What Is a Cancer Treatment Center?

A cancer treatment center is a medical facility where patients receive treatment for cancer. It may be a standalone facility or an adjunct to a hospital or clinic, depending on how it is funded and organized. Patients can receive a very high standard of care at a cancer treatment center because the treatment providers at the facility have extensive training and experience. The facility may also offer more accommodations to patients than a cancer department or ward at a hospital can, because it focuses only on cancer care.

At a cancer treatment center, patients can undergo diagnostic testing to collect information about a cancer and develop a treatment plan. This may include sessions with multiple care providers to discuss different treatment options and the benefits and risks of each. Some centers may offer advanced treatments that are not widely available, such as new surgical techniques, and a patient may self-refer to a cancer treatment center to access these options.

Treatments can include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The cancer treatment center will have facilities for all these treatments along with personnel to provide patient care and assistance. Beds are available for patients who need to be hospitalized as part of their care, and the cancer treatment center can also include isolation rooms for patients with severe immune deficiencies, such as patients awaiting bone marrow transplants.

Many cancer treatment centers offer adjunct services like psychotherapy for patients, cancer support groups, and follow-up care for cancer survivors who may need special monitoring and treatment. Walk-in referral services may be available for patients who need immediate support and assistance, ranging from patients who need to see a psychologist to those who may need nutritional support. The cancer treatment center can also offer help with applying for grants to help pay for treatment and medical supplies.

Patients with a cancer diagnosis may want to consider using a cancer treatment center for care. They can get listings of local centers from a physician and may also get advice about more remote facilities that offer more treatment options or better care for specific cancers. Some cancer treatment centers also assist patients with housing and other needs to make it possible for them to travel to get treatment. Magazines may list ratings of various centers to provide patients with information they can use in the process of selecting the most appropriate facility for their needs. The reviews will include descriptions of the services and treatments offered, along with reports on success rates and other data patients may have an interest in.