The MetroHealth Cancer Care Center was granted the 2008 Outstanding Achievement Award by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons recognizing excellence in the care and follow-up of cancer patients.

The MetroHealth Cancer Care Center is committed to providing cancer patients the most up to date care in a personalized setting. Quality care of the cancer care patient has always been a priority at MetroHealth Medical Center. The expert staff, using a team approach with members from several disciplines, compassionately treats the patient and also offers support to his/her family in an academic setting. 

MetroHealth is the only facility on Cleveland’s west side to offer comprehensive cancer care on one campus. The oncology service, consisting of two inpatient units and one multimodal outpatient clinic, was established in 1973 and has since grown into a major referral center for cancer care.

MetroHealth’s services take a multidisciplinary approach and include medical, surgical, gynecologic, and radiation oncology. Medical expertise, nursing care, diagnostic and treatment capabilities, rehabilitative care, physical facilities, emotional support for both patient and family, and research combine for optimal patient care.

The following divisions offer diagnosis and treatment services to cancer patients:

Medical Oncology and Hematology
Specialists from this area provide comprehensive diagnostic and consultative services to patients with various types of cancer such as leukemia, lymphoma, solid tumors, and all types of anemia. They participate in the pre-operative and post- operative management of the cancer patients.

Surgical Oncology
Devoted exclusively to the care of cancer patients who require surgery, surgical oncologists have a focused understanding of the problems of cancer and a clear perception of the total care required. Surgeons with special interest in brain tumors, head and neck, lung, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal cancers participate in the care and therapy plan of those patients.

Gynecologic Oncology
Gynecologic cancer is aggressively treated with multiple modalities of radical surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. The division also runs a large colposcopy and cryosurgery clinic for early diagnosis and treatment of precancerous lesions of the cervix, vulva, and vagina.

Radiation Oncology
Cancer patients are offered the latest in radiotherapy. Two linear accelerators for radiation therapy allow tumors to be treated with less damage to surrounding tissue, resulting in greater comfort and fewer side effects for the patient.

State-of-the-Art Resources

MetroHealth Medical Center is equipped with some of the most sophisticated diagnostic equipment currently available to treat cancer. Following are a few examples:

PET/CT
MetroHealth is the first Cancer Care Center in the region with this technology. PET/CT expands diagnostic imaging capabilities in cancer detection, providing patients with immediate answers. This technology offers precise tumor detection and localization for various types of cancers, including breast, esophageal, cervical, melanoma, lymphoma, lung, colorectal, head and neck, and ovarian.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI is used in identifying internal abnormalities and in determining the precise extent of the cancer to assist in the management of the tumor.

Colposcopy
This method is used when a patient has an abnormal pap smear or abnormal lesions in the genitalia or cervix. The physician can perform directed biopsies through the enlarged and enhanced visual aid of the colposcope.

The Cancer Care Center strives to advance treatments for cancer through active participation in clinical research trials. As a primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, the Cancer Care Center is also dedicated to the teaching of medical students and staff.