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Cancer Care In Your Home Community
Cancer Centres in Ontario were established to provide centralized radiation therapy treatment
because of the high cost of these facilities. Most cancer patients are diagnosed and managed
in their own communities by their family physicians and specialists such as general surgeons,
gynecologists or urologists. Patients are then referred on to a Cancer Centre for radiation
treatment, chemotherapy treatment and supportive care. Management of cancer patients is a
shared responsibility among medical professional partners in the cancer system including your
family physician, your referring specialist and many supportive care service providers.
In Southeastern Ontario, community cancer programs have been set up at two hospitals, Peterborough
St. Joseph’s Health Centre and Belleville General Hospital. Cancer clinics are also held at sites
in Trenton, Brockville, and Smiths Falls by staff from the Cancer Centre. These clinics provide
follow-up care nearer to patients’ homes and in close connection with local medical staff and
facilities.
Regional Chemotherapy Closer To Home Program
At the Cancer Centre, Medical Oncologists, Oncology Nurses and Pharmacists provide a wide range
of cancer treatment services such as chemotherapy, biotherapy, hormone therapy and supportive
therapies.
However some patients and their families would prefer to receive cancer treatment services as
close to their homes as possible. To support these patients and their families the Cancer Centre
has developed a “Regional Chemotherapy Closer to Home Program”.
When possible chemotherapy and biotherapy will be given at a hospital close to your home under
the guidance of a local physician in collaboration with a Cancer Centre Medical Oncologist.
Our healthcare partners include the Brockville General Hospital, Northumberland Hills Hospital,
Perth/Smiths Falls District Hospital, Peterborough Regional Healthcare Centre and the St. Francis
Memorial Hospital. Not all patients can get their chemotherapy locally, if a patient needs more
complicated chemotherapy, they have to get the treatments at the Cancer Centre.
Regional Radiation Therapy Cancer Care
Unlike Regional Systemic Therapy, we are unable to offer radiation cancer treatment services as
close to the homes as possible. However, we are able to provide radiation treatment associated
services. Quinte Healthcare Corporation-Belleville General Hospital has had a well-established
Oncology Clinic for many years. The Radiation Oncologist from the cancer centre attends clinics
for Radiation Therapy Consultation and Follow-up. These patients most often receive radiation
therapy in Kingston. The Peterborough Regional Healthcare Centre has had a well-established
Oncology Clinic for many years.
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