Cancer Institute Services

Medical Oncology Clinic

The St. John’s Cancer Institute works with area hematologists and medical oncologists to provide a patient- focused team approach to your cancer care. Outpatient chemotherapy (as well as other therapies such as blood transfusions, etc.) may be given in the physician's office/clinic or in St. John's Day Hospital.

Day Hospital

The Outpatient Day Hospital on the 1st Floor of St. John's Pavilion offers services such as blood transfusions, chemotherapy, antibiotic, and other IV infusions, injections and dressing changes. Some procedures such as bone marrow aspirate and biopsy, epidural exams and other tests associated with lab studies are also performed here.

Inpatient Adult Oncology

The inpatient Adult Oncology Unit, located on the 8th floor of the hospital, provides compassionate, holistic care to cancer patients and their families. These services are provided physicians, certified chemotherapy infusion nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers and chaplains.

St. John's inpatient Hospice Unit, located on the 11th floor, provides a caring and comfortable environment for patients and families with end-of-life care needs.

Pediatric Oncology

The St. John’s Children’s Hospital, in conjunction with the SIU School of Medicine, provides leading edge pediatric oncology services. These dedicated teams of specialists offer the the latest research trials through the Children’s Oncology Group to provide exceptional treatment options close to home.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses precisely targeted high-energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells. It is a very effective treatment for many cancers and is most commonly used to treat cancers of the lung, breast, brain, prostate and uterus. Radiation therapy may be the only form of treatment required or it may be combined with surgery and/or chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy is performed under the direction of a radiation oncologist. It is most often delivered externally as a patient lies on a table while cancer specialist by the latest radiotherapy equipment to deliver high energy X-rays to a specific body part. Treatments last 10-20 minutes and are typically performed on an outpatient basis five days a week for two to eight weeks.

St. John’s offers many advanced forms of radiation therapy. They include Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), and High Dose Rate Brachytherapy.  Click here for more detailed information about Radiation Therapy services.

Cancer Research

Clinical research is an integral part of our commitment to providing leading edge cancer treatment. Local and national clinical trials are offered through our affiliation with the several organizations including: 

• Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), a clinical research component of the American College of Radiology (ACR). 
• The Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a corporative group incorporating all national pediatric clinical trials.
• University of Chicago  Phase II Consortium through our affiliation with SIU School of Medicine
• Local trials through corporative efforts with Springfield area physicians and researchers.

Patient Resource Center/Community Education

The Patient Resource Center, created in partnership with the American Cancer Society, allows patients and families access to current information on cancer care and treatments as well as information about local resources offered through the American Cancer Society and other organizations. Some of the community resources available include:

• Look Good…Feel Better *
• Road to Recovery *
• Support to Recovery *
• Wig Bank *
• Cancer Screenings
• Special Friends Support Group (Pediatric cancer support group)
• Mind Body Medicine Services **
• Videos, pamphlets, magazines, and books
• Living with Cancer Guided Imagery CD
  

* Services provided by the American Cancer Society
** Services provided by St. John's Hospital Center for Living

The Resource Center is located on the 1st floor lobby of the Cancer Institute in the Pavilion. It is open daily. 

Community education

Community education and support are offered through various programs held in the community and at the hospital. Programs include:

Prostate Cancer Screening
Head & Neck Cancer Screenings
Health Fairs & Cancer Screenings customizable to most any group
Resources for primary and secondary schools

To learn how we can partner with your group or organization, please call ( 217) 525-5666.