Cancer Center

Accreditation is a process of review that allows health care organizations to demonstrate their ability to meet regulatory requirements and quality standards. Accreditation bodies, like the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, act as quality assurance mechanisms in the health care industry.

The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons is a group of professional organizations dedicated to reducing cancer’s toll through education, standard setting and the monitoring of quality care.

Patients at St. Mary-Corwin Hospital benefit from our multidisciplinary, coordinated team approach to cancer care. One example is the Tumor Board, a regular meeting of surgeons, pathologists, radiation, oncology, medical oncology, patient navigators, the clinical trials nurse, and others. Each week at the Tumor Board, new cases are presented and together the team talks through the case and determines the best treatment plan for the patient, according to the recommendations and guidelines.

The Cancer Registry is a valuable shared tool in the fight against cancer.

All CoC-accredited cancer centers are required to report data to the Cancer Registry, including the type of cancer, the treatment, and the outcome. Cancer Registry data plays an important role in research studies for scientific researchers. Detailed information from the Cancer Registry on patient demographics, initial diagnosis, cancer site and histology, extent of disease, treatment, recurrence and survival provides the baseline for many studies. Collecting this data at local, state and national levels helps strengthen the collective fight against cancer.

Advances in diagnosis and therapy in radiology continue at a rapid pace. The Department of Radiology at St. Mary Corwin Hospital prides itself in being on the leading edge of these advances as radiology is an important piece of both the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Advanced imaging shows both function and anatomy at the same time, making it the best way to identify and evaluate the development of cancer. Our radiology department has several innovative methods for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer including techniques to deliver localized therapy to treat cancer with less impact on the rest of the body.

For more information about diagnostic services at St. Mary Corwin Hospital, contact us by:

• Phone: 719-557-5930

Our state-of-the-art radiation therapy center offers:

• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) and Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS). Fast, precise, non-invasive treatment for cancer sites located throughout the body including difficult to operate regions such as the lungs, brain, spinal cord, prostate and abdomen.
• Arc-based Treatment Delivery. Delivers radiation treatments in a fraction of the time of standard radiation oncology equipment.
• Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT). Monitors the movement of tumors and other organs to ensure that treatment is safe and accurate.
• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). Shapes to a tumor’s size and shape and reduces exposure to healthy tissue by creating multiple small beams of radiation that converge at tumor’s focal point.
• Respiratory Gating Treatment Delivery, Optical Guidance Patient Positioning Tracking and Continuous Motion Management. Technology that tracks patient and tumor movement in real time to allow for more precise and accurate treatment delivery.
• 3-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D CRT). Utilizes computers and advanced imaging to deliver external-beam radiation therapy that conforms to a tumor’s specific shape and size.
• High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy. Delivers direct doses of radiation to a tumor with minimal impact to surrounding tissue while decreasing length of treatment.

To find out more information and/or to be added to the email list to receive all up-to-date class information, please contact:

Brenda Biggerstaff, LSW, at [email protected] or 719-557-4548.

Infusion services are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Antibiotic IV therapy is offered on Saturday and Sunday on an as needed basis.

For more information about the Ambulatory Infusion Center, contact us by:

•  Phone: 719-557-5570

A broad range of tests using advanced instruments and methodologies are available to deliver rapid and accurate laboratory results. These include:

• Anatomic pathology
• Hematology
• Coagulation
• Clinical chemistry, urinalysis and immunoassay
• Cytogenetics
• Flow cytometry
• Molecular pathology
• Microbiology
• Transfusion service

In charge of patient support services, including patient and family counseling.

Works closely with oncology doctors, other members of the medical team and patients to provide coordinated care to breast cancer patients.

Board-certified specialists in oncology nutrition (CSO) who work closely with patients and their medical team to provide individualized nutrition plans during all stages of cancer treatment.

Provide lymphedema therapy to breast cancer patients with upper extremity edema after treatment; to head and neck cancer patients with swelling in the face and neck; and to patients with mobility issues in their upper and lower extremities.

Calculates drug dosages based on physician-directed treatment regimens.

Provides patients access to the most innovative studies related to cancer prevention, early detection and treatment. The research nurse has information about current trials that may be available to patients based on their individual case.

Offer counseling to people affected by cancer, providing emotional support and helping people access practical assistance. They can provide individual counseling or support groups, as well as locate services to help with home care, transportation, or the process of applying for Social Security disability or other forms of assistance.

Specializing in cancer and genetic risk assessment, the genetic counselor advises patients to help them understand their genetic cancer risk and to help them make informed medical decisions.

A member of the radiation oncology team with skills and knowledge to generate radiation dose distributions and dose calculations in partnership with the medical physicist and radiation oncologist.
 

Provides vital services to many of our patients with head and neck, as well as other upper digestive tract cancers, to help with communication and swallowing.

The Dorcy Cancer Center has professionals working behind the scenes every day to ensure a smooth, well-organized treatment process for every patient.

From diagnosis through survivorship, the cancer journey can be stressful for patients and their families. Patients, partners and other family members can all suffer from depression, anxiety and stress brought on by the uncertainty and fear of a cancer diagnosis.

The Dorcy Cancer Center at St. Mary-Corwin Hospital believes in the power of whole person care that combines treatment for the body, mind and spirit. The mind-body connection is especially important during cancer treatment. That’s why the Dorcy Cancer Center offers patients a wide range of therapies, including educational and exercise classes, support groups, and other services designed to enhance quality of life before, during and after cancer diagnosis and treatment.

If you or someone you know has been touched by cancer, this group can help you. Education, support, and coping strategies are addressed in a caring, compassionate and confidential environment. The group facilitator is a licensed social worker specialized in oncology services.

When: the first and third Wednesday of each month at 1:30 pm
Where: Dorcy Cancer Center

For more information, contact us by:

• Phone: 719-557-5423

The ACS Resource Center offers patients at the Dorcy Cancer Center with wigs, turbans, and scarves free of charge. Other services include educational materials, access to the ‘Look Good Feel Better’ program, the ‘Road to Recovery’ program, and more.

For more information on these services, contacts us by:

• Phone: 719-557-4944

Or contact the American Cancer Society by:

• Phone: 1-800-ACS-2345

When treatment ends and the teams of doctors, nurses, technicians and others who have encouraged and supported the patient along the way are suddenly gone, many patients feel lonely. Connecting with others who have had similar experiences can help alleviate the loneliness that many cancer survivors feel. Each year, the Dorcy Cancer Center organizes a Breast Cancer Retreat, designed to allow women to connect with each other around their shared experience and to provide emotional, social, spiritual, and support to one another.

For National Cancer Survivors Day in June, the Dorcy Cancer Center hosts an annual celebration of life. This special event honors those who have survived cancer and inspires courage in those who have been recently diagnosed. The event at Dorcy Cancer Center aligns with thousands of other events across the globe to honor cancer survivors and prove that life after a cancer diagnosis can be full and rewarding. National Cancer Survivors Day also brings attention to the ongoing challenges faced by cancer survivors and advocates for more resources, research, and survivor-friendly legislation to improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.

Discount hotel rates are available for out of town cancer patients.

For more information contact our patient care coordinator by:

• Phone: 719-557-5989

The Dorcy Cancer Center presents a variety of educational programs to inform patients and others about different aspects of cancer and treatment options. Nurse educators are available to answer your questions and help you understand cancer.

For more information, contact us by:

• Phone: 719-557-5215

An unprecedented level of personalized care.

In many cases, the ability to recover in the comfort of one’s own home can enhance the healing process. For more than 33 years, Health at Home (formerly St. Mary-Corwin Home Health) has been providing a specialized continuum of care for patients recovering in their home in Pueblo, Fremont and Otero counties.

Our professional team promotes independence and gives personalized attention to each of our patients. Health at Home brings the highest quality of health care services and provider compassion from our hospital right to your home.

Many health services can be provided in the comfort of one’s home when a condition makes it difficult to leave the house. Health at Home provides the following services:

• Skilled nursing
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Telehealth monitoring
• Wound care
• Stroke rehabilitation
• Cancer rehabilitation
• Pain management
• Medication management

Health at Home consistently outperforms the competition in quality standards as measured by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Our quality ratings are higher than the national average and the Colorado average.

Health at Home is accredited by the Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies more than 20,500 health care organizations and programs in the United States.

Hospice services provide end-of-life and palliative care for patients and support for families. 

Sorting through cancer treatment options while managing the emotional turmoil of this time can be overwhelming. Our oncology counselor is available to help you and your family get through this difficult period.

For more information, contact us by:

• Phone: 719-557-5423

Our patient care coordinator connects patients with resources available in the community. Patient care coordinators work with you and your physician, bringing together support services to ensure seamless coordination of care throughout your outpatient radiation therapy treatment.

For more information, contact our patient care coordinator by:

• Phone: 719-557-5989

Palliative care is the comprehensive management of your physical, psychological, social, spiritual and existential needs. Palliative care is not hospice. Rather, it provides symptom management and support for patients and families when faced with a serious illness. 

Our spiritual care team is always available to you or your family members and caregivers as you begin and continue your cancer journey.

For spiritual counseling, contact us by:

• Phone: 719-557-5029