Mercy Medical Group offers specialty care in multiple aspects of cancer care, including:
- Hematology/Oncology
- Lung Cancer Surgery
- Radiation Oncology
- Uro-Oncology
Hematology/Oncology
Hematologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the blood. Oncologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers or tumors. Services provided in the Hematology/Oncology Department include:
- Evaluation and treatment of anemia
- Diagnosis and treatment of cancer
- Outpatient blood transfusions and cancer treatment therapies
- Patient education
Mercy Medical Group is committed to providing you with compassion, respect and exceptional cancer care. Our experienced physicians, Robert Quadro, MD, and Shahzad Siddique, MD, provide specialty care in Hematology and Oncology.
Lung & Esophageal Cancer Surgery
Lung cancer often takes several years to develop and is rare in people under the age of 45. Most lung cancer starts in the lining of the bronchi, but it can also start in other parts of the lung. There may first be areas of pre-cancerous changes that can't be seen on an X-ray and don't cause symptoms. Eventually, these pre-cancerous areas can go on to become true cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. More people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.
According to the American Cancer Society, there were more than 16,600 new cases of esophageal cancer in the United States in 2010. It is estimated that about one in 200 Americans will be diagnosed with esophageal cancer in their lifetime. The good news is that if caught early enough, cancer of the esophagus is treatable.
Mercy Medical Group thoracic surgeons Costanzo Di Perna, MD, and Stephen Maxwell, MD, are specialists who focus on the surgical treatment of lung and esophageal cancer, as well as general thoracic conditions.
Radiation Oncology
Radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA of cancerous cells, causing them to die or reproduce more slowly. A technique that was pioneered more than 100 years ago, the field has advanced tremendously in the past decade. New 3D imaging techniques, coupled with sophisticated planning software, have allowed radiation oncologists to localize and treat even small tumors with unprecedented accuracy.
While radiation therapy typically requires many brief incremental treatments, some patients may be candidates for stereotactic radiosurgery (also known as external beam radiation therapy) in which the radiation treatment is delivered in a single procedure.
Our radiation oncology services are directed by John M. Stevenson, MD, who also serves as one of the medical directors of the Mercy Cancer Institute of Greater Sacramento. With more than 20 years' experience with stereotactic radiosurgery, Dr. Stevenson is Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners.
Uro-Oncology
Urological cancers can include cancer of the kidneys, bladder, prostate and testicles. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, after lung cancer. The death rate for prostate cancer is going down, as the disease is being caught early more and more often.
Mercy Medical Group specialist Javid Javidan, MD, is a board certified urologist with fellowship training in urological diseases and urological oncology. He brings a level of expertise to the diagnosis and treatment or urological cancers. Dr. Javidan is also trained in the use of the da Vinci® surgical system which is a minimally invasive approach that utilizes the latest in surgical and robotic-assisted technologies, making it ideal for delicate urologic surgeries including prostatectomy. The benefits can include:
- Less blood loss
- Quicker recovery times
- Less pain
Dr. Javidan is also the medical director of Mercy San Juan Medical Center's da Vinci® Surgical Services Program.
Use our convenient online directory for help in finding any one of our Mercy Medical Group physicians who provide specialized cancer care.
