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The Sparrow Regional Cancer Center is the only cancer center in mid-Michigan to use a targeted therapy approach.
Targeted Medical Oncology
Physicians working in the Sparrow Cancer Center are pioneers in the fight against cancer. New treatment modalities, popularly called targeted therapies, are routinely used in our care centers.
These non-chemotherapy approaches target specific cancer cell characteristics, either within the cell or on the surface of cells, thus limiting the side effects of treatment.
They are used alone or in combination with other treatments, including radiation therapy.
Sparrow is actively involved and encourages participation in clinical trials designed with new, state-of-the-art, multi-targeted drugs against different malignancies.
Hormonal Manipulation
Several cancers are known to grow under the influence of hormones. By blocking the hormonal effect, we can reduce the stimulus for these cancers to grow. Hormone blockers are administered both orally and by injection.
Growth Factors
Blood cells are directly affected by several conditions including chronic diseases, cancer and its treatment. This can lead to problems such as anemia, fatigue and increased risk
of infections. Our staff provides treatment for these conditions by administering growth factors or by providing instruction for self-administering these growth factors.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
As unique as a fingerprint, this specialized course of treatment is tailored to each individual patient based on computer-generated, 3-D modeling of patient tumors and the surrounding tissue. With IMRT, our oncology team members modulate the
radiation to conform around a treatment site, while minimally affecting healthy tissue.
TomoTherapy
Our patients now have access to TomoTherapy - the newest and most advanced radiation technique in the world! Sparrow is the first in the region to offer this innovative radiation treatment, which literally means "slice therapy". TomoTherapy delivers small beamlets of radiation from every point on a spiral to provide exceptional accuracy.
This enables our radiation oncologists to effectively target tumors with less effect on a patient's surrounding healthy tissues.
Brachytherapy
With Brachytherapy, our oncological team sends treatment straight to the source of prostate, breast and gynecological cancers for maximum effect. Sparrow is a leader in this specially targeted therapy, which involves the placement of radioactive material directly into or near the tumor.
Breast MammoSiteŽ
Many breast cancer patients concerned about the possibility of cancer recurrence opt for this highly effective, targeted therapy. Sparrow's oncological team uses a balloon catheter to facilitate the delivery of radiation where it's needed most - directly inside the lumpectomy cavity.
Click here to visit the Breast MammoSiteŽ website.
Though we have made huge improvements in the way
we administer cancer treatments, these therapies remain physically and
emotionally taxing for patients. We understand this. This is why we don't
just administer therapy; we offer a full spectrum of care that includes
encouragement, healing and hope.
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