About the Stanford Cancer Institute
The Stanford Cancer Institute is a state-of-the-art outpatient facility opened in 2004 as part of Stanford Medicine’s Hospital and Clinics network. The facility has an array of top resources so patients can receive all their care in one place, from diagnostic testing and traditional treatment to educational and mental health resources. Doctors use a team approach to treat each patient and give every person the best care possible. This method ensures that patients with rare diseases like mesothelioma receive adequate attention and comprehensive treatment.
Oncologists, radiologists and surgeons on the Multidisciplinary Thoracic Tumor Board diagnose and treat mesothelioma patients using the most advanced technologies. Doctors first diagnose mesothelioma and determine how widespread the tumor is by using CT scanning, biopsies, PET scanning and fine needle aspiration. Then the Multidisciplinary Thoracic Tumor Board discusses the patient’s unique case at a weekly meeting, which strengthens the team approach and ensures that doctors consider every possible treatment option.
Stanford doctors are constantly involved in clinical trials, allotting mesothelioma patients the opportunity to receive treatments that may further extend life span. The mesothelioma team researches experimental new drugs and therapies such as gene therapy to try to maximize the life expectancy of patients.
Wellness Programs
In addition to traditional treatments and clinical trials, the Stanford Cancer Institute offers wellness programs within its Cancer Supportive Care Program to ensure an overall health that includes mental wellbeing. The cancer center has these and other programs available free to its cancer patients and their families:
- Art in a Bag, which gives patients simple art projects to work on while they receive chemotherapy infusions
- Cancer information library for research and learning
- Healing imagery groups
- Healing Touch, an energy-based healing program to promote relaxation
- Look Good, Feel Better, a program to help female cancer patients handle changes in their appearances
- Lung cancer support group that meets in-house each month
- Music program that includes ambient, calming music and concert series
- One-on-one nutrition services that cover dietary needs before, during and after cancer treatment
- Variety of exercise programs including pilates, yoga and a general fitness program to minimize fatigue and restore muscle strength
- Workshop for caregivers
- Writing workshop to express and cope with new emotions
Disclaimer: Stanford Cancer Institute has no professional affiliation with Asbestos.com.
