Cancer treatments and procedures in Indiana

Specialists at Ascension St. Vincent provide advanced cancer treatments and procedures based on your diagnosis and care plan

Cancer treatments and procedures

Your care team at Ascension St. Vincent recommends treatments based on the type of cancer, stage and your overall health. Your treatment plan may include:

Medications and drug therapy

Delivers chemotherapy directly to a tumor while cutting off its blood supply.

Chemotherapy (chemo) is the use of strong medicines to treat cancer. It has been used for many years and is one of the most common treatments for cancer. In most cases, chemo damages the cancer cell's ability to grow and spread. Different groups of medicines work in different ways to fight cancer.

Hormones are chemicals made by glands, such as the ovaries and testicles. Hormones help some types of cancer cells grow, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer. In other cases, hormones can kill cancer cells, slow their growth, or stop them from growing.

Uses medications that either boost the body’s immune system or help it better identify and attack cancer cells

Radiation therapy

A form of radiation therapy given directly inside the body, placed as close to the cancer as possible using tiny devices, such as wires, seeds, or rods

Radiation delivered from a machine outside the body that targets cancer cells without touching the body

A type of radiation therapy used to treat some brain tumors. During surgery, small tiles that contain radiation are placed where the tumor was removed to help destroy any remaining cancer cells.

Advanced radiation techniques that deliver precise doses to tumors while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissue

Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation is a local treatment. This means it affects the cancer cells only in the area that's treated.

Radioligand therapy is a specialized cancer treatment that targets cancer cells with radiation while helping reduce exposure to healthy tissue. Pluvicto® is a type of radioligand therapy used to treat certain forms of advanced prostate cancer. It works by finding prostate cancer cells that have a protein called PSMA on their surface. Once Pluvicto attaches to those cells, it delivers targeted radiation directly to the cancer to help slow or stop its growth.

Highly focused radiation treatments that deliver high doses to a specific area without an incision

Uses radioactive particles to target liver tumors while blocking its blood supply

Cancer surgery

Breast reconstruction is surgery to create a new breast shape in place of a breast that has been removed (mastectomy). It can be done with implants or with tissue from another part of your body. Sometimes both are used to rebuild a breast shape. The breast mound created comes as close as possible to the shape and look of a natural breast.

Surgery may be done to reconstruct either one breast (unilateral) or both breasts (bilateral). The goal of the unilateral reconstruction is to create a breast mound that matches the other breast. If both breasts have been removed, the goal of the surgery is to create both breast mounds about the size of your natural breasts.

Removes cancer while preserving as much of the breast as possible

Minimally invasive procedures used to diagnose or treat early stage tumors

Removes skin cancer one layer at a time while preserving healthy tissue. Each layer is examined under a microscope to look for cancerous cells, until your provider finds a layer without any.

Nerve reinnervation is a surgical technique that helps reconnect nerves after surgery to improve feeling and reduce nerve-related pain. In breast surgery and reconstruction, it may help some patients regain sensation in the breast or chest area after a mastectomy.

Minimally invasive surgery that uses robotic technology for greater precision and smaller incisions, similar to a laparoscopy

A single port mastectomy is a less invasive approach to breast surgery that uses one small incision instead of multiple or larger cuts on the breast. The incision is usually placed in a less noticeable area, such as under the breast or near the armpit, which may help reduce visible scarring and support healing and reconstruction options.

Minimally invasive chest surgery using a small camera and instruments through smaller incisions

Bronchoscopy and other minimally invasive procedures

A noninvasive treatment that uses focused sound waves to break down and destroy tumors without surgery. It does not require incisions or radiation. Your healthcare team will let you know if histotripsy is a treatment option for you based on your condition.

Uses minimally invasive techniques to collect a tissue sample or precisely locate an area of concern in the breast. Depending on your needs, your care team may use a fine needle, wire localization or a magseed marker to guide the procedure.

Before radiation therapy for prostate cancer, your doctor may place a temporary gel between your prostate and rectum. This creates extra space to help protect your rectum from radiation and may reduce side effects from treatment.

Replaces damaged bone with healthy stem cells after treatment

Additional cancer care options

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate new treatments, medications and technologies to improve heart and vascular care. Participation may provide access to innovative therapies while helping advance medical knowledge and future patient care. At Ascension Saint Thomas Heart, we offer select clinical trial opportunities with a focus on safety, compassion and personalized support throughout your care journey.

Ascension Illinois offers the Cooler Heads’ Amma™ system to help reduce hair loss during certain chemotherapy treatments

Support programs and resources: Your cancer care team provides support from nutrition education and counseling to cancer support groups, yoga and spiritual care. At Ascension Illinois sites of care, our healing gardens and chapels are always open to patients and their loved ones. We offer supportive care and activities for the whole you.

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.