When someone is facing cancer, they need to stand strong. They need someone who will be in their corner to give them the care and resources they need and to help them fight one of the biggest battles of their life. At Memorial Cancer Institute (MCI), we bring a strong combination of quality, compassion, and personalized care to the fight against cancer that is delivered by a multi-disciplinary approach to health. The latest technology combined with compassionate healthcare professionals help guide cancer patients from detection to diagnosis to treatment and through survivorship.

 

Key development factors that distinguish treatments and technologies from other providers include:

 

Cancer patients have to see many specialist who are involved in their care, which can be very complex and difficult for them. That’s why MCI offers the multidisciplinary clinic model. Same-day, same-place visits to our medical oncologists, cancer surgeons, radiation oncologists and pain management/palliative care doctors. We have successfully implemented this model with our Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Brain Tumors and Gastrointestinal Cancer Programs, and it will start soon for our Genitourinary Malignancies Programs. We also have 18 dedicated tumor boards a month that are very specific for the type of cancer that the patient has.

 

MCI’s focus on research and clinical trials makes it a true leader in cancer care. MCI is proactive in helping to find innovative solutions to even the most complex cases – collaborating with some of the best cancer research networks in the nation to allow patients access to advanced therapies and new drugs. MCI has more than 45 clinical trials open with more than 250 patients accrued every year. This allows patients to benefit from drugs and therapies not easily available in other cancer centers in South Florida – like new, targeted therapy agents available for lung, breast and brain tumors. The institute’s cancer doctors are actively participating in these clinical trials, publishing the results, and presenting in national and international meetings. We are partners with major national research groups like UCLA-TORI Network, ALLIANCE (NCI group), ACCRU (Mayo Clinic), ALCMI for lung cancer and SCRI (Sara Cannon).

 

MCI’s lung cancer program offers the expertise of cancer-society-affiliated professionals – as well as optimized lung cancer screening and leading – edge procedures for diagnosis and treatment – and its partnerships and affiliations help provide unparalleled access to clinical trials. Our lung cancer program has advanced clinical trials available for lung cancer patients in South Florida.

 

In the spirit of Memorial Healthcare System’s mission to “Heal the Body, Mind, and Spirit of Those We Touch,” MCI provides its patients with an innovative Integrative Medicine program which includes acupuncture, mindfulness, nutrition, yoga, exercise physiology and mindfulness and other modalities that assist the patient to cope with the challenging side effects of their treatments. Recent research shows how these healing methods can be used to prevent symptoms, enhance the body’s immune system, and reduce inflammation when patients are preparing for surgery or beginning other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. Integrative medicine is an integral part of the multi-disciplinary, treatment team and growing survivorship programs. This holistic approach is integrated into the patient’s total medical care plan.