Cancer Care

Our Approach to Cancer Care at IU Health

At IU Health, you have a whole team working together to treat you:

• Physicians
• Pharmacists
• Nurses
• Dietitians
• Physical therapists
• Spiritual care chaplains
• Social workers

As a team, we work with you to find the very best approach to support you and treat your cancer. We will work with you to establish your goals and your values. We will personalize a treatment plan just for you.

Finding Cancer Treatment Options

Advances in treating or managing cancer evolve quickly. At IU Health, we keep up with the latest standards of care and innovations. We can always offer you the latest treatment options, including:

Systemic Therapies

Systemic therapies are medications or interventions that address cancer throughout the body.

• Chemotherapy — You might need chemotherapy as an option to treat cancer. It is sometimes combined with other treatments, such as radiotherapy.
• Hormone therapy — Some cancers are affected by your body’s hormones. Hormone therapy seeks to block certain hormones and thus block cancer growth.
• Immunotherapy — This is a relatively new and innovative way of using the body’s own immune system to target the cancer cells.
• Precision genomics — This is an option for end or late-stage cancer that looks at the genetic structure of the tumor as well as your overall DNA to find the very best treatments for you.

Local Cancer Therapies

Local therapies target a specific body part or organ.

• Radiation oncology — Radiation oncology is another option that may be used alone, with chemotherapy or before or after surgery. IU Health offers numerous radiation technologies, such as linear accelerators and other advanced equipment. We also offer 3-D conformal radiotherapy, which delivers higher doses of radiation directly to a tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
• Surgical oncology — Depending on your case, the surgical removal of a cancerous mass or tumor may be performed as an inpatient or outpatient procedure.

Local Clinical Trials

• Clinical trials — There may also be the opportunity for you to participate in clinical trials, often giving you access to new treatment options that might not otherwise be available.

Why IU Health for Cancer Care

Going through cancer treatment can be one of the toughest things you will experience. All of our locations provide a wide array of services to support you through it. This includes diagnostic and treatment as well as the option to participate in clinical trials and research. These services are complemented by IU Health physician groups and independent physicians who provide care in your neighborhood.

The Academic Health Advantage

IU Health works in partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine to train the next generation of physicians. With our partnership, we combine breakthrough research and treatments. That way you receive the highest quality care.

Simon Cancer Center NCI Designation

The IU Health Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center is the only patient care cancer center in Indiana to receive the National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation. This recognizes the facility for many things, including:

• Scientific excellence
• Discovery and development of more effective approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
• Educating healthcare professionals and the public

This is one of many accreditations the Simon Cancer Center has received for quality and patient care.

Get Treated at a Blue Distinction Center

In 2012, IU Health University Hospital was designated as a Blue Distinction Center by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in the area of complex and rare cancers.

Complex and rare cancers include:

• Acute leukemia (inpatient, non-surgical)
• Bladder cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Head and neck cancer
• Liver cancer (primary)
• Pancreatic cancer
• Rectal cancer
• Soft tissue sarcomas
• Thyroid cancers (medullary and/or anaplastic).

Blue Distinction Center certification is awarded only to select programs that emphasize best-practice care and achieve excellent outcomes.

Cancer Innovation & Clinical Trials

Your team at IU Health is focused on providing the latest technology to help treat your cancer and provide the best care for you. Our physician researchers throughout the state are also looking for the newest ways to treat and prevent cancer. They do this through clinical trials, research and work with organizations such as the National Cancer Institute and Hoosier Oncology Group.

Cancer Support Services

At IU Health your care does not stop at the treatment rooms or physician offices. We offer many services to help you during your treatment, through your recovery and beyond.

• Oncology rehabilitation — Get help with any physical challenges you experience during or after treatment. This specialized field can help with the possible side effects of cancer surgeries or therapies.
• Classes and support — IU Health provides resource centers, ongoing classes and educational events to help you understand your condition as well as classes, such as yoga and art therapy to help you during and after your treatments.
• Nutrition support — Your care team includes expert dietitians who help you make good choices about your nutrition and can answer any questions you may have. We have created a series of videos to help you learn more about a healthy diet during cancer treatment.