Oncology

Our breast cancer center provides comprehensive breast cancer screening and treatment services. As a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence recognized by the American College of Radiology, we use leading technology to screen for cancer, including:

• 2D and 3D mammography
• Bone densitometry
• Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Breast ultrasound
• Imaging-guided biopsy
• Lymphoscintigraphy
• Needle localization

To schedule a mammogram, call (888) 887-1979 or register online.

Breast cancer treatment

If we detect breast cancer, our team will work with you to determine the best treatment option for your needs. Your treatment team may include pathologists, medical and radiation oncologists and expert surgeons.

We also have a breast cancer nurse navigator who will walk with you throughout your cancer diagnosis and treatment to support you and connect you with helpful resources along the way. To reach our breast cancer nurse navigator, call (904) 702-6370.

Lung cancer program

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women in the United States. Early detection and treatment can make a big difference.

Lung cancer symptoms

In the early stages, many patients with lung cancer have no symptoms. Generally, lung cancer symptoms appear in the advanced stages when it becomes more difficult to treat. Common signs of lung cancer include:

• Chest pain
• Coughing, with or without blood
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Weight loss

Lung cancer screening

It's important to get regular tests because many people with the early stages of lung cancer don't show symptoms. We provide comprehensive lung cancer screening using the latest advancements in technology.

Robot-assisted bronchoscopy

A bronchoscopy allows your doctor to examine your lungs and air passages through a tube called a bronchoscope. It can also allow your doctor to collect tissue samples to diagnose lung disease and cancer.

We are proud to be the first healthcare system in Northeast Florida to offer a robot-assisted bronchoscopy for patients with lung nodules. Benefits associated with this procedure include:

• Ability to reach the entire lung safely (unlike traditional bronchoscopy)
• Earlier detection of lung cancer with greater accuracy
• Improved safety

Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB)

Pulmonologists use ENB to reach previously inaccessible regions of the lung to detect small lesions. Using GPS-like navigation, ENB allows physicians to make an early diagnosis of cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign) lung lesions so the pulmonologists form the most effective care plans possible and avoid the need for high-risk procedures.

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a diagnostic tool that provides a more precise determination of a patient’s lung cancer stage. Using this less invasive approach, the pulmonologist passes a small bronchoscope, with a special ultrasound tip, through the patient’s mouth and down into the windpipe. Many patients evaluated with EBUS can forgo more invasive surgical procedures.

Computerized tomography (CT) scans

Our 64-slice helical CT scanner helps detect lung cancer in high-risk patients, which includes people who are 55 years old and older with a 30-year smoking history, including current smokers and patients who have quit within the past 15 years. The low-dose CT screening is available at our hospital and our Memorial Plaza imaging location. To schedule a CT appointment, call (904) 702-1150.

Lung cancer treatment

If cancer is detected, our oncology team will work with you to determine the best method of treatment. If needed, our surgeons can perform a lobectomy to remove a portion of your lung. (A lobectomy can now be performed using robot-assisted techniques, enabling surgeons to operate through a few small incisions.)

Clinical trials give patients access to the latest in cancer care while also allowing physicians and researchers to study the effectiveness of new treatments. You can find detailed information about clinical trials at the:

• American Cancer Society (ACS) — (800) 227-2345, or (800) ACS-2345 — American Cancer Society
• Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups (CNCCG) — Cancer Trials Help
• National Institute of Health (NIH) — Clinical Trials
• National Cancer Institute (NCI) — (800) 422-6237, or (800) 4-CANCER — National Cancer Institute
• Association of Community Cancer Centers — CenterWatch