Advanced cancer treatment
Our team of cancer experts treats a wide variety of cancers. We’ll find the least invasive, most effective treatment for your type of cancer. Our team of surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, genetics counselors, dietitians, social workers, nurses and others will be by your side throughout treatment and beyond.
How to prevent infections during chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can be a lifesaving cancer treatment. But, in addition to killing cancer cells, it can destroy infection-fighting white blood cells—making your immune system weaker than usual.
If you're undergoing chemo, ask your healthcare team how to lower your risk of infections. There are many steps you can take. Scroll on to learn about a few of them.
WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN
Good times to wash include before eating and after activities that could expose you to germs, like using the restroom, taking out the trash or being in a public place. Use soap and water—or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, if you're away from a sink. You should feel free to ask your family and visitors to wash their hands too. Learn more about the right way to wash.
PRACTICE GOOD ORAL HYGIENE
To help prevent mouth infections, gently brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft toothbrush. Ask your healthcare team if it's OK to use dental floss or a water flosser to clean between your teeth.
KEEP YOUR SKIN CLEAN
Bathe daily. Take care to clean infection-prone areas, such as your feet, groin and armpits. Gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
AVOID CUTS AND SCRAPES
Be very careful to avoid cuts and scrapes. Even a nick can let germs in. To protect your skin:
- Wear shoes at all times (even indoors).
- Use caution with any sharp objects.
- Shave with an electric razor instead of a blade.
- Wear gloves when gardening.
- Avoid getting manicures or pedicures.
TAKE PRECAUTIONS WITH PETS
Pets can carry germs. To be safe, avoid any play that may cause your pet to scratch or bite you. Wash your hands with soapy water after touching a pet. If possible, have someone else pick up your pet's waste or change the litterbox. If you must clean up after a pet, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands immediately.
PRACTICE FOOD SAFETY
Take extra care when preparing and eating food. For starters, wash your hands before handling food. Cook meats and eggs thoroughly to kill any harmful bacteria. Ask your doctor if it's OK to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, as long as you wash them carefully before you cut, peel or eat them.
AVOID CROWDS
You can go out in public, but stay away from large groups of people, such as in busy shopping areas or at social events. Avoiding crowds is especially important during cold and flu season, when more germs are circulating. If you must be around crowds, wear a mask.
STAY UP-TO-DATE ON VACCINES
Get a seasonal flu shot each year. Flu shots (not the nasal spray flu vaccine) do not contain live viruses, so they are safer for people with weakened immune systems. Ask your doctor if you need any other vaccines in addition to a flu shot.
WATCH FOR SIGNS OF INFECTION
Without treatment, infections can make you very sick or disrupt your cancer treatment. Ask your doctor about signs or symptoms to look for and learn what to do if you spot them. Fever is one of the most common signs of infection. Take your temperature if you feel warm, flushed, chilled or sick. Call your doctor or go to an emergency room if you run a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher.
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Reviewed 2/23/2023
Sources
- American Cancer Society. "Watching for and Preventing Infections." https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/low-blood-counts/infections/preventing-infections-in-people-with-cancer.html.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Watch Out for Fever." https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/preventinfections/fever.htm.
Chemotherapy and immunotherapy
When you’re undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments, you want a comfortable, relaxing environment. Our patients receive treatment in reclining chairs equipped with its own TV with headphones to minimize noise.
Treatment plans are individualized based on numerous factors, including the type and stage of the cancer. We offer convenient supportive treatments, other intravenous infusions, lab draws and injections, so you don’t have to go to different areas of the hospital to have these done.
We have several clinical trials available for those patients who qualify.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses beams of intense energy targeted at tumors to destroy cancer cells. We use radiation therapy to treat many types of cancer.
Radiation treatment is individualized based on a number of factors, including the cancer type, stage of the disease and the site to be treated. Our team of experts deliver an effective dose of radiation directly to the tumor while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. This allows us to minimize unwanted side effects from the treatment.
Our state-of-the-art equipment and focus on continuing education allow us to provide advanced treatment close to home. We offer stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and more.
Surgical oncology
For some types of cancer, surgery is an effective treatment option. Cancer surgery, also known as surgical oncology, consists of techniques used to remove cancerous tumors and cells from the body.
Mercyhealth’s cancer centers offer many minimally invasive surgical techniques that use small incisions to remove tumors. This results in less bleeding and pain after surgery, which means recovery time is quicker and patients are left with fewer scars.
Radiation oncology
Administering therapeutic radiation involves a team approach. Mercyhealth team members include a radiation oncologist, a medical physicist, medical dosimetrists and radiation therapists. Other members of the team provide support services and include a registered nurse, social workers, patient financial counselors, a dietitian, tumor registrars and a receptionist.
Each patient’s radiation treatments are individualized based on numerous factors, including the cancer type, stage of the disease and the site to be irradiated. The goal of radiation therapy is to deliver an effective dose of radiation directly to the tumor while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
The radiation oncology team carefully coordinates the therapy that is administered to each patient, assuring quality care. Ongoing communication is maintained with the patient’s primary care physician and referring specialty physician to ensure continuity of care. Additional specialty services, such as medical genetics, are engaged as appropriate.
The Janesville Radiation Oncology Department houses two Elkta Versa HD linear accelerators. One is equipped with the Vision RT, a motion management system that provides real-time optical guidance technology. Both are capable of delivering three-dimensional external beam radiation therapy treatments, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and sterotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treatments.
The Rockford Radiation Oncology Department houses an identical Elekta Versa HD linear accelerator equipped with Vision RT, with the same state of the art capabilities and functionality to be able to treat homogeneously as the Janesville Radiation Oncology system.
All oncology patients have the option to participate in clinical trials. Mercyhealth Cancer Centers are members of Easter Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and/or NRG Oncology, as well as the Wisconsin Oncology Group (WON).
Medical oncology/hematology
The medical oncology/hematology clinics of Mercyhealth Cancer Centers are conveniently located at three locations—the Mercyhealth Michael Berry Building on the Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center campus in Janesville, WI; Javon Bea Hospital–Rockton in Rockford, IL; and Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center—Walworth in Lake Geneva, WI.
Our care team includes oncologists, nurse practitioners, registered nurse navigators, medical assistants, social workers, patient financial counselors, a dietitian and support personnel, including receptionists.
All care team members work together with the common goal of providing quality, compassionate care to patients seeking our services. Ongoing communication with the patient’s primary care doctor, radiation oncologist and/or surgical oncologist is maintained to ensure continuity of care.
Individualized chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy treatments are administered to patients in the medical oncology/hematology clinic by specially trained RNs under the direction of a medical oncologist.
Patients receive treatments in comfortable, reclining treatment chairs, each equipped with its own TV with headphones to minimize noise. Treatment plans are individualized based on numerous factors, including cancer type and stage of disease. Leading-edge chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments are available to patients. Supportive treatments are also available in the treatment room, including other intravenous infusions, lab draws and injections.
All of our oncology patients have the option to participate in clinical trials. Mercyhealth’s Cancer Centers are members of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and/or NRG Oncology, as well as the Wisconsin Oncology Group (WON).
Neuro-oncology
This multidisciplinary field includes medical oncology, radiation oncology and neurosurgery. Medical oncologists focus on the systemic approach to treatment of primary brain and spinal cord tumors as well as metastatic disease to the brain and spine. They use traditional chemotherapy drugs as well as newer targeted agents to treat a wide range of malignancies. These medications can be given orally or intravenously or administered directly into the nervous system.
Mercyhealth offers the latest, most advanced treatment with a coordinated, team-based approach. Our objectives are to ensure safe administration of these treatments, to provide excellent care in managing the full range of symptoms related to the disease and to the side effects of the treatments, and to maximize patients’ quality of life. We also participate in clinical trials, bringing the cutting edge of cancer care to the Institute.
Learn more
To learn more about our cancer services, call the cancer center nearest you.