Formed in 1992, Frankford Hospitals’ Cancer Program provides a comprehensive range of high-quality patient care and support services. Board-certified surgeons and surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists, pain management specialists, certified cancer nurses and social workers team together to treat both the physical and emotional sides of cancer in a comfortable setting.

Our patients are also offered a broad range of educational and support services. In addition, Frankford’s Cancer Center, located at Frankford Hospital – Torresdale, is a participating member of the Jefferson Cancer Network, offering patients the most current and sophisticated clinical trials available. Frankford’s Cancer Center also participates in dozens of national clinical cancer research studies through membership in the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project, and the Jefferson Oncology Research Group. Our cancer services are also available at Frankford Hospital – Frankford and Frankford Hospital – Bucks County.

Surgical Services
Board-certified surgeons and surgical oncologists work with medical oncologists, pathologists and radiation oncologists to diagnose, evaluate and treat a variety of cancers. Our surgical team specializes in cancer of the breast, lung, colon, prostate, stomach, bladder, kidney, pancreas and esophagus. Subspecialists are provided for a wide range of malignancies, including tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, head, neck, brain and spinal cord. New and investigational techniques like sentinal node biopsy in the treatment of breast cancer, prostate seed implantation for prostate cancer, and hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy for kidney cancer are also available to patients.

Radiation Oncology Services
An experienced team of radiation oncology physicians, physicists, nurses and therapists evaluates people with cancer and offers customized treatment to each patient. The Radiation Oncology Department at Frankford Hospital – Torresdale is equipped with two Varian 2100C linear accelerators and the most advanced three-dimensional treatment planning system. Frankford’s radiation oncologists are all board certified and faculty members of Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. In early 2001, radiation oncology services will also be offered at Frankford Hospital – Bucks County.

Medical Oncology/Chemotherapy Services
Frankford’s board-certified medical oncologists diagnose, evaluate and treat malignancies with the latest chemotherapy and immunotherapy drugs, and offer enrollment in national cancer research studies. These physicians, along with nurses with advanced training in oncology, provide a personalized approach to cancer treatment in a comfortable outpatient treatment area. The outpatient chemotherapy infusion suite at Frankford – Torresdale administers 7,000 chemotherapy treatments per year, and is one of the largest in the Delaware Valley. Our oncology-certified nurses are all members of American Board of Nursing Specialties and provide support and encouragement for our patients.

Pain Management Services
Led by two board-certified anesthesiologists, Frankford’s Pain Management Center works along with the Cancer Program team to develop customized pain management plans for our cancer patients. The Center’s staff utilizes the latest in pain management techniques, including radiofrequency ablation and implantable infusion devices. In addition to clinical management, the Center offers education on prescribed modalities to both patients and their families.

Multidisciplinary Programs

Breast Health Program 
Since 1995, Frankford’s Breast Health Program has treated over 500 patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer with a multidisciplinary treatment approach. On the same day, a woman receives medical evaluation from a surgeon, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist and a reconstructive plastic surgeon who have reviewed her medical situation with a diagnostic pathologist and radiologist prior to her consultation. The team then collaborates to develop an individualized treatment plan for the patient, giving her an opportunity to ask questions and get immediate answers about her care. Second opinion consultations with our breast cancer specialists are promptly available. 
Frankford’s multidisciplinary breast program allows the woman with newly diagnosed breast cancer to be evaluated by medical oncologists, surgical oncologists and radiation oncologists all in the same day. Before her visit, a multidisciplinary panel of cancer experts will review all of her x-rays, mammograms, medical records and pathology slides. Before she leaves, all of her questions will be answered and treatment recommendations will be made by a consensus of the experts.

Prostate Seed Implantation Program 
Frankford offers prostate seed implantation therapy (also called brachytherapy), a new form of radiation therapy for prostate cancer. This procedure involves inserting low-dose radioactive “seeds” into the prostate to administer localized radiation to the tumor. A urologist, radiation oncologist and a diagnostic radiologist work closely with the patient to create an individualized treatment plan.

Education and Support
Frankford’s Cancer Program offers a full range of support groups for patients, family members and friends, including bereavement groups that form several times a year. Social work services are available to patients and their families for individual and family counseling. Cancer education and screening programs are held regularly throughout the year at Frankford Hospitals’ Frankford, Torresdale and Bucks County locations, and at various community sites. Nutritional counseling and support is also available to our cancer patients dealing with dietary challenges.

In addition, the Cancer Resource Center at Frankford Hospital – Torresdale has a free library of brochures, books and videotapes to help patients and their families learn about cancer and its treatment, as well as computer access to healthcare information on the Internet.