We offer a complete range of treatment options. No matter what your specific form of cancer, our physicians have the expertise and resources to provide you with the most effective treatment plan.

Surgery

Surgical intervention is important not only for removing cancerous tumors, but also for diagnosing cancer through biopsy and reducing tumors that cannot be removed completely. Surgeons also treat the complications of cancer, perform palliative procedures to ease pain and restore cancer-damaged structures. For some patients, less invasive techniques can make surgery less traumatic and speed recovery.

Medical Therapies

Our team of specialists has many sophisticated drug therapy options. We consider disease stage and type of disease, as well as biological and predictive factors (the distinctive characteristics of each patient’s disease) when planning the most effective treatment. Hormone therapy, immunotherapy and therapies that target specific cancer cells are considered. Depending on the patient, we may use single drugs or a combination of drugs. We may also use chemotherapy alone or in combination with radiation. We may use chemotherapy before surgery to reduce the size of a tumor and make surgery more effective, or after surgery to reduce the chance of recurrence.

Most patients receive chemotherapy and other IV infused treatments in our Day Hospital. This area is staffed with nurses who are experts in administering chemotherapy and caring for cancer patients. Many of them have earned national certification in oncology nursing.

Interventional Radiology

Interventional radiologists are physicians who use minimally invasive techniques to treat diseases without surgery. Using an image-guided catheter, interventional radiologists deliver chemotherapy drugs or small radioactive spheres directly to the site of a cancerous tumor. They also use special needles to destroy tumors through heat or freezing. Interventional techniques are also effective for treating the side effects of cancer and for relieving pain.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation oncologists use precisely directed beams of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing and dividing. Radiation therapy is a treatment option for many cancers. It can be used alone or in conjunction with surgery and/or chemotherapy to treat the tumor and adjacent areas. Examples include:

Precision Medicine

Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine, is a diagnosis and treatment approach that takes into account the unique variables that influence each person’s disease process. A treatment plan can then be created that will be the most effective for the individual’s cancer. Molecular profiling analysis results, along with environment and lifestyle are among factors carefully considered because they can impact how a person and their cancer respond to treatment. Precision medicine is an approach that may be used in any of our cancer programs.

Regional Cancer Therapy

The Regional Cancer Therapy Program offers a multi-faceted approach to fighting cancer. Regional therapy includes a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, hyperthermia (heat) and radiation to target advanced cancers.

Adaptive Therapy

Every patient is different, and every type of cancer is different. While there are basic treatment plans, your treatment may be different from the next person. You may receive just one of the treatments listed above, or a combination two or three. As your treatment progresses, your care team may make adjustments.

We may use advanced imaging to check tumor changes and positioning in order to deliver the most effective dose of radiation or to adjust your chemotherapy regimen. Our Clinical Cancer Center is home to leading-edge technology, including the Electa Unity MR-linac that uses an MRI scanner to provide a clear picture of the tumor so that it can deliver precise radiation therapy. The real-time view allows your team to make immediate adjustments.

On the Forefront of Research: Clinical Trials Available

The Froedtert & MCW Clinical Cancer Center backs its commitment to the constant search for new and more effective cancer treatments by participating in significant clinical trials for new drugs, radiation therapies, interventional techniques, technologies and surgical procedures. More than 130 clinical trials are in process at the Clinical Cancer Center at any given time.