Saint Peter’s University Hospital has been at the forefront of cancer care for more than four decades. Adults and children receive individualized care provided by the expert staff of Saint Peter’s University Hospital’s accredited* cancer program and Saint Peter’s Physician Associates (SPPA).
From genetic testing and counseling through the diagnosis and treatment, Saint Peter’s offers the most advanced inpatient and outpatient cancer treatments using the latest technology, medications and surgical procedures.
Treatment is not isolated. Saint Peter’s cancer specialists – medical oncologists, hematologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, oncology nurse navigator, radiologists, chemotherapists, pathologists, geneticists, nurses, pharmacists and other professionals including social workers and physical therapists – work together to make sure a patient’s needs are met in the most appropriate and effective way. Saint Peter’s nurses are nationally certified and many hold dual certification in both oncology and medical surgical nursing.
Areas of specialization include:
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Infusion services
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Radiation oncology
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Coblation
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Pediatric cancer care
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ProCure Proton Therapy
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Surgical oncology
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Lung cancer
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Lymphedema
National Accreditation of Saint Peter’s Cancer Programs
The cancer program at Saint Peter’s University Hospital is accredited by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons and recognized for its expert care and its role as a teaching hospital. The Commission sets national standards for cancer care and conducts rigorous on-site review of facilities that voluntarily apply for inspection. Saint Peter's first received this gold-standard accreditation in 1985. Facilities are evaluated on their compliance with 47 mandatory standards in 10 areas of service including prevention, rehabilitation, and long-term follow-up, and are reviewed every three years.
The Saint Peter’s Breast Center has continually earned three-year full accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, a program also administered by the American College of Surgeons. Saint Peter’s was the first hospital in central New Jersey and the second in the state to earn accreditation for breast cancer services. Saint Peter’s was a founding member of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey and is currently a research associate.
Saint Peter’s Cancer Center
The Saint Peter’s Cancer Center, conveniently located across the street from the main campus of Saint Peter’s University Hospital, is a state-of-the-art facility for the treatment of adult cancers. The center is equipped with a variety of equipment, including a linear accelerator, a device that delivers external beam radiation treatments. Infusion services are also provided at the cancer center. Bladder, kidney and breast cancer are among the conditions treated at the center.
Surgical Oncology
The Saint Peter’s team of surgical oncologists has extensive clinical experience in surgeries of the pancreas, hepatobiliary system, gastrointestinal tract; tumors of the esophagus, stomach and small bowel; as well as colon and rectal cancers.
In addition to traditional open-wound surgery sometimes necessary to treat complex cases of cancer disease, Saint Peter’s doctors perform large volumes of minimally invasive surgeries using laparoscopic tools and the da Vinci® Surgical System.
Gynecologic Oncology
Gynecologic oncology services at Saint Peter’s are provided by physicians from the Rutgers Cancer institute of New Jersey. Please call 732.339.7639 to make an appointment.
Lymphedema Prevention and Rehabilitation Program
Breast cancer-related lymphedema is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the fatty tissues just under the skin that may cause swelling in the hand, arm, breast, and chest wall on the affected side. Patients are at risk for developing lymphedema if lymph nodes removed during your surgery or undergo radiation. Scar tissue, prolonged swelling or difficulty healing after surgery, amount of breast tissue removed, as well as being overweight also contribute to increasing your risk.
Certified lymphedema therapists(CLT) at Saint Peter’s University Hospital who specialize in breast cancer rehabilitation provide a customized treatment program to meet the special needs of cancer survivors from time of diagnosis to full recovery. Our program offers personalized one-on-one treatment, as well as group therapeutic exercise programs to help:
Treat edema/lymphedema of the arm, breast and chest wall
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Increase strength, range of motion and function
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Increase energy and endurance
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Decrease pain and anxiety
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Improve quality of life
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Return to an active lifestyle