Death rates from breast and prostate cancer, two of the most common cancers, continued to decline in the late 1990s, says the “Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2000.” Contributing to the decline are cancer research, screenings and medical treatment. Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer among women in the United States. Skin cancer is No. 1. The National Cancer Institute estimates 211,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men. The institute estimates 220,900 men will be diagnosed with it. While the statistics may be high, prostate cancer is usually curable when caught early.

Area hospitals offer a steady flow of new treatment and prevention options. San Diego’s growing prominence as a center for research and cancer development is reflected in the evolving expertise offered by the local hospitals and health care centers.

Scripting Advanced Treatment

Scripps Health system is a network of five hospitals — Scripps Green in Torrey Pines, Scripps Memorial Encinitas, Scripps Memorial Chula Vista, Scripps Memorial La Jolla and Scripps Mercy in Hillcrest. All offer computed tomography, also known as a CAT scan, mammography and magnetic resonance imaging, which produces vivid complex images of vertebrae, intervertebral discs, the spinal cord and nerve roots. Treatment services, including breast surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and reconstructive surgery, are provided at all Scripps hospitals. Breast cancer support groups are offered at the Scripps Polster Breast Care Center and Scripps Well Being Encinitas. In addition, each campus offers clinical trials through the programs of the Scripps Cancer Center.

The Scripps Cancer Center was formed in 1999. It united the cancer research elements of The Scripps Research Institute, the largest private nonprofit biomedical research organization in the nation, with the clinical care of Scripps Health. TSRI investigators and Scripps Health physicians collaborate closely to speed along clinical trials on promising new treatments. The center provides prostate cancer screenings, services and education to men at high risk for the disease.

Advances in three-field imaging, computer technology and medical physics have led to the development of intensity modulated radiation therapy, an ultra-precise technique that allows radiation oncologists to increase cancer-killing doses directed at malignant tumors. This targeted radiation therapy improves the cure and control rate, and patients experience fewer side effects. IMRT is being used at Scripps Green and Scripps Memorial La Jolla to treat both prostate cancer and cancers of the head and neck.

Also part of the system are the Ida M. & Cecil H. Green Cancer Center and the Thomas T. Stevens Cancer Center, well-established cancer programs within the Scripps Health system that deliver treatment and have led the way in clinical research in San Diego. The top oncologist at Scripps is Dr. Prabhakar Tripuraneni who heads radiation oncology, is an associate director of Green Cancer Center of Scripps Clinic and president-elect of The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

Breast cancer was the No. 1 diagnosis treated at each of the five hospitals. Two of the facilities, Green and La Jolla, have programs that cater to the subspecialty of breast cancer. Care is provided throughout the Scripps system. Treatment services, including breast surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and reconstructive surgery, are provided at all Scripps hospitals. Support groups are offered at the Scripps Polster Breast Care Center and Scripps Well Being Encinitas.

About 3,650 new patients with cancer were treated in Scripps hospitals in 2001. Of that number, 784 cases were breast cancer and 301 were prostate cancer.

For information about Scripps cancer care, visit http://scripps.org/41.asp or call (858) 554-8388.

Right To The Point Of Care

Sharp HealthCare offers treatment options for cancer patients at three of its acute care hospitals: Sharp Memorial in central San Diego, Sharp Grossmont in East County and Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center in the South County. Extensive clinical trials are taking place using many of the latest drug therapies. Specialty services include the triad of oncology care — surgery, radiation and medical oncology. Sharp Chula Vista has the only radiation therapy program in the entire South County and is building a cancer center, set to open in spring 2005, that will contain a minimum of two linear accelerators, the machines that deliver radiation treatment.

At Grossmont Hospital, the David & Donna Long Center for Cancer Treatment sees the most patients within the Sharp system. It contains two linear accelerator vaults, 10 exam rooms and an infusion suite. The center incorporates many programs that provide a complete range of diagnostic and treatment services for patients with cancer. These services include initial evaluation, second opinion consultations and treatment for all stages of disease. A trend in cancer treatment called the “patient-focused approach” allows those battling the disease to see their medical and radiation oncologist, receive labwork, undergo various treatments like chemotherapy and consult with a pharmacist or social worker in one location. A wide selection of reading materials, informational videos and computers are available for loan by patients in Grossmont’s Rose Cady Resource Center.

At the new Sharp Memorial Outpatient Pavilion on the Sharp Metropolitan Medical Campus at Sharp Memorial, patients are provided with streamlined care and everything under one roof. Featuring a separate entrance for those receiving ongoing treatment, the pavilion provides the latest technology in radiation and infusion therapy. Intensity modulated radiation therapy allows oncologists to more directly hit a cancerous area, sparing surrounding healthy tissue. To make patients more comfortable during chemotherapy, reclining chairs with a garden view are provided.

The new Breast Cancer Center on the Metropolitan Medical Campus combines the latest diagnostic and treatment alternatives with guidance, compassion and support for women facing breast cancer. It brings all the essential services under one roof. Case managers assist each woman through the process, working out treatment scheduling and serving as a primary contact for education, resources and other support services Sharp offers.

Its fourth acute care hospital, Sharp Coronado, has cancer care services limited to mammography for diagnostics. Four of Coronado’s nurses will be going through chemo certification in December and January.

Sharp’s clinical trials program has trials for both breast and prostate cancer, including Provenge, a new promising drug for prostate cancer. Sharp Memorial Hospital recently opened a breast cancer program at its Outpatient Pavilion, which includes streamlined timelines for diagnosis and treatment, a case manager who will see each newly diagnosed patient for support and education, as well as support groups and art classes for women.

Sharp HealthCare also is affiliated with the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, which was founded in 1990. The center houses a range of research programs, including breast, ovarian and colon cancer. In addition, SKCC is nationally ranked one of the top three cancer centers in the United States in the application of genomics and proteomics to the treatment of prostate cancer.

Through its hospitals, Sharp sees about 225 new cases of prostate cancer and 591 new cases of breast cancer a year.

For information about Sharp cancer centers and treatment, visit www.sharp.com/services/ or call 1-800-827-4277.

The Campus Cure

UCSD offers its patients treatment at the Rebecca and John Moores UCSD Cancer Center, which in early 2005 will consolidate its operations in a single, new 275,000-square foot building now under construction next to Thornton Hospital. The center treats virtually every type of cancer and specializes in breast, urological, leukemia/lymphoma, gastrointestinal (such as colorectal and pancreatic), brain, lung, gynecologic (such as cervical and ovarian) and pediatric, through a partnership with Children’s Hospital.

Patient care is designed around a team approach. Each cancer type is represented by a team of specialists from a variety of disciplines who meet to discuss each patient’s case to determine the best options available. The patient then decides with his or her primary physician on the best course of care. Members of the team represent medical, surgical and radiation oncology, pathology, diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, medical genetics, nursing and social work. Also suggesting treatment options are experts from the Cancer Center’s Clinical Trials Office.

Additional programs and services include bone marrow transplant, genetic screening and counseling, ductal lavage and ductoscopy, pain relief and prevention. A new tool available to doctors is ductoscopy, which enables the physician to view with a tiny camera the inside of a woman’s milk ducts, where breast cancer often starts.

The Moores UCSD Cancer Center is one of just 41 centers in the United States, and the only one in San Diego to hold a National Cancer Institute designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. The new center director is Dr. Dennis Carson, an internationally respected immunologist and cancer biologist on the UCSD faculty. He was selected from a field of more than 40 applicants for the position.

A recently formed partnership with Molecular Imaging Corp. will make available PET imaging services, much of which will be for cancer. The PET scanner, or positron emission tomography imaging service operates by measuring regions or organs with heightened metabolic activity, characteristic of the presence of a malignant tumor.

The Cancer Center has about 130 active clinical trials studying new therapies, diagnostics and prevention strategies involving nearly every type of cancer as well as cancer-related issues, such as pain and psychosocial issues. A large and active community outreach and education program is available, and the center recently completed three days of free prostate cancer screenings in which more than 250 men participated.

UCSD oncologists care for about 2,000 patients, accounting for 50,000 visits. In 2001, UCSD doctors treated 212 new cases of breast cancer and 147 prostate.

For information on UCSD’s cancer center and programs, visit http://cancer.ucsd.edu/ or call (858) 534-7600.

Membership Assists Each Step Of The Way

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Diego provides a full-service cancer treatment program to its nearly 500,000 members that features an inpatient medical oncology unit with 36 beds and specially trained oncology staffing. Kaiser offers cancer prevention, education, detection and treatment. In addition to its own programs, the health care provider participates in many community cancer education, prevention, detection and treatment programs such as the American Cancer Society, Y-Me San Diego, Clinical Trials and Cancer Registry.

In its prevention and treatment of breast cancer, Kaiser provides routine screening mammography, diagnostic mammography, genetic services and counseling for women predisposed to breast and ovarian cancers. In what it has termed fast-track services, Kaiser works to rapidly link suspicious findings from screening directly to diagnostics, case management, treatment and recovery services within its integrated care system. Also available are breast care coordinators who work with patients from diagnosis to recovery and support programs. These coordinators assist patients through therapy, treatment and referrals, including reconstructive services and support services with linkages to non-Kaiser programs and support groups. An internal Resources, Outreach, Support & Encouragement program links volunteer breast cancer survivors with newly diagnosed patients to help them through their medical, social and emotional journey.

Routine prostate cancer screenings are provided for men at their regular doctor appointments. The hospital makes an outreach effort to its male membership, staff and community to provide annual activities and physical exams. A full spectrum of treatments are available to prostate cancer patients, from diagnosis to treatments to post treatment care. Similar to the breast care coordinator, there is a prostate care coordinator who works with patients from diagnosis to recovery and support programs. Programs include the Watchful Wait group, Caregiver Support groups, Man to Man group and links to community based organizations.

Over the past year, Kaiser has upgraded its mammography machines, and obtained state-of-the art CT scans, MRI’s and PET scans. Dr. Jon Greif was named Physician of the Year by the American Cancer Society 2002 and has had May 12 declared Dr. Jon Greif Day by the mayor and San Diego City Council in honor of his work with both Kaiser patients and with the Breast Cancer Early Detection and Treatment Program and Y-Me San Diego. Kaiser’s Dr. Susan Boiko is the co-chair of the National Dialogue on Cancer, as well as the chairwoman of the National Council of Skin Cancer Prevention.

In San Diego, Kaiser Permanente identifies about 2,800 new cancer cases each year. The top two types are breast cancer, 500 new cases, and prostate cancer, 448 cases.

For more information on Kaiser Permanente, visit http://kaiserpermanente.org/.

State-Of-The-Art Services To The North

In North County, surgeons and medical oncologists for Palomar Pomerado Health treat all types of cancer. Diagnostic imaging, including radiography, CT, MRI, stereotactic breast biopsy, mammography, fluoroscopy, ultrasound and nuclear medicine are conducted in both hospitals and through Gateway/Parkway Radiology and Pomerado Imaging.

The radiation program is state-of-the-art, with 3-D treatment planning and intensity modulated radiation therapy delivery. Brachytherapy treatment is available for prostate and other cancers. Radiation oncologist Dr. Mary Ann Rose is listed as one of San Diego’s Best Doctors for 2003 by bestdoctors.com, a peer-driven recognition.

Palomar Pomerado provides cancer resource centers at Palomar Medical Center and Pomerado Hospital. An oncology-certified nurse is available at both centers for anyone seeking general information regarding the latest in cancer screening, prevention, diagnosis and/or treatment. Wigs for women with chemotherapy-related hair loss and mastectomy prostheses are provided through the American Cancer Society and distributed free of charge from the PPH Resource Centers.

Additionally, PPH sponsors a breast cancer support group, a women’s cancer support group and a survivors’ exercise group. Eight-week I Can Cope programs are presented three times each year. PPH hosts the American Cancer Society’s Look Good, Feel Better Program several times throughout the year.

For information on Palomar Pomerado Health cancer care, visit http://pph.org/body.cfm?id=26 or call (858) 613-4044 or (760) 739-3943.

Patients Don’t Have To Try It Alone

Tri-City Medical Center provides comprehensive general oncology services for inpatients and outpatients from Oceanside to San Marcos in its newly renovated oncology unit. Staff oncologists are experienced in treating almost all kinds of cancer, and provide medical guidance and specific information on breast, prostate, colon and many other types of cancer. Available are clinical trials that provide patients with treatments under study.

Tri-City care includes a variety of groups, events and advice on ways to cope with cancer and share experiences.

The Edgar & Jo Anne Jones Women’s Diagnostic Center provides early discovery and treatment of breast cancer, with state-of-the-art facilities, procedures and dedicated care to women’s needs. Here women can receive a mammography and undergo ultrasound procedures, radiology, stereotactic and sentinel node breast biopsy. They offer nurse-specialist counseling, as well as health information, education, support services and a women’s health library.

Prostate cancer physicians at Tri-City Medical Center are leaders in diagnosing prostate cancer and use the latest treatment advances, such as the ProstaScint procedure, a medicine scan that can determine if there is a spread of cancer to lymph nodes, and radiation implant seeding, which involves surgical implantation of small beads of radioactive material to treat localized prostate cancers.

Tri City saw 201 cases of breast cancer and 70 cases of prostate cancer among nearly 1,000 new cases of cancer in 2002.

For cancer center information, visit http://www.tri-citymed.com/service/oncology/index.cfm or call (760) 940-3041.

Recognizing Care To The East

The oncology program at Alvarado Hospital Medical Center in East County has been recognized by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons as offering high-quality cancer care. Only one in four hospitals that treat cancer receive this approval.

Alvarado provides its patients full-service cancer care that includes a teamwork approach by medical staff for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, as well as education and support for cancer patients and their families. The center is equipped with advanced diagnostic tools that include ultrasound, mammography, nuclear medicine, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The center team consists of oncologists and physician specialists, surgeons, nurses and support staff. Full treatment is provided on the hospital campus with clinical services that can be administered at home for patients who find it difficult to travel. Alvarado physicians are in private practice.

Chemotherapeutic drugs are prepared by the hospital’s on-campus pharmacy for both inpatient and outpatient administration. Other pharmaceutical services include management of antibiotic dosaging and nutrition support.

Alvarado provides a Women’s Cancer Center that specializes in gynecologic oncology and is staffed with two board-certified gynecologic oncologists. It partners with the American Cancer Society and provides free wigs, turbans and breast prostheses to women undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

Additionally, Alvarado established Reach for Our Hand, a proactive outreach program that provides information, counseling and community resources to cancer patients and their families.

Nearly 760 cases of cancer were seen at Alvarado last year, 6.5 percent of the region’s 11,640. Seventy of those cases were breast cancer and 55 were prostate cancer.

For cancer services at Alvarado, visit http://www.alvaradohospital.com/CWSContent/alvaradohospital/ ourServices/medicalServices/CancerCenter+.htm or call (888) 522-2623.

South County Reaches Out

Paradise Valley Hospital in South County does not provide care to cancer patients on its campus. When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, the physician makes recommendations to other area cancer programs.

Research and clinical trials have come a long way to battle this killer disease in its many, many forms. Screenings to detect cancer in its early stage have done much to reduce the damage and information on healthy lifestyles has aided in the reduction of cases. As hospitals continue to expand their cancer care centers and provide a variety of treatments and clinical trials, their work makes it easier on patients and enhances recovery.