Cancer Care >>

Inpatient Cancer Care

Outpatient Cancer Care

CancerCare Coordinator Program

The Medical Center's cancer program is approved by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer, you want to find the best possible place for your cancer care. You don’t need to look far. The best in today’s cancer care can be found in a Commission on Cancer (COC) approved oncology program, like the one at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.

In November 2005, The Medical Center’s Cancer Program earned a three-year “Approval with Commendation” from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, ensuring quality care close to home. “Only one in four hospitals that treat cancer receive this special approval,” says Cancer Committee chair and Dartmouth Hitchcock gastroenterologist Timothy Scherer, MD. “The approval with commendation in five different areas recognizes the dedication of the cancer team and quality of cancer care here at The Medical Center.” Learn more about our Cancer Committee ►

We are proud of our relationship with Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and how this benefits our cancer patients and the community. As oncologist Dr. James O'Shea says, "A good community hospital knows what it can and can’t do. We know that for some types of cancer the best treatment and care is available right here. In other situations requiring highly specialized care,
the best treatment might be at a university hospital, like MGH. Our relationship with MGH Cancer Center in Boston assures our patients speedy access to highly skilled specialists and clinical trials. Because we have a close working relationship with MGH doctors and their staffs, we can expedite referrals and appointments, share findings and treatment options, and provide a seamless continuum of care. Patients benefit."

Inpatient Cancer Care

3-West is a Medical / Surgical / Oncology unit which provides multi-disciplinary, comprehensive cancer care in an acute care setting. Our oncology certified nurses (OCNs) are credentialed through the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). Nurses who administer cytotoxic and biotherapeutic agents (chemotherapy) have been specifically trained. We provide maintenance therapy - for example, symptom management and blood transfusions - as well as care for patients admitted for side effects of chemotherapy or recovering from surgical procedures to remove cancer. We also have two dedicated palliative care suites for the patient and family at end-of-life. There is a Library on the unit with information about different types of cancer, treatment, management, support groups, and more. In addition, a dedicated CaringBridge computer allows families to to keep friends and family updated.

Outpatient Cancer Care

Advanced technology, such as our advanced 64-slice CT and PET scanners and Nashua's only fixed-unit MRI, assist in detecting cancer and making accurate diagnoses. Patient teams may include surgeons, an oncology nurse practitioner, a cancer care coordinator, nutritionists, pain and stress management specialists, complementary care providers, and plastic surgeons. Comprehensive plans for care may incorporate chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, and include spiritual counseling, holistic therapies and support groups.

Our deNicola Breast Health Center, fully accredited by the American College of Radiology, provides mammography, ultrasounds, and stereotactic and ultrasound-guided breast biopsies among a comprehensive array of services geared toward early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

The only accredited radiation center in southern New Hampshire, the Nashua Regional Cancer Center offers local access to treatment, counseling, and support services.

If needed, hospice services are readily available in the community as well.