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Treatment Programs

The Surgical Oncology Program at The Ottawa Hospital includes surgeons with a predominant surgical oncology practice in general surgery, orthopedics, ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, urology and neurosurgery. The program also includes representation from other departments and divisions (e.g. pathology, diagnostic imaging) and provides consultations for other cancer sites in Eastern Ontario.

The focus is on improving the quality of cancer surgery through a multidisciplinary, inclusive program which includes education, research and innovative surgical care delivery. Members of the Surgical Oncology Program work collaboratively with other department and division heads to implement the Ontario Cancer Research Network’s Ontario Tumour Bank initiatives, enhance access to cancer diagnostics and improve quality and access to pathology.

Radiation therapy is the use of radiation for the treatment of cancer. Radiation may be used to cure or control cancer or to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life (palliation).

There are two types of radiation therapy:

1. External beam radiation therapy, where radiation is delivered from a treatment machine outside the body and directed at the cancer site, and
2. Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy) which involves placing radiation sources as close as possible to the tumour site.

Radiation therapy is currently provided at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre's General and Civic Campuses. More than 300 cancer patients are treated each day at these facilities. Under the TOH Regional Cancer Program, the new Irving Greenberg Cancer Centre at the Queensway Carleton Hospital will soon provide radiation therapy.

Rapid Palliative Radiation Therapy Program

Information document for referring physician

Referral form

Questions?
Email     rapidpall@ottawahospital.on.ca
Phone   613-737-7700 ext. 73230

Treatment Team

1. Radiation oncologists oversee radiation therapy treatments and meet with patients regularly to discuss their treatment
2. Radiation therapists deliver radiation treatment and advise patients on possible side effects and self-care, and refer patients to other team members such as the nurse, social worker or dietician if needed
3. Radiation oncology nurses meet with patients on first and last day of treatment and during treatment if needed. They provide advice on coping with possible side effects, assess how the patient is doing throughout treatment and make referrals to other team members if necessary.
4. Treatment coordinators schedule appointments for patients.

Medical Physicists

Medical physicists play a key role in all steps of the radiation therapy process, from treatment planning, calculating the exact dose of radiation specific to each patient's treatment, simulation of the treatment plan and overseeing a comprehensive quality assurance program to ensure that radiation treatment machines are accurate.

Medical Physicists are also involved in research and development of improved medical imaging devices and techniques.

Systemic Therapy Program - Chemotherapy

Treatment at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre is provided by a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses and support staff. Patients are seen throughout their treatment and follow up in Care Delivery Units (Modules) specific to their type of cancer.

The Systemic Therapy Program includes these Modules, and the Chemotherapy Treatment Unit, which are located at the General Campus. The patient education sessions are provided at the General Campus.

The program also oversees the administration of the CHIPP program (Chemotherapy Home Infusion Pump Program) and for the provision of services to patients living in Eastern Ontario, through the Regional Cancer Program.

The Systemic Therapy program consists of the following people:

• Medical oncologists – doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating cancer using chemotherapy and hormonal therapy.
• Patient Designated Nurses are registered nurses who specialize in providing care that is more specific to your tumour site diagnosis. She is the patient's point of contact for concerns, problems and education about cancer treatment and the patient's link to care and services at the Cancer Centre.
• Chemotherapy treatment nurses administer chemotherapy, assess how the patient is doing throughout treatment, give advice, treat possible side effects and provide emotional support.
• Unit coordinators are clerks who book follow up appointments and medical tests.

The Regional Cancer Program of The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre provides cancer services to patients living in Eastern Ontario as close as possible to the patient's home. The Program offers clinics, and coordinates the delivery of chemotherapy in several areas of Eastern Ontario, by nurses, physicians and pharmacists who have been trained at the Cancer Centre.

Community chemotherapy satellites are located in Hawkesbury, Renfrew and Winchester. Community Cancer Clinics for follow-up visits for patients who have finished their treatments are offered in Pembroke, Renfrew and Cornwall.

The Bone Marrow Transplant Program uses many different sources of stem cells to treat patients with diseases of the blood. Stem cells are obtained from related and unrelated donors, who are either fully or partially matched and most commonly from the patients own blood.. Stem cells may be obtained from the bone marrow but the majority of stem cells are collected from the blood by apheresis, a procedure in which blood is collected, part of the blood such as platelets or white blood cells is taken out, and the rest of the blood is returned to the donor.

The BMT program at The Ottawa Hospital has a long history of success in developing and applying novel therapies for patients with hematological malignancies - cancers of the blood or bone marrow, such as leukemia or lymphoma.

In addition, the physicians and researchers are respected leaders in helping to expand the application of transplant for treatment of other disease including Multiple Sclerosis and other autoimmune disease as well as examining the role of stem cells in regenerative medicine. Many of the clinical trials that are ongoing are designed to decrease treatment side effects and improve the cure rate for patients.