Highly Sophisticated Medical Expertise
A state-of-the-art facility and advanced technology are only tools. What makes a cancer program outstanding is the experience, knowledge and expertise of its medical team. The Avera Cancer Institute’s team of cancer experts study and collaborate to provide evidence-based treatment protocols. This results in outcomes which meet or exceed those of national cancer centers.
Tumor specific programs and navigators
The Avera Cancer Institute is building tumor specific programs in breast and gastrointestinal cancers, as well as other cancers in the near future. These programs include patient navigators who follow the patient from diagnosis, to various treatment modes to survivorship.
Navigators help patients understand their diagnosis and pathology report, help them focus on treatment decisions, and keep patients informed of support services.
The strength of these programs is the multidisciplinary conferences in which a medical team including primary and specialty care physicians, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, navigators, research staff and social workers meet to discuss cancer cases and the best possible treatment plan.
Such conferences are like a second opinion – as well as a third, fourth or fifth – with no additional office calls or charges for patients. While physicians always consider their patients’ desires when prescribing treatment, conferences give patients additional perspective in making treatment decisions with their physicians.
