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Anderson Family Cancer Institute

Creation of a leading-edge cancer resource that our community needs and deserves has been a central component of our strategic plan. Opening in late 2019, the Anderson Family Cancer Institute will provide convenient access to multidisciplinary, evidence-based care such as that found in the nation’s most prestigious health care institutions.

Accredited as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program by the Commission on Cancer, our fellowship-trained physicians diagnose, evaluate and develop personalized treatment plans for patients with known or suspected breast, gynecologic, thoracic, hepatobiliary, and skin cancers. Our cancer specialists work collaboratively within the community, and with top academic cancer institutions throughout the United States to evaluate each patient’s
diagnosis and to develop personalized treatment plans.

CUTTING-EDGE TREATMENTS AND TECHNOLOGY

Under the guidance of Dr. Nathan Tennyson, Medical Director, Radiation Oncology; Jupiter Medical Center’s radiation oncology program is committed to providing the most advanced care to its patients in a caring and supportive environment. Jupiter Medical Center was the first in Florida, and still is one of only a handful of hospitals in Florida offering the next generation of radiosurgery: the CyberKnife® M6™; the most advanced and accurate CyberKnife system in use today. It is a nonsurgical, pain-free treatment option for many patients who have inoperable or surgically complex cancerous and noncancerous tumors anywhere in the body, including the head, spine, lung, prostate, liver and pancreas, or who may be looking for an alternative to surgery.

To provide patients the optimum in treatment experiences and outcomes, Jupiter Medical Center is also among the very few U.S. cancer centers to offer Electron Beam IntraOperative Radiation Therapy (e-IORT), dramatically reducing the number of radiation treatments needed for breast, gynecological, colorectal, lung and gastrointestinal cancers. e-IORT delivers a fraction of radiation compared to the traditional six- or seven-week course to a tumor or tumor bed during surgery using a linear accelerator. For many patients, receiving radiation to the tumor in the operating
room immediately after the cancerous tissue is removed, enables them—in most cases—to complete their treatment in just a single day, and avoid weeks of post-operative radiation.


The Anderson Family Cancer Institute will house a new, state-of-the-art TrueBeam® radiotherapy system—the most advanced medical linear
accelerator. It customizes high-energy X-rays or electrons to conform to a tumor’s shape, and destroys cancer cells while sparing normal surrounding
tissue. TrueBeam treats cancer anywhere in the body by delivering highly precise doses of radiation, and offering clinicians intelligent tools for a wide spectrum of advanced treatment modalities, giving them the confidence to know treatments are delivered exactly as planned.

At Jupiter Medical Center, we provide the most advanced cancer care
by combining clinical excellence, cutting-edge technology and integrative
support services. We treat the entire patient by pairing world-class
care with unparalleled dedication to the physical and
emotional well-being of every patient.

THE NEXT PHASE IN CANCER CARE

Cancer is a complex disease and the varied malignancies are among the biggest challenges that medicine faces. That’s why Jupiter Medical Center has prioritized creation of many disease-specific cancer programs as a central component of our visionary, far-ranging strategic plan. Already in development are programs for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer and Women’s Lung Health Program.

HEPATOBILIARY AND PANCREATIC CANCER PROGRAM

A Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer Program will serve patients with liver and pancreatic diseases, including disorders of the liver, bile ducts, gallbladder and pancreas. Surgical procedures for these diseases are usually advanced and complicated. Special training and skill is required to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients. This program, once developed, will be multidisciplinary and include the latest technological advancements. The recent recruitment of Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin, Medical Director for the Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology Program, has spotlighted the use of the most recent advances in technology to diagnose and treat benign conditions and cancers. He has already performed
the Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedure at Jupiter Medical Center for patients with cancer that had spread to various areas in the abdomen. Before HIPEC is administered, the surgeon, using standard surgical methods, will remove all visible tumors that can be removed throughout the peritoneal cavity. This is known as cytoreductive surgery. Following cytoreductive surgery, while still in the operative setting,
the surgeon will administer the HIPEC treatment. Jupiter Medical Center is the first medical center on the east coast of Florida, and the only one in Palm Beach County, to use the HIPEC procedure to treat and potentially save the lives of patients with stage 4 cancers.

WOMEN’S LUNG HEALTH PROGRAM

Despite the fact that more and more women in the United States are affected by lung disease, women frequently do not receive the appropriate care. The Women’s Lung Health Program at Jupiter Medical Center will be a unique resource dedicated to the care of female patients with lung disease.

Women’s lung health is a focus for many reasons: Women have a higher rate of asthma than men; in the United States women with COPD outnumber men, and the incidence of lung cancer in women continues to increase while declining in men. More women die from lung cancer than breast cancer—and two thirds of them never smoked.

Studies have shown that women with lung disease are less likely to receive appropriate medical tests, such as pulmonary function testing. Women with COPD are more likely to be misdiagnosed as having asthma. And women are less likely to receive referrals to specialists
who thoroughly understand their diseases. Developed in conjunction with the Thoracic Surgery & Lung Center of Excellence, the Women’s Lung Health
Program will be designed to optimize care across their lifespan for women with lung conditions and diseases.

EXPANDED GENETIC TESTING

Under the guidance of Dr. Nancy Taft, Medical Director of Comprehensive Breast Program; Dr. Orna Hadar, Breast Imaging Specialist at the Margaret W. Neidland Breast Center and Genetics Counselor, Cathy Marinak, ARPN, MSN, AOCN, Jupiter Medical Center’s goal is to expand its existing genetics screening into a comprehensive Genetics Screening Clinic to support current recommendations by the American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast Imaging. This clinic will be the first of its kind in the United States, changing the way physicians diagnose cancer in younger patients. It will also serve as a valuable care resource to the primary care physician community that is often unsure when to recommend these important screenings to patients, and have limited knowledge on advising patients on where to have it done and how to have it covered by insurance.

The proposed model starts with individuals who will work with a nurse navigator to begin the screening process, utilizing corporate genetic partners. The test will be reviewed by a genetics counselor at Jupiter Medical Center, identifying areas of possible risk. Those identified as what we call “previvors,” meaning they’re at increased risk due to their genes, will receive additional assistance from a medical specialist, as well as wellness support and counseling.

SURVIVORSHIP PROGRAM

As a disease, cancer can affect an individual’s entire well-being—from physical to psychological, social, and even spiritual wellness. The cancer survivor population must navigate a complex, constantly evolving field to conquer and recover from their disease. To address the unmet needs of the cancer survivorship community, the Oncology Program at Jupiter Medical Center is working to create a high-quality, patient-centered Cancer Survivorship Program. A board-certified medical oncologist will lead this program under the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for survivorship, screening, evaluation and treatment.

Integral to a patient’s recovery will also be an expanded Oncology Health and Wellness Program housed within the Anderson Family Cancer
Institute. The program will provide an array of services such as massage therapy, reiki, nutritional counseling, acupuncture and meditation, as well as an on-site boutique to provide professional assistance with wig selection and fitting to support patients, families and caregivers at every step—from innovative “prehab” (prehabilitation) to palliative care counseling.

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CLINICAL RESEARCH

Clinical research is another integral component to our multidisciplinary approach. Clinical trials are one of the most important weapons in the continuing fight against disease and in the advancement of medicine. These studies may offer patients the opportunity to receive new or potentially more effective therapies, as well as state-of-the-art approaches to treatment.

Jupiter Medical Center participates in clinical studies and affiliates with national research organizations to deliver clinical trials to our local community. Our affiliations allow access to National Cancer Institute-sponsored clinical trials. Patients have access to research that addresses many aspects of cancer care, including new forms of treatment, methods of prevention, ways of screening for cancer, and ways to improve comfort and quality of life for
cancer patients. Jupiter Medical Center also participates in trials addressing general medicine, surgical outcomes and biosciences.

MEETING THE CHALLENGES

To meet the needs of the region, Jupiter Medical Center’s Comprehensive Cancer Program will have the ability to fully serve patients from diagnosis through treatment. Additional, philanthropic support is essential to fully realize Jupiter Medical Center’s evolution from a high-quality community hospital to a worldclass regional resource, while maintaining our strong community orientation and independence.

Want To Learn More?

Contact the Jupiter Medical Center Foundation today to learn about the good we’re doing and how to get involved.

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