Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a treatment designed for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. Chemotherapy is a classification of medications that kills cancerous cells within the body. This is a systemic treatment in which the medication is delivered through the bloodstream. This is effective in attacking cancerous cells at the point of origin and for other cancerous cells that may have traveled to different regions of the body.  Cancer is described as rapidly dividing cells that lives beyond their normal lifespan and become abnormal. Chemotherapy targets these rapidly growing and dividing cells and kills them. However, cancer cells are not the only fast growing cells found within our body. Other fast growing cells include hair, fingernails, toenails, blood, the lining of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. Unfortunately these cells can also become affected by chemotherapy. The results of damage to these healthy cells are seen as the side effects associated with chemotherapy.  Some side effects commonly experienced include hair loss, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and bone marrow suppression.  With years of experience in treating patients who have undergone chemotherapy and the aid of new medications many of these side effects can be controlled.

Immunotherapy/Biological therapy
Immunotherapy is a term used to describe a type of therapy that stimulates the body’s natural immune system to fight cancer cells within the body. Our immune system is designed to differentiate between healthy cells and bad cells. When a foreign cell is recognized by the immune system (virus or bacteria) it produces cells specifically to set out and destroy these foreign bodies. Immunotherapy is used to trigger the immune system to use its natural defenses to fight off the cancerous cells. Immunotherapy is not a treatment choice for every patient with cancer. Research and clinical trials have proven that this therapy is only effective in specific types of cancers. Certain cancers respond differently to different treatments, your physician will discuss with you which treatment shows optimal results.

Intravenous therapy and supportive care
These therapies are a treatment option offered in the office to help support you through some of the side effects you may be experiencing as a result of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy. Intravenous therapy is used to give the body back fluids that may have been lost through diarrhea, vomiting, or a loss of appetite. This is accomplished by a nurse inserting a small catheter into a vein where fluids can be administered back into the bloodstream and distributed to all vital cells. We are also capable of offering anti-nausea medications directly through the intravenous catheter to help control these symptoms. Prevention and management of neutropenia and anemia is accomplished by close monitoring and injections of growth factors that stimulate the bone marrow to produce more red and white blood cells. Most importantly our team of experts in hematology and oncology are here to provide you and your family with psychological and emotional support during this time in your life.

Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high energy rays to shrink and kill cancerous cells. This is considered a local therapy where the tumor area is mapped out and the rays are transmitted directly to that one area. Radiation can be used as the primary single treatment or may be used along with chemotherapy to increase the effectiveness of chemo, or may be used prior or following surgery. Sometimes radiation therapy is done prior to surgery to decrease the tumor size to a point where surgery is more favorable with fewer risks to the patient. Other times radiation is done after surgery to make sure all of the cancer cells are gone.

PET/CT scans
CT stands for computerized tomography which is a machine that utilizes x-rays to develop a three dimensional picture of a certain body part. A CT scan done in the office is used to make a specific outline of the tumor. A radiation treatment plan is then orchestrated based on this outline to help spare healthy surrounding tissue. The PET/CT scan incorporates the use of new technology allowing our facility to better evaluate the tumor load. The Positron Emission Tomography uses radio labeled sugar to highlight cancer cells. This is a process which involves injecting the sugar into a vein which travels through the blood stream and becomes concentrated inside the tumor. The PET/CT scan is used together to show the relationship of the cancer with precision to the anatomical features of the body.

Clinical trials
A clinical trial is a study patients may participate in order to evaluate the effectiveness of a new treatment. Those who participate in clinical trials have the option to receive a new treatment that is not yet available to everyone. Patients who show interest are screened prior to registering into a trail and may or may not be a candidate. The screening process often includes signing an informed consent, blood work to evaluate the function of vital organ prior to treatment, and CT scans. Based on these tests it will be determined whether or not the new treatment is safe for you. Those who enter into a trial always have the option to leave under any circumstances. Clinical trials are essential in providing new treatments and medications before they become available to the public. It is through clinical trials that the FDA approves these new therapies.  Our newest project is to incorporate clinical trials here in the office. We feel that this will provide our patients with more options in the treatment of hematology and oncology. If you are interested or have questions regarding clinical trials, ask your physician for more information regarding this subject.

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
A bone marrow biopsy is another service that we offer here in the office. Bone marrow is a substance that is found inside the center of larger bone The role of the bone marrow is very important, as it produces all the different types of blood cell needed for vital functioning. Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are all made within the marrow and regulates the rate that these cell are made. A biopsy is usually done to evaluate the reason behind an abnormal complete blood count. The procedure is performed by Dr. Khan, where he will first clean the skin and give a local anesthetic injection into the skin to numb the area where the larger needle will be inserted into the bone, usually the hip bone. A sample of bone marrow is removed, the needle is then retracted and a pressure bandage is applied to the site. The patient will then be observed in the office for the next thirty minutes to assess the patient following the procedure and make certain the bleeding has stopped. The bone aspirate is then sent to a outside lab where a physician can look at the blood cells under the microscope. It takes about 3-5 working days to get the results back. Once the report has been read by Dr. Khan he will discuss these with you and the treatment options available.