body and spirit. Plus, we're treating cancer earlier than ever before with state-of-the-art cancer risk assessments that find cancer at the earliest stages, when it's easiest to treat.
Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT)
Faster, convenient, more precise breast cancer treatment
You've heard the breast cancer diagnosis, and now you're ready for answers.
"In one procedure, women can have a cancer
operation, radiation to the tumor bed and maintain optimal appearance
and symmetry with the other breast. IORT is a concise, convenient and
cost-effective treatment. This is true innovation," explains Dr. Robert
Brimmer, of Physicians Clinic of Iowa surgeon.
Call (319) 369-7216 to speak with a Breast Care Coordinator. Learn more.
Services & Treatments
- Cook Cancer Wellness Program
- Clinical Trials
- Free Colorectal Cancer Screening
- Tumor Registry
- Lymphedema Services
- Social Services
- Living Well with a Chronic Condition
- Breast Care Coordinator
- Cancer Committee
St. Luke's Cancer Care is proud to provide life-saving cancer services for over 127 years.
St. Luke's collaborates with nearly 200 local doctors and is consolidating our outpatient cancer services into the new Helen G.Nassif Community Cancer Center of Iowa.
We encourage you to explore our online resources and contact us directly through our Cancer Information Request Form or by calling (319) 369-7836. To receive ongoing updates from St. Luke's Cancer Care, signup for the Connections cancer newsletter.
Nearly 200 local physicians and St. Luke's Hospital have announced a collaborative effort to consolidate their outpatient cancer services into a new Cedar Rapids Community Cancer Center. The new center will create a patient-centered, physician-led cancer center where a team-oriented approach will be used to solve the problems related to the care of cancer patients. Learn more.
At St. Luke's, we provide
support, education and treatment needed for those patients diagnosed with cancer and their families. Whether you need inpatient or outpatient services, or just need help navigating the healthcare system, we're here for you and your family.
Inpatient Cancer Treatment
During the course of cancer treatment, it may be necessary for a patient to be admitted to the hospital. Our oncology unit, which has private patient rooms, has a dedicated oncology nurse educator, 12 oncology certified nurses and a staff that meets the standards set by the Oncology Nursing Society.
Throughout your stay at St. Luke's, we're able to draw from other resources at the hospital to ensure everything goes as smoothly and comfortably as possible. Patients at St. Luke's have access to social workers, psychologists, an American Cancer Society Patient Navigator and St. Luke's Breast Care Coordinator.
Outpatient Infusion Therapy
Often times, patients receive treatment for cancer on an outpatient basis. St. Luke's provides infusion therapy for patients receiving chemotherapy or who need other therapies over the course of their cancer treatment. Our goal is to keep treatment-related side effects to a minimum, keeping our patients as healthy as possible.
Since infusion therapy is located at St. Luke's Hospital, treatment times are flexible to meet the needs of each patient. Next to our inpatient oncology unit, the outpatient infusion therapy area is staffed and supervised by the same dedicated, oncology-certified nurses who work on our inpatient unit.
Other Cancer Services
Prevention and early detection
We know that a healthy lifestyle and appropriate screenings can help prevent and detect cancer early. Our Cancer Risk Assessment Services provides counseling, genetic testing and monitoring to help you understand your risk. St. Luke's also offers a free colorectal cancer screening to patients who qualify.
Preparing for treatment
At St. Luke's, we want you to make confident, informed decisions prior to treatment. That's why we'll connect you with resources and support groups to help answer your questions. The Patient Navigator and Breast Care Coordinator programs are also a great place to start.
During treatment
Your medical team will develop a cancer treatment plan tailored to your needs. Advanced therapies and clinical trials are available through St. Luke's. We also offer supportive services that range from lymphedema services and nutrition counseling to assistance with practical matters like transportation and financial questions.
After treatment
Caring for our patients doesn't stop just because treatment ends. For patients who need ongoing or palliative care, support during these stages is crucial. St. Luke's helps patients and families process through these transitions. St. Luke's Cook Cancer Wellness Program provides exercise, nutrition and quality of life support for any cancer patient, free of charge.
Resources for patients, family & friends
You might feel overwhelmed by the amount of information relative to your cancer diagnosis and treatment.
St. Luke's has the
resources you need.
Support groups are available for family members of every age at every stage of dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Our
Connections cancer newsletter also provides valuable updates for the community.