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Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Contact Information

  • 1336 Basswood Road Schaumburg, IL 60173
  • (800) 615-3055

The Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) take pride in their holistic approach to cancer treatment. The center aims to arm patients with options such as naturopathic medicine, mind-body medicine, nutrition, spiritual support, and oncology rehabilitation. These services and treatment options are offered in addition to leading edge surgical and radiation therapies. Oncologists have discovered that environmental stresses can accelerate cancer development. Cancer Treatment Centers of America aim to inform the patient of these aspects to avoid exacerbation of the disease.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America employ an integrative approach. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and immunology may be used to combat cancer. Some of the integrative treatment options are explained below.

Surgery

Surgery is the first point of attack to remove the malignant tumors. Minimally invasive techniques are preferred by oncologists. Other treatments will follow to destroy developing cancer cells.

Radiation Therapy

Cancer Treatment Centers of America employs the use of high tech devices such as TomoTherapy Hi-Art. The system combines the use of Computed Tomography (CT) and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) to accurately target tumors with radiation. CT scanning is used as a diagnostic tool to locate the tumor. This technique minimizes the amount of healthy tissue affected by the treatment.

Immunotherapy

This type of therapy works with the body’s natural immune response to cease or reduce cancer development.

Mind-Body Medicine

Psychologists assist the patient in stress management, yoga, Tai Chi, Reiki, guided imagery training, humor/laughter, and other forms of stress relief techniques. These techniques and others are also employed in pain management.

Naturopathic Medicine

This approach is designed to treat cancer with the least possible toxic therapies. Nutrition, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, environment medicine and manipulative therapy are useful in reducing cancer development. Any surgery will be minimally invasive. The aim is to boost the patient’s immune system and decrease side effects of cancer therapy drugs.

Clinical Trials

Cancer Treatment Centers of America is conducting at least 30 trials addressing various types of cancers, such as colon, breast, esophageal, laryngeal, liver, lung, multiple myeloma, oral, ovarian, pancreatic, pharyngeal, prostate, and rectal. Some notable clinical trials may benefit a person diagnosed with lung cancer or a form of mesothelioma:

  • Scientists study patients with solid tumors and monitor development after administering High-Dose IV Vitamin C Treatment in Phase I.
  • Oncologists study the use of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to monitor effectiveness of anti-angiogenesis drugs. This trial is in Phase II.
  • Scientists conduct a comparison study of [F-18] FLT when compared to [F-18] FDG in patients diagnosed with cancer. This study is in Phase II and Phase III.
  • Pharmacologists and oncologists study the cancer vaccine Stimuvax in lung cancer patients. The Phase III study is named Stimulating Targeted Antigenic Responses To (START) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The first center was opened in Zion, Illinois in the 1980s after the mother of Richard J. Stephenson died of a cancer related illness. Four more facilities have subsequently opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Goodyear, Arizona, Seattle, Washington and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America have received a perfect score in terms of patient care and safety from The Joint Commission. The Joint Commission is a not-for-profit organization that evaluates and monitors the safety practices of over 15,000 organizations in the United States.

Other awards include:

  • Outstanding Achievement Award from Commission on Cancer
  • American Association of Blood Bank
  • eHealth Care Leadership
  • Medicine on the Net
  • Semi-Annual World Wide Web

The Cancer Treatment Centers of America treat their patients like they are family. The center prides itself on providing service like a mother would. Patients will be empowered with information and receive personalized treatment throughout the process.