St. Bernards Cancer Treatment Center is a comprehensive cancer treatment program recognized by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. It has continued to grow since its founding, steadily increasing the number of services and treatments available to cancer patients in our region.

The program was developed specifically so area residents would not have to leave home to receive the most advanced care. Area physicians provide patients with advanced treatment options, the latest diagnostic tools, treatment, follow-up care, and support. The cancer program offers a range of comprehensive services from prevention, education, and community screenings for early detection to innovative diagnostic and treatment options. The consistent ACOS approval of this program is a tribute to the unwavering dedication of the program’s entire multidisciplinary physician team.

The St. Bernards Cancer Committee monitors the program in its entirety throughout the year. Patient care evaluation studies are performed annually on site-specific cancers, which lead to the development of site-specific treatment guidelines for the physicians. St. Bernards monitors the usage of these guidelines on an ongoing basis.

St. Bernards also operates an excellent community outreach program. In 2005, a number of community projects were offered, some of which include: community and industry health screenings, healthy choice food feast, prostate and colorectal screenings, bereavement seminars, Race for the Cure and Relay for Life, hospice volunteer training, and a smoking cessation program. St. Bernards has been especially successful in this last regard, receiving grant money to fund a full-time smoking interventionalist for the smoking cessation program.

Many community projects are offered in conjunction with the American Cancer Society. These services are available to all interested patients, regardless of where they are treated.

The Cancer Program will continue to follow the mission of St. Bernards Healthcare by providing Christ-like healing to the community through education, treatment and health services. This report will highlight information from our comprehensive program for calendar year 2005.