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If you have a cancer diagnosis, you and those around you are experiencing so many emotions. You need help and support. At Norton Cancer Institute, our team provides care that goes beyond the diagnosis and takes care of the whole patient. With sophisticated treatments, innovative clinical trials and support that helps you find your way, more cancer patients become cancer survivors every day.
Our specially trained physicians work with other medical providers and support staff as a team to bring in a broad range of viewpoints and experience to tailor a treatment plan based on the latest therapeutic advances. Our care team starts with same-day appointments for newly diagnosed patients and will be there with you all the way through cancer survivorship.
Advances in cancer treatment are happening every day. Understanding who you are seeing and why can help to reduce feelings of uncertainty that are common upon a new diagnosis.
Several types of specialists work together to provide cancer treatment. The American Cancer Society encourages cancer patients to ask the specialists on your team what they do, what their training is and the type of cancer care they provide. Get to know your cancer care team and understand how they all work together to share their unique skills and viewpoints.
Our team of cancer patient navigators offer support and education. These nurses are available to help ease stress and offer emotional support for you and your entire family at no cost. From a suspicious finding through diagnosis, treatment and survivorship, you, your caregivers and your family members have access to a patient navigator as often as needed.
At Norton Cancer Institute, you may see the following specialty providers.
Radiologists are physicians who use medical imaging to diagnose and treat various conditions.
Interventional radiologists are physicians or advanced practice providers trained in procedural interventions. These providers work collaboratively with your oncology team.
Pathologists are physicians whouse laboratory tests and techniques using human tissue, blood, urine and other body fluids.
Cancer genetics specialists help you understand if you may have an increased genetic risk for cancer. These providers work collaboratively with your oncology team. You may see a cancer geneticist or a genetics counselor.
Hematologists/oncologists are physicians who specialize in the treatment of blood cancers or solid tumors. A medical oncologist might recommend approaches such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy/biologic therapy. Norton Cancer Institute has many subspecialists, including breast oncologists, gastrointestinal oncologists, genitourinary oncologists, head and neck oncologists, hematologic oncologist, neuro-oncologists, thoracic oncologists and others.
Hematologists are physicians who specialize in noncancerous hematologic (blood-related) illnesses.
Dermatologic oncologists specialize in skin disorders and cancers.
Gynecologic oncologists specialize in the surgical and medical treatment of gynecologic cancer.
Radiation oncologists treat cancer with radiation. These physicians work with medical physicists, dosimetrists and imaging staff to target interventions. Radiation therapy uses exacting beams of energy that can destroy cancer cells while sparing nearby healthy tissue.
Surgical oncologists are physicians who perform cancer surgery to remove diseased tissue. Not all cancers can be treated with surgery, but it often is the first course of treatment. Our surgical specialists include gynecologic oncology, orthopedic oncology, thoracic oncology, and head and neck surgeons.
Medical oncologists treat cancer with medicine. They have a broad range of medical oncology tools that include chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Sometimes hormone therapy or biologic therapy is used.
Pharmacists work collaboratively with the oncology teams to build treatment regimens specific to your cancer. Pharmacists are an integral part of the team. They are accountable for ensuring the safety of treatment regimens, including oversight of potential drug interactions, verification of chemotherapy orders, making chemotherapy drugs and other medications, and managing side effects.
Pediatric oncologists are physicians who specialize in the treatment of children with cancer.
Advanced practice providers include advanced practice registered nurses (nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists) and physician assistants. These medical professionals are an integral part of the cancer treatment team at Norton Cancer Institute. They will help guide your diagnosis, treatment and plan of care, working both independently and as part of a team with your primary physician.
Nurses often are the team members you will see most often. At Norton Cancer Institute, the nursing staff collaborate with your provider team to monitor your treatment schedule, communicate important information to the team and help you keep track of the details related to your treatment.
Oncology infusion registered nurses are responsible for in-clinic administration of medications prescribed by your physician or advanced practice provider as part of your treatment. They provide education about your treatment and how to manage side effects.
Nurse clinicians work alongside your physician and care team to coordinate your care needs.
Research nurses are involved in our robust clinical trial program, with accountability to study requirements, patient monitoring and collaboration with study reporting.
Patient navigators act as liaisons within the cancer care team to facilitate timely intervention and provide you with support and education about your care.
Medical assistants are responsible for bringing you from the waiting room, obtaining your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, height, weight, distress and pain scores), and escorting you into an exam room. Medical assistants may help with drawing from your arm. They also will ask you about the medications you take.
Front office registration staff re responsible for verifying your insurance information and getting you checked in for your appointments.
Provider secretaries work with your providers to ensure your information is available for your appointment. They also can help you with paperwork requests for Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), disability, handicapped parking and more.
Cancer registrars work in the background to collect information on cancer diagnosis and care. They report up to levels of the National Cancer Institute and World Health Organization to meet legal requirements and help us understand cancer trends.
Financial counselors assist with financial matters such as preauthorizations for IV and oral cancer treatments, federal insurance signup, financial assistance programs, co-pay assistance cards related to oncology treatment, free drug programs, and billing-related concerns and questions; review denials and work to secure appeals; and set up peer-to-peer meetings for providers.
Palliative care providers are physicians or advanced practice providers who are skilled in managing symptom concerns that arise with cancer and other advanced illnesses.
Behavioral oncology providers are mental health providers with specialized education in both psychiatry and oncology. These providers work collaboratively with your oncology team.
Art therapists are behavioral health professionals who use the creative process of art-making to improve and enhance physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Music therapists are behavioral health professionals who assess emotional well-being and other aspects of health through musical responses.
Massage therapists provide therapeutic massage with benefits to reduce stress and help improve physical tension.
Nutritionists are registered dietitians who work within our program to address your nutritional needs, including determining if you need supplemental nutrition. For some cancers, including head and neck, stomach and pancreatic cancer, nutritionists are critical for making sure you can meet your body’s nutritional demands and successfully complete treatment.
Radiation oncologists treat cancer with radiation, using beams of focused, high-energy radiation to shrink or eliminate tumors while sparing nearby healthy tissue. These physicians work with medical physicists, dosimetrists (specialists in radiation treatments), radiation therapists, nurses and diagnostic imaging staff to create an individualized treatment plan for each patient. In addition to radiation therapy using beams of energy, radiation oncologists also may treat you with radioactive seed implants and/or radiopharmaceuticals (radioactive drugs) via infusion or injection.
Medical physicists are responsible for the overall safety and accuracy of the treatment equipment and processes for delivering radiation treatment. They work directly with radiation oncologists during treatment planning and delivery. Medical physicists also oversee the work of dosimetrists to ensure that complex treatments are individually tailored for each patient. Both medical physicists and dosimetrists monitor your treatment weekly to ensure accuracy and quality.
Dosimetrists assist radiation oncologists in planning your treatment through the use of computers, CT scans, special X-ray films and body measurements. The radiation oncologist gives the dosimetrist guidelines for the dose to be delivered, and then the dosimetrist calculates the size, shape and arrangement of the area that will receive the dose of radiation. The goal of the dosimetrist is to design a combination of fields that adequately treats the area of disease while avoiding areas of sensitive normal tissues. A senior medical physicist and your radiation oncologist will oversee your plan before treatment to ensure you are getting the best and safest care.
Radiation therapists are responsible for administering the radiation treatments that your radiation oncologist prescribes. They participate in the planning and simulation process, work with you during treatment sessions and maintain your treatment records.
Nurses work alongside your physician to help educate you on side effects as well as address any care needs throughout treatment.
Medical assistants are responsible for bringing you from the waiting room, obtaining your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, height, weight, distress and pain scores), and escorting you into an exam room. Medical assistants may help with drawing blood and reviewing any medications you may take.