The Medical Oncology Department at City of Hope® Cancer Center Atlanta diagnoses cancer and delivers treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and hormone therapy personalized to your needs.
Your initial visit to City of Hope Atlanta will typically last one to three days. Our medical oncologists have expertise and training in diagnosing cancer and developing personalized cancer treatment plans tailored to the patient's diagnosis, overall health and preferences.
Our medical oncologists work in tandem with the rest of your care team to provide therapies designed to help reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and other treatments. During your stay, your medical oncologist will review your diagnosis and medical history, and order additional diagnostic testing and evaluations as needed.
At the end of your diagnostic evaluation, your medical oncologist will present you with a personalized cancer treatment plan. Together, you and your medical oncologist will discuss the treatment options available for your cancer type and stage and determine which options may be appropriate for you.
If chemotherapy is part of your treatment plan, your medical oncologist will coordinate your dosage and schedule. You may receive chemotherapy alone or in combination with other treatment modalities like targeted therapies, surgery and/or radiation therapy.
Throughout your care, your medical oncologist will work closely with you to monitor your treatment regimen to track your progress and help reduce side effects.
Our unique model of care at City of Hope brings a dedicated team of cancer experts together on a daily basis. Your medical oncologist will communicate with the other members of your care team throughout your treatment. He or she will monitor your treatment and assist with managing side effects, such as gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, insomnia and/or neuropathy. Your care team works diligently to help you tolerate treatments, stay active and enjoy a good quality of life.
Throughout your treatment, you’ll undergo diagnostic imaging and lab tests that will allow your medical oncologist to follow the progress of your treatment. If the cancer is resisting treatment, or you are not tolerating it, your medical oncologist will modify your treatment plan or recommend using a different therapy.
At City of Hope Atlanta, our oncologists, nurses, clinicians and other cancer experts are trained and experienced in treating cancer. Many of our cancer experts focus on one specific disease type, taking comprehensive, personalized cancer care to the next level. In our Atlanta hospital, we have a Lung Cancer Center, a GI Cancer Center and a Breast Cancer Center, where multidisciplinary teams of doctors and other clinicians with expertise in treating specific cancer types collaborate to deliver comprehensive, personalized cancer care.
This close coordination helps our clinicians reach a diagnosis more efficiently and recommend an individualized care plan, to help you start treatment as soon as possible. Knowing that fighting cancer is only part of the battle, your care team may also recommend various evidence-informed supportive therapies to help you manage the side effects of cancer and its treatment. Each patient’s team is coordinated by a nurse who helps you handle the details and responds to your questions as they arise.
