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What is Cancer?
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Cancer cells grow and divide like normal cells. However, they outlive normal cells and continue to create more abnormal cells. There are more than 100 different types of cancer which are usually named by the organ or location of the body they affect. Metastasis, or the spreading of cancer, usually occurs through the bloodstream or lymph system. In addition to spreading, cancer cells also tend to form tumors (lumps or masses), but not all tumors are cancerous.
- Benign Tumors – are not cancerous and don’t usually spread to other parts of the body. If they are found, they are normally removed.
- Malignant Tumors – are cancerous and can spread to near by tissue and other parts of the body.
According to the American Cancer Society, there were more than 1.4 million new cancer diagnoses in 2008, of these about 10,400 affected children between infancy and 15 years of age.
What Causes Cancer?
Anybody can get cancer, and cancer may be diagnosed at any age. The causes of cancer are unknown, and research to discover causes and cures continues today. Different types of cancer have different risk factors, understanding more about these risk factors can help you prevent cancer. If you have a risk factor, your chance for getting cancer is increased. Fortunately, you can reduce or eliminate some risk factors. Not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and diet, and getting plenty of exercise can all help reduce your risk for cancer. Other risk factors, such as your age, ethnicity, family history and inherited genes, cannot be changed.
Early Detection Is Key
Early detection, prompt innovative treatment and high quality care are vital to treat cancer. When it comes to diagnosing and treating cancer, at MemorialCare, we tailor care plans to aggressively target cancer while maintaining and enhancing quality of life.
Resources
Cancer Care Services
Tumor Boards – Cancer Treatment Planning
At MemorialCare, an expert team of physicians and specialists conduct roundtable discussions of newly diagnosed patients. This experienced team of oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and surgeons decide together on the best course of treatment for each patient.
By meeting often, our doctors can review information together and make recommendations before treatment begins. You can take comfort in knowing that a multidisciplinary team is coordinating every aspect of your care. You or your loved one will never take the treatment journey alone.
Tumor Registry
Our cancer centers maintain an active tumor registry at each hospital and have a special team dedicated to this very important component of comprehensive care. Our tumor registry team organizes information related to each cancer diagnosis into a database, helping us understand which types of cancer we are treating most frequently. This data allows us to develop appropriate cancer treatment plans and also assists in ensuring that our education and outreach efforts are appropriate for the types of cancer seen most often in our communities.
Prepare for Your Cancer Journey with Prehabilitation
A cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but the MemorialCare Cancer Institute is here to help you navigate the journey ahead with prehabilitation, or “prehab.” This innovative approach combines physical and mental health services to help patients prepare for treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Research shows that improving your mind and body before treatment can lead to better outcomes, quicker recovery, and greater resilience.
Key Benefits of Prehabilitation:
- Improves physical readiness with therapies like strength training, swallowing and speech therapy, and nutritional counseling.
- Focuses on emotional well-being through mindfulness training, support groups, acupuncture, and more.
- Reduces infection risks, maintains independence, and enhances overall quality of life during and after treatment.
Fatigue Management
Symptoms of fatigue, related to cancer treatment, are among the top concerns of many patients undergoing cancer treatment. We take these concerns very seriously. Cancer-related fatigue symptoms can range from general tiredness, that is relieved with sleep, to a severe lack of energy that can last for months. Whether symptoms are mild or severe, our physicians make fatigue management a top priority in caring for each patient. Treating a whole person, not just a disease, is the best formula for beating cancer and restoring each patient’s quality of life.
Pain Management
Because quality of life for our patients is so important, our approach to pain management is simple: We have zero tolerance for pain. We believe that only you know when you are in pain, how bad it is and what it feels like. We have a coordinated team that helps you manage and control pain. We are committed to providing timely interventions for any discomfort you may feel during your stay with us and throughout your course of treatment.
Infusion Centers
Our infusion centers are conveniently located in Los Angeles County and throughout Orange County. Each location is set in a comfortable and calming environment to provide a full range of infusion therapies.
- Ambulatory Infusion Center - Long Beach Medical Center
- Infusion Center - Orange Coast Medical Center
- Infusion Services - Saddleback Medical Center
Nutritional Counseling
Nutrition is an integral part of cancer treatment, recovery and prevention of recurrence. Eating the right foods before, during and after your treatment can help you feel better and stay stronger.
Our cancer centers offer nutritional counseling for cancer patients and families, taught by Registered Dietitians and Registered Diet Technicians. Everyone has different nutritional needs when undergoing cancer treatment. We provide individual counseling for controlling side effects, preventing weight loss or weight gain, management of diabetes during treatment, and establishing healthy eating habits for individuals and families at risk for cancer.
Our dietitians will help educate you and your family on selecting the best diet to meet your needs according to your personalized preferences and tolerances. Our dietitians can also help with menu planning, food selection and preparation, supplementation, enhancing calories or just a dose of encouragement; count on the dietitian to be there to meet these needs.
Ask a Cancer Expert
Call the Cancer Help Hotline: (562) 933-0900
Do you have a specific question(s) relating to your cancer diagnoses, treatments or care?
- Cancer patients and families may call the cancer help hotline or send an email an experienced oncology nurse who can assist in answering specific questions about cancer diagnoses and available treatments.
- Cancer Answers provides referral services associated with the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center and outside facilities and agencies.
Locations Offering Cancer Care
Did you know?
Advancing Research Forward
At MemorialCare, research is woven throughout national consortiums and centers of excellence through clinical trials and novel investigations to improve population health – effectively safeguarding the community by improving outcomes, while lowering costs for patients.
Providers
Find a Provider Near You
Located throughout Orange County and Los Angeles County, MemorialCare-affiliated physicians are locally and nationally recognized in their area of expertise. We've made it easy to find a quality healthcare provider right in your own backyard.