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Chemotherapy and Infusion Services

Chemotherapy is a treatment approach that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells or to stop or slow their growth. Chemotherapy can control your cancer, or help ease symptoms you may be experiencing.

At Dignity Health, we take a patient-focused approach to chemotherapy treatment from our warm comfortable treatment area, to nurse navigators, and onsite pharmacy where chemotherapy medications are prepared specific to your doctor’s orders. Our chemotherapy process can only be compared with some of the nation’s most recognized, leading institutions in cancer treatment and our humankindness approach to patient care has no comparison.

When are Chemotherapy and Infusion Services Needed

Chemotherapy is a part of the treatment plan for a wide variety of cancers. For some patients, chemotherapy may be the best choice of treatment in the fight against your type of cancer. For other patients, chemotherapy may be an adjunct approach to other treatment modalities: 

  • Destroying any cancer cells that might be left in your body after radiation or surgery (called adjuvant treatment).
  • Shrinking tumors before surgery or radiation therapy (called neoadjuvant treatment).
  • Treating cancer that’s come back (re-occurred) or spread (metastasized) to other parts of your body.
  • Boosting the effect of radiation therapy.
  • Easing or lessening the intensity of your cancer symptoms by shrinking tumors that are pushing against or putting pressure on parts of your body.

Our on-site pharmacy allows our patients to have a full healthcare experience in one place by obtaining their prescriptions without having to make extra trips after their appointment.”

Ashish Suthar
Pharmacy Manager

Patient Testimonials

“Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have lived as long as I have. I’m healthy and enjoying my family. I feel so fortunate.”

“Having a doctor like Dr. Wendt was really a blessing for me, my husband, and for our family.”

“Seven months after my surgery I ran a 10K, and I wouldn’t have been able to do any of that if it wasn’t for them (Dignity Health – Cancer Institute at St. Joseph’s)”

Types of Chemotherapy and Infusion Services

During a chemotherapy infusion, patients may be given one or a combination of anti-cancer drugs. These drugs are often employed to increase the cancerous cell-killing effectiveness, since chemical agents damage cancer cells in different ways and at different phases in the cell cycle.

Listed below are several categories (classes) of chemotherapy agents based on their chemical structures and the way they act on cancer cells:

  • Alkylating agents
  • Antimetabolites
  • Plant alkaloids
  • Antitumor antibiotic
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Patients of Dignity Health – Cancer Institute at St. Joseph’s know they are receiving precision medicine from a multidisciplinary team of experienced cancer experts.

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