Advocate Christ Medical Center
a patient or visitor a physician or health care professional an employer
PrintEmail
Decrease (-) Restore Default Increase (+) font size

medical services home
Cancer Institute
use the search features below to find the doctor that meets your needs.
search by doctor name 
Doctor Name Contains  
(Smart Search)

 OR 
search by specialty 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
search by city/zip code 
Find a doctor near your location by entering a city name OR zip code.
Near:


Within miles:
0 1 5 10 15 30 30+
search by insurance 
Insurance Name Contains (Smart Search)

 
  
  (what's this)
why choose us

Asking the right questions can help you choose the best cancer program to meet your needs. When considering who to trust for your cancer care, you may want to ask questions like these.

What sets ACMC cancer program apart from others in the area?

What types of technologies does ACMC offer?

Who is part of the treatment team?

What treatments does ACMC offer?

What prevention and early detection programs are available at ACMC?

What special facilities does ACMC offer patients?

What sets ACMC cancer program apart from others in the area?

Experience and advanced technologies set the Cancer Institute at Advocate Christ Medical Center apart from other cancer programs in the Chicago region. We treat large volumes of lung and breast cancers, and patients with cancers thought to be untreatable at other medical centers, including academic institutions, are referred to the experts at Christ Medical Center.

We offer leading-edge technologies that few places have, including minimally invasive approaches like CyberKnife® radiosurgery, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for lung tumors and endoscopic ultrasound to detect tumors too small to be seen by CT or MRI scans.

The Cancer Institute at Christ Medical Center focuses a full array of services and resources on treating, diagnosing and even preventing cancer.

We also offer a unique psych-oncology program that addresses the emotional impact of cancer diagnosis, treatment and side effects.

Advocate Christ Medical Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a "Cancer Teaching Hospital"-the highest ACS designation possible for a non-university hospital.

What types of technologies does ACMC offer?

Advocate Christ Medical Center features some of the most advanced technologies available to diagnose and treat cancer.Some of our most advanced technologies include:

  • CyberKnife® radiosurgery - Christ Medical Center was one of the first medical center in Illinois to use CyberKnife® radiosurgery to treat lung tumors, including tumors that are too embedded for removal by surgery. This highly advanced technology offers another option for patients whose cancers are considered "inoperable" by standard means. Physicians at Christ Medical Center have been using CyberKnife® technology for tumors since 2006.
  • Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) - Thoracic surgeons at Christ Medical Center use VATS to perform lobectomies and remove mediastinal tumors from the space between the lungs.VATS is performed through incisions measuring about 1/8 inch each, so there is no need to spread the ribs apart. Recovery is much faster and less painful, compared to open chest surgery.
  • Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) - Christ Medical Center is one of few medical centers in the Chicago area to offer endoscopic ultrasound for gastrointestinal cancers.  This non-surgical technique provides supports highly accurate diagnosis and staging of tumors, and is an important breakthough for treatment planning.

Other important technologies available here include:

  • A full array of chemotherapy options, including some newer drugs available through clinical trials.
  • Laser resection of tumors - a non-surgical approach.
  • A full range of radiation therapies, including brachytherapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, 3-D conformal therapy and other targeted radiation therapies that direct cancer-destroying radiation to the tumor site and minimize damage to surrounding tissues.

Who is part of the treatment team?

Patients at Advocate Christ Medical Center receive care from a multidisciplinary team. Our multidisciplinary approach means that patients benefit from the collaborative expertise of surgeons, cancer specialists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, nurses and patient navigators.

Additionally, the nursing program at Christ Medical Center has earned designation as a Magnet hospital, the highest honor bestowed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Most of our nurses are certified by the Oncology Nursing Society.

What treatments does ACMC offer?

Advocate Christ Medical Center offers a complete range of cancer-fighting modalities, using standard, state-of-the-art and investigational approaches. Many patients benefit from multimodality treatment that combines radiation and/or chemotherapy with surgery. Radiation and/or chemotherapy may be given before surgery to shrink a tumor or after surgery to help kill any remaining cancer cells.

We offer a full range of surgical options customized to each patient's diagnosis and personal preference. Our physicians have pioneered some of the techniques commonly used today to treat cancers throughout the body. From minimally invasive surgical techniques to more traditional open surgery, our goal is to remove as much cancerous tissue as possible with minimal disruption to healthy tissue and surrounding organs.

For patients with breast cancer, reconstructive surgeons at Advocate Christ Medical Center choose from a full span of options, depending on the cancer staging, primary surgery to remove cancerous tissue, and the woman's need for subsequent radiation or chemotherapy.

What prevention and early detection programs are available at ACMC?

At Christ Medical Center, we know that the prevention and early detection lead to the best patient outcomes. Our commitment to regular screenings translates into a dedicated breast health center that offers the latest mammography, regular community seminars about the importance of colorectal screenings, as well as other screening programs for cancers that can be detected early and even prevented.

Our cancer genetics program offers genetic testing and risk assessment for people concerned about a family history of cancer. Specialized pathology testing can identify specific genes related to breast, colon, ovarian and other cancers with a hereditary link. Medical geneticists and genetic counselors can provide blood testing and counseling for family members who may be at risk for cancer because of genetic factors.

What special facilities does ACMC offer patients?

  • Outpatient Oncology Infusion Center - sees up to 30 patients per day for chemotherapy, hormone therapy, blood transfusions and medications. Patients can relax in our large, comfortable, brightly lit rooms during their treatment.
  • Medical Oncology Inpatient Unit - offers the newest technologies in a patient friendly environment. Our 22-bed unit features all private rooms with personal refrigerators, flat screen televisions, DVD players, day beds for loved ones and wireless internet access.
  • SINI Unit - While hospitalized at Christ Medical Center, thoracic cancer patients recover in the special thoracic intensive care unit-a hospital unit with nurses specially trained in the care of patients with lung and chest conditions.
  • Advocate Christ Center for Breast Care - is a dedicated facility that provides access to a full array of state-of-the-art diagnostic services, genetic risk counseling, and the expertise of a multidisciplinary team, all focused on timely, response and effective care.

Back to the top