Contact the Vista Comprehensive Cancer Program Today

Let us put our outstanding cancer team and resources to work for you.
Call Vista at 847-360-4063.

The Right Choice for Your Cancer Care

Serving Inpatients and Outpatients

At Vista Health System, we bring exceptional cancer care right to the doorstep of patients in northern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin. That means you can stay close to home to see board-certified oncologists, surgeons and radiologists, along with our entire staff of highly trained nurses and medical technicians.

Vista is the right choice for the kind of diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care you need. Our daily commitment is multi-disciplinary cancer care utilizing national clinical guidelines and quality measures. This includes the latest in educational resources, technologies and procedures for prevention, screening and diagnosis of cancer. And, if a definitive diagnosis of cancer is made, Vista takes care of every step along the way – radiology, lab, surgery, medical oncology/chemotherapy, hematology, radiation oncology and clinical research interventions.

We offer a complete cancer care continuum that serves our patients through a number of conveniently located inpatient and outpatient locations. Inpatient care is provided within our dedicated oncology unit at Vista Medical Center East (VMCE) in Waukegan where patients are provided all-private rooms. During their inpatient stays, patients receive care by Vista's specialty trained, oncology specific nursing staff.

For outpatient services, our multiple cancer program locations offer easy access and flexible scheduling to accommodate your daily routine. Within your uniquely designed care plan, we provide a full range of nutritional guidance, social services and support groups, rehabilitation services and survivorship plans.

We're Here With You

The real difference in cancer care at Vista is the relationship we build with you. Whether it's a caring touch, a kind word or just someone who will listen, we never lose sight of your individual needs, comfort and peace of mind.

Our physicians and healthcare professionals are talented, experienced and compassionate. They understand the physical, emotional, social and financial needs facing cancer patients today. And everyone on our medical, clinical and support staff is dedicated to your well-being and quality of life throughout your specific diagnosis, treatment and survivorship care plan.

Exceptional Patient Navigation

We know that a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment can be a fearful and stressful time. That's why we provide the services of a nurse navigator who works with you and your family. The nurse navigator is your personal advocate to solve problems, conquer the medical maze and develop your personal roadmap to recovery.

Vista's unique advantage is that each of our navigators is an oncology certified registered nurse (OCN, RN). Having a highly qualified expert on your side can be invaluable as you navigate the diagnostic workup process and/or receive a cancer diagnosis. Our nurse navigators help you obtain important results as quickly as possible, and they'll keep you from feeling overwhelmed by information overload or by the administrative and insurance burdens of cancer management.

Complete Diagnostic Services

The Vista Comprehensive Cancer Program offers professional expertise from our entire medical staff to deliver the most accurate diagnosis specific to each patient's tumor type. All of our services are based on the latest technologies and testing that are accredited by the Joint Commission. The services include:

• Radiology – X-ray, CT, MRI, PET/CT and interventional radiology procedures
• Pathology – primarily done in house for a timely and definitive diagnosis, and for easy consultations with clinicians
• Clinical lab – features specialty areas of chemistry, blood bank, hematology, biomarkers/genetic mutations affecting cancer treatment, (i.e. KRAS, EGFR), coagulation, urinalysis and microbiology – with testing available 24/7 at Vista East and available in other locations
• Genetic risk assessment and referrals – for genetics counseling and testing.

Our Range of Treatment Services

Vista Cancer Program's approach to cancer treatment utilizes traditional, proven therapies such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. We also offer the most advanced treatments available, such as minimally invasive procedures, biological therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery.

Our team of cancer specialists develops an individualized plan of care to ensure the best possible outcomes. Various options may be used alone or in combination, and different forms of treatment may be customized specifically for the patient.

Surgical Oncology

An estimated 80 – 90 percent of all cancer patients require surgical intervention during the course of their cancer treatment. Surgeons often are critical to the pretreatment process to assist with diagnosis of cancer and in determining the stage of disease. Following this diagnosis, surgery may be required, either alone or in combination with other treatments.

Vista offers a range of surgical capabilities including minimally invasive surgery (da Vinci), tumor resection, reconstruction, cancer prevention (such as prophylactic mastectomy), and vascular access to administer chemotherapy.

Medical Oncology/Chemotherapy and Hematology Services

For a diagnosis that involves a blood-related cancer or an organ-specific tumor such as breast, prostate, lung or colorectal cancer, we provide access to the newest and most effective treatment regimens/drugs on the market to help control the growth of cancer. Each drug fights cancer cells in different ways.

Chemotherapy is perhaps the most commonly known method of treatment and can be used alone or in combination with surgery and/or radiation. It can be administered by a pill (orally), intravenously or by injection. We provide these services at Vista East in our infusion suite designed to provide a comfortable, pleasant and safe setting for delivery of chemotherapy and other infusions. Also, many types of full infusion services are available in Gurnee at Oncology Hematology Associates of Northern Illinois.

Hematology is the medical specialty that deals with malignant and nonmalignant diseases of the blood. Medical oncology and hematology make up a combined unit of our cancer program. Through our comprehensive program, Vista's professionals treat acute and chronic types of leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes and all other hematologic disorders.

Radiation Oncology

By using high energy X-rays, radiation oncology can inhibit cancer cells from multiplying and decrease their ability to divide. This therapy is carefully planned to deliver as much radiation as possible to the cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy cells.

Through Advanced Radiation Oncology Center in Gurnee, we offer the most innovative radiation therapy techniques. These include external beam, intensity-modulated and image-guided radiation therapy services using a linear accelerator to deliver radiation from outside of the body. We also provide a unique and specialized stereotactic radiosurgery service using the Gamma Knife® designed to treat brain malignancies.

For prostate cancer, we now have the Calypso® System, widely regarded as the most advanced real-time tracking for prostate radiation therapy. Calypso enables the Vista radiation oncologist to accurately track and precisely hit the tumor without excessive radiation.

Clinical Research/Trials

Clinical trials may test new drugs or vaccines, or new ways to do surgery or give radiation therapy. Many treatments used today are the results of successful clinical trials. For some patients, a clinical trial may be a viable option. Choosing to participate in a clinical trial is an important decision to be made by you, your family and your physician. We have access to many clinical trials, locally or nationwide, that can offer significant benefits to patients.

Education

At Vista, we help to educate patients and families regarding cancer prevention and early detection. We also provide annual educational and screening programs through hospital and physician-sponsored community events. If a diagnosis is made, our patient navigators will provide appropriate educational resources throughout your treatment.

Supportive Care Services

The Vista Comprehensive Cancer Program includes a full range of support services. Through our relationship with the American Cancer Society to the Cancer Wellness Center, our patients have access to supportive care services. These include patient family counseling, survivorship programs and wellness services. Combined, these foster a holistic approach to care. We provide
pastoral care to patients and their families, plus access to several support groups for cancer survivors and survivorship training for family members and friends.

We also provide:

• Nutritional support and dietary consultation
• Genetic counseling
• Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation
• Home care and hospice
  

Vista's Breast Health Center

We offer digital screening mammograms at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, Vista Imaging Centers in both Gurnee and Vernon Hills, and Vista Surgery Center in Lindenhurst. These locations give patients easy access to annual screening mammograms and other breast diagnostic procedures – stereotactic biopsy, ultrasound and breast MRI. Same-day or next-day screening appointments are available at each location. And you get results fast – typically the same day or within 24 hours.

Vista's Breast Cancer Team, a multidisciplinary group of board-certified physicians and highly skilled staff, brings together research and advanced technology to provide world-class, compassionate care for every breast cancer patient. Further, through a monthly Breast Case conference, this team evaluates newly diagnosed breast cases, discusses the latest approaches to care, outlines treatment options and develops the recommended plan of care for the patient.

Rely on Our Breast Health Navigator

Vista offers a dedicated breast health navigator to serve as your contact with our Breast Cancer Team. The breast health navigator will help expedite additional testing and obtain results. If further testing is needed after a screening, she will contact you the same day to be your advocate. From that point on, she will hold your hand and walk with you every step of the way.

If indications should reflect breast cancer, the Breast Cancer Team of physicians and health providers will support you and your family from the moment of diagnosis. Our team will be there throughout your treatment, physician visits, rehabilitation and survivorship.