Cancer

Holistic, Breakthrough Cancer Care
 
To learn more about the NCCCP, click here to watch this video.

The Saint Elizabeth Cancer Institute in Lincoln, NE is proud to have earned approval from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, a designation recognizing their outstanding care and dedication to patients and the community.
 
 
 At Saint Elizabeth you can find a full spectrum of cancer services including prevention and early detection, diagnosis and treatment, rehabilitation, home care and hospice. The healing environment and holistic approach distinguish Saint Elizabeth cancer care. In fact, Saint Elizabeth is the first hospital in Nebraska to offer Palliative Care to both chronic and critically ill patients. This fairly new and unique care concept guides and supports the decisions of patients and their families with understanding, emotional support and spirituality. 
 
Nurse Navigator
The Saint Elizabeth Cancer Institute also offers personalized assitance for cancer patients and their familes with their Nurse Navigator who helps you "navigate" through the many challenges, including helping to:
• ease the burden on patients and families
• collaborate with all members of your medical team
• work closely with physicians to help patients understand their diagnosis and available treatment options
• watch closely for any problems that may arise over the course of treatment and recovery
• act as clinicians, care coordinators, educators, and counselors for patients and families
• improve patient outcomes through education, support, and monitoring
• coordinate care with other healthcare providers such as pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, case managers, and counselors
• help the patient and family connect with existing community resources
 
NEW Genetic Counsellor
 
Saint Elizabeth now has a full-time certified genetic counselor. Teresa Castellano, MS, CGC, has an office with the Saint Elizabeth Cancer Institute team. Be sure to look for dates and times of a public presentation by her that you can attend.
Her focus will be identifying that 10 percent of our population with a family history of cancer who may well have an identifiable gene mutation.  She hopes to provide those in that category with a personalized risk assessment, the latest accurate information, answer their many questions and if appropriate, full details as to how to set up a genetic testing.
Click here to learn more
 
CyberKnife - 5 or fewer radiation treatments
One iincredible cancer tool available only at Ssaint Elizabeth is the state's only CyberKnife. It is not really a knife at all but a means of delivering intense radiation in typically fewer than FIVE treatments rather than the 35-40 treatments required with conventional radiation. The CyberKnife also adjusts in real-time for tumor movements such as happens when a patient breaths or moves while receiving treatment. It is also incredibly accurate to sub-millimeter levels. (25 millimetrs=1inch) Dr. Dina Howell-Burke, radiaiton oncologist and director of the Saint Elizabeth radiation therapy center, has a clever way to illustrate the accuracy.
 
She compares conventional radiation treatment to targeting a “strike zone” to hit the tumor with radiation. Other area equipment can get closer and can hit the ball, but the CyberKnife is exceptional, with sub-millimeter accuracy, and can hit the stitching on the baseball!  
 
 Learn more about: 

uThe phenomenal linear accelerator,

uOur radiation oncology team,

uWhat to expect during radiation therapy 


RESEARCH Studies

n Did you know that more people in the Lincoln area take part in research studies for cancer and other diseases than the national average?

n Did you know that Saint Elizabeth is part of a program with the National Cancer Institute to include more people in cancer research studies, reaching out to those who live in communities---rather than only people living in major metropolitan areas?

 
Cancer Resource Center 
Saint Elizabeth offers cancer patients access to national clinical trials and cancer prevention studies through The Cancer Resource Center, a community organization in Lincoln that assists cancer patients and their loved ones. This gives patients access to the latest advances in cancer treatment without having to travel to distant centers. For more information on studies and trials, please call 402-483-2827  Click here to learn more about the Cancer Resource Center
 
Saint Elizabeth Cancer Services:
• Breast Cancer support
• Cancer Registry
• Cancer Outreach
• Home Care
• Hospice pastoral care
• Infusion Oncology services
• Mammography Diagnostics
• Pain management
• Palliative Care
• Pharmacy
• Radiation Oncology
• Social Services
• Surgical Oncology
For more information, call 402.219.7000.