2015 Cancer Program Report

Michelle J. / MELANOMA SURVIVOR (See her story inside.)

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted a Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the Cancer Center at El Camino Hospital.

2015 CANCER PROGRAM REPORT

HELP. HEALING. HOPE.

2005

2014

2015 and beyond

2007

2010

• $10 million from board to create program

• Specialists recruited (breast, surgical oncology, prostate, and gynecology)

• Support groups

2012

• 1,974 patients treated to date (500 diagnosed elsewhere and came for treatment)

• Nurse navigators

• High-Risk Breast Program

• High-risk melanoma screening

• Survivorship Program; held inaugural Survivor Day event

• Enhanced clinical trials program (affiliation with academic medical centers)

• Moved to new, expanded space in Oak Pavilion featuring healing space, expanded patient care facilities, and patient-centric features

• Behavioral Oncology Program

• Cancer prevention and early detection

• Cancer healthy initiative

• Video conferencing with City of Hope (partnershipwith Sony)

• Palliative Care Program

• CoC Three-Year Accreditation

• Artemis technology for prostate biopsy

• Outpatient Clinic expansion

• Subspecialist inmedical oncology

• Expanded tumor boards~Breast cancer~Lung cancer ~Los Gatos (all cancer)

• Oncology dietitian added

• Opened in Melchor Pavilion

• Endoscopic ultrasound

• Clinical trials

• Skin cancer screening

• First infusion patient treated at Melchor Pavilion

• Art therapy

• Reached 700 diagnosed patients in our Tumor Registry

• First da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System

• National recognition for pathology

• Dedicated oncology department in new hospital

• PET scanner

2006

2013

2008

2009

2011

• Genetic counseling

• CyberKnife, ® radiation oncology, navigational bronchoscopy

Growth at a glance.COLOR KEY: Milestones ReachedTechnology Acquired Programs Launched

What a difference a year makes! When this report last came out, we were still anticipating the big move to our new Cancer Center in the Oak Pavilion. Today, thanks to the collaborative efforts of our clinical team, the hospital management, and an engaged and dedicated community, we have settled into a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility that empowers us to do our best work. Across the Silicon Valley, and beyond, our reputation for patient-centric, quality care continues to grow. Our five-year outcomes meet or exceed national trends. Patients and their families value our personalized approach to care and have given us overwhelmingly positive feedback.

This report highlights the unique elements of our program, which provides patients in our community with services typically offered only in major academic cancer centers. As evidenced by our accreditation by the Commission on Cancer (CoC), we offer the same drug protocols, surgical interventions, and sophisticated technologies you might expect from a major medical center. The difference is in our philosophy of care. Simply put, it’s all about the patient. We believe in treating the whole patient: body, mind, and spirit. Our team collaborates to customize treatment to each individual, using all available and appropriate medications, technologies, and support systems. We have become known for going beyond predicted survival rates in patients with advanced (Stage III or IV) cancer of any kind. In fact, we frequently take patients who have been turned away from other institutions, and we do all we can to help them live as long, and as well, as possible.

As oncologists, we wanted to create a program that focuses on the relentless pursuit of defeating cancer in each and every patient who comes through our doors. We founded the Cancer Center on the concept that a member of our community is a member of our family.

Families take care of each other, and that means encouraging each other to stop smoking, reduce stress, eat right, exercise, and generally live a healthy life. That goes a long way toward cancer prevention, and in the battle against cancer, prevention just might be our most powerful tool. That’s why our latest mission is the creation of a Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Program. This past May, the Sapphire Soirée, El Camino Hospital Foundation’s annual fundraiser for the Cancer Center, raised more than $375,000 for this groundbreaking program. Our goal is to create a separate clinic where we can conduct screenings and educate people about their cancer risk and how to reduce it. We also intend to increase our research efforts and participate in cutting-edge clinical trials for clinical devices and technologies for early detection.

As we expand our efforts to include a powerful prevention initiative, we remain committed to building on our current success, expanding community access and state-of-the-art treatments, and fostering a nurturing environment that supports patients from prevention through treatment and survivorship. We look forward to another year of taking on cancer, one patient at a time, and we thank you for supporting us in this mission.

Dear Patients, Supporters, and Clinicians,

Robert Sinha, MDMedical Director,Radiation Oncology

Shane Dormady, MD, PhD Medical Director, Medical Oncology

Shyamali Singhal, MD, PhDSurgical Oncologist and Medical Director, Cancer Center

Sincerely,

HELP. HEALING. HOPE. 2015 CANCER PROGRAM REPORT

From left: Robert Sinha, MD; Shane Dormady, MD, PhD; and Shyamali Singhal, MD, PhD.

2005

2014

2015 and beyond

2007

2010

• $10 million from board to create program

• Specialists recruited (breast, surgical oncology, prostate, and gynecology)

• Support groups

2012

• 1,974 patients treated to date (500 diagnosed elsewhere and came for treatment)

• Nurse navigators

• High-Risk Breast Program

• High-risk melanoma screening

• Survivorship Program; held inaugural Survivor Day event

• Enhanced clinical trials program (affiliation with academic medical centers)

• Moved to new, expanded space in Oak Pavilion featuring healing space, expanded patient care facilities, and patient-centric features

• Behavioral Oncology Program

• Cancer prevention and early detection

• Cancer healthy initiative

• Video conferencing with City of Hope (partnershipwith Sony)

• Palliative Care Program

• CoC Three-Year Accreditation

• Artemis technology for prostate biopsy

• Outpatient Clinic expansion

• Subspecialist inmedical oncology

• Expanded tumor boards~Breast cancer~Lung cancer ~Los Gatos (all cancer)

• Oncology dietitian added

• Opened in Melchor Pavilion

• Endoscopic ultrasound

• Clinical trials

• Skin cancer screening

• First infusion patient treated at Melchor Pavilion

• Art therapy

• Reached 700 diagnosed patients in our Tumor Registry

• First da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System

• National recognition for pathology

• Dedicated oncology department in new hospital

• PET scanner

2006

2013

2008

2009

2011

• Genetic counseling

• CyberKnife, ® radiation oncology, navigational bronchoscopy

Growth at a glance.COLOR KEY: Milestones ReachedTechnology Acquired Programs Launched

What a difference a year makes! When this report last came out, we were still anticipating the big move to our new Cancer Center in the Oak Pavilion. Today, thanks to the collaborative efforts of our clinical team, the hospital management, and an engaged and dedicated community, we have settled into a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility that empowers us to do our best work. Across the Silicon Valley, and beyond, our reputation for patient-centric, quality care continues to grow. Our five-year outcomes meet or exceed national trends. Patients and their families value our personalized approach to care and have given us overwhelmingly positive feedback.

This report highlights the unique elements of our program, which provides patients in our community with services typically offered only in major academic cancer centers. As evidenced by our accreditation by the Commission on Cancer (CoC), we offer the same drug protocols, surgical interventions, and sophisticated technologies you might expect from a major medical center. The difference is in our philosophy of care. Simply put, it’s all about the patient. We believe in treating the whole patient: body, mind, and spirit. Our team collaborates to customize treatment to each individual, using all available and appropriate medications, technologies, and support systems. We have become known for going beyond predicted survival rates in patients with advanced (Stage III or IV) cancer of any kind. In fact, we frequently take patients who have been turned away from other institutions, and we do all we can to help them live as long, and as well, as possible.

As oncologists, we wanted to create a program that focuses on the relentless pursuit of defeating cancer in each and every patient who comes through our doors. We founded the Cancer Center on the concept that a member of our community is a member of our family.

Families take care of each other, and that means encouraging each other to stop smoking, reduce stress, eat right, exercise, and generally live a healthy life. That goes a long way toward cancer prevention, and in the battle against cancer, prevention just might be our most powerful tool. That’s why our latest mission is the creation of a Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Program. This past May, the Sapphire Soirée, El Camino Hospital Foundation’s annual fundraiser for the Cancer Center, raised more than $375,000 for this groundbreaking program. Our goal is to create a separate clinic where we can conduct screenings and educate people about their cancer risk and how to reduce it. We also intend to increase our research efforts and participate in cutting-edge clinical trials for clinical devices and technologies for early detection.

As we expand our efforts to include a powerful prevention initiative, we remain committed to building on our current success, expanding community access and state-of-the-art treatments, and fostering a nurturing environment that supports patients from prevention through treatment and survivorship. We look forward to another year of taking on cancer, one patient at a time, and we thank you for supporting us in this mission.

Dear Patients, Supporters, and Clinicians,

Robert Sinha, MDMedical Director,Radiation Oncology

Shane Dormady, MD, PhD Medical Director, Medical Oncology

Shyamali Singhal, MD, PhDSurgical Oncologist and Medical Director, Cancer Center

Sincerely,


From left: Robert Sinha, MD; Shane Dormady, MD, PhD; and Shyamali Singhal, MD, PhD.

00

OUR GOAL: CREATE A HIGH-QUALITY CANCER PROGRAM RIVALING THE CARE AT ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS IN A CARING COMMUNITY HOSPITAL SETTING.

Where else but at the Hospital of Silicon Valley could an idea take root, grow, and flourish with unprecedented speed? The El Camino Hospital Cancer Center began in 2005 as the distant dream of a few passionate professionals. In just a few years, it has blossomed into reality and become a destination for both physicians and patients seeking a better way to fight cancer.

A vision of healing and hope.

Through incredible dedication and hard work, that dream has come to fruition. Our program has earned official accreditation and unofficial renown for delivering exceptional care in an extraordinary environment. Perhaps even more validating is the growing number of patients who come to us for help in the fight of their lives.

Our program was designed with them firmly in mind. The result is a unique facility that serves the medical and personal needs of patients undergoing cancer treatment by providing expert physicians, innovative treatments, state-of-the-art technologies, holistic therapies, and a steadfast resolve to partner with patients at every step of their experience.

Fueled by expertise, experience, and a commitment to quality.In the battle against cancer, you need doctors as relentless as the disease itself. We recruit only those professionals who share our patient-centered philosophy and reflect it in their approach. Our medical directors work closely together and handpick team members from physicians to support staff. This has enabled us to assemble a talented group of board-certified, fellowship-trained experts who come from the nation’s finest facilities, includ-ing MD Anderson Cancer Center, City of Hope, Stanford, and UCSF. Here we combine and implement best practices from their collective experience in order to raise the bar on patient care. In addition to exemplary skills, our physi-cians share an unwavering commitment to do whatever it takes for every patient, every day.

OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES

Compared to national benchmarks, our 5-year survival rates for patients treated for breast, colon, GYN, prostate, and lung cancers demonstrate superior survival results.

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

Stage 099.12%

Stage I96.58%

Stage II93.45%

Stage III93.44%

Stage IV72.73%

Breast Cancer 5-Year Survival 2014

This chart highlights survival rates for El Camino Hospital patients treated for breast cancer over the past 5 years. In earlier stages, our outcomes are similar to other CoC-accredited programs, but we are realizing dramatically better outcomes for patients in later stages, including four times better outcomes for Stage IV breast cancer patients. We work hard to get patients into treatment immediately and coordinate treatment plans to offer an aggressive multidisciplinary plan.

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

Stage 075%

Stage I83.49%

Stage II48.60%

Stage III41.84%

Stage IV22.93%

Our outcomes for colon cancer track closely with those of other CoC-accredited cancer programs, but we are particularly proud to note that our outcomes for those with Stage IV colon cancer are double the national benchmark.

Colon Cancer 5-Year Survival 2014

“Cancer patients are acutely aware of every moment that passes after diagnosis. They want — and need — a team of professionals that is as focused on their individual care as they are. We have designed this program to deliver on that commitment, and our excellent outcomes reflect our success.”

— Shyamali Singhal, MD, PhD, Medical Director, Cancer Center

National Accreditation with Commendation.

The Commission on Cancer (CoC)

of the American College of Surgeons

(ACoS) has granted Three-Year

Accreditation with Commendation

to the cancer program at El Camino

Hospital. To earn accreditation, a

cancer program must meet or exceed

34 quality care standards, be evaluated

every three years, and maintain levels

of excellence in the delivery of com-

prehensive patient-centered care.

This accreditation is the highest

that can be achieved by a community

hospital, and it is granted to only

25 percent of hospitals nationwide. 60%

40%

20%

0%

Stage 059.25%

Stage I48.67%

Stage II58.86%

Stage III26.67%

Stage IV11.40%

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer 5-Year Survival 2014

This chart highlights survival rates for El Camino Hospital patients treated for lungcancer over the last 5 years. Our outcomes are similar to other CoC-accreditedprograms for Stage I patients, but we have substantially better outcomes for those who are diagnosed with more advanced disease, in Stages II, III, and IV. Our collaborative approach helps us deliver a coordinated effort, and we treat lung cancer aggressively with a multidisciplinary approach.

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

Stage I60%

Stage IV46.99%

Stage III91.84%

Stage II86.49%

Prostate Cancer 5-Year Survival 2014

Our prostate cancer outcomes align closely with national benchmarks for survival. Prostate cancer tends to be a slow-growing disease, but we are focusing our efforts on early detection and careful monitoring for patients identified in the high-risk category.

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

Stage I89%

Stage 081.82%

Stage IV22.32%

Stage III64.86%

Stage II56.02%

Uterine Cancer 5-Year Survival 2014

Our outcomes for gynecological cancers track along with the national benchmarks from other CoC-accredited programs, but we are pleased that our survival rates are considerably better for patients with Stage III and IV uterine cancer.

00

OUR GOAL: CREATE A HIGH-QUALITY CANCER PROGRAM RIVALING THE CARE AT ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS IN A CARING COMMUNITY HOSPITAL SETTING.

Where else but at the Hospital of Silicon Valley could an idea take root, grow, and flourish with unprecedented speed? The El Camino Hospital Cancer Center began in 2005 as the distant dream of a few passionate professionals. In just a few years, it has blossomed into reality and become a destination for both physicians and patients seeking a better way to fight cancer.

A vision of healing and hope.

Through incredible dedication and hard work, that dream has come to fruition. Our program has earned official accreditation and unofficial renown for delivering exceptional care in an extraordinary environment. Perhaps even more validating is the growing number of patients who come to us for help in the fight of their lives.

Our program was designed with them firmly in mind. The result is a unique facility that serves the medical and personal needs of patients undergoing cancer treatment by providing expert physicians, innovative treatments, state-of-the-art technologies, holistic therapies, and a steadfast resolve to partner with patients at every step of their experience.

Fueled by expertise, experience, and a commitment to quality.In the battle against cancer, you need doctors as relentless as the disease itself. We recruit only those professionals who share our patient-centered philosophy and reflect it in their approach. Our medical directors work closely together and handpick team members from physicians to support staff. This has enabled us to assemble a talented group of board-certified, fellowship-trained experts who come from the nation’s finest facilities, includ-ing MD Anderson Cancer Center, City of Hope, Stanford, and UCSF. Here we combine and implement best practices from their collective experience in order to raise the bar on patient care. In addition to exemplary skills, our physi-cians share an unwavering commitment to do whatever it takes for every patient, every day.

OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES

Compared to national benchmarks, our 5-year survival rates for patients treated for breast, colon, GYN, prostate, and lung cancers demonstrate superior survival results.

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

Stage 099.12%

Stage I96.58%

Stage II93.45%

Stage III93.44%

Stage IV72.73%

Breast Cancer 5-Year Survival 2014

This chart highlights survival rates for El Camino Hospital patients treated for breast cancer over the past 5 years. In earlier stages, our outcomes are similar to other CoC-accredited programs, but we are realizing dramatically better outcomes for patients in later stages, including four times better outcomes for Stage IV breast cancer patients. We work hard to get patients into treatment immediately and coordinate treatment plans to offer an aggressive multidisciplinary plan.

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

Stage 075%

Stage I83.49%

Stage II48.60%

Stage III41.84%

Stage IV22.93%

Our outcomes for colon cancer track closely with those of other CoC-accredited cancer programs, but we are particularly proud to note that our outcomes for those with Stage IV colon cancer are double the national benchmark.

Colon Cancer 5-Year Survival 2014

“Cancer patients are acutely aware of every moment that passes after diagnosis. They want — and need — a team of professionals that is as focused on their individual care as they are. We have designed this program to deliver on that commitment, and our excellent outcomes reflect our success.”

— Shyamali Singhal, MD, PhD, Medical Director, Cancer Center

National Accreditation with Commendation.

The Commission on Cancer (CoC)

of the American College of Surgeons

(ACoS) has granted Three-Year

Accreditation with Commendation

to the cancer program at El Camino

Hospital. To earn accreditation, a

cancer program must meet or exceed

34 quality care standards, be evaluated

every three years, and maintain levels

of excellence in the delivery of com-

prehensive patient-centered care.

This accreditation is the highest

that can be achieved by a community

hospital, and it is granted to only

25 percent of hospitals nationwide. 60%

40%

20%

0%

Stage 059.25%

Stage I48.67%

Stage II58.86%

Stage III26.67%

Stage IV11.40%

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer 5-Year Survival 2014

This chart highlights survival rates for El Camino Hospital patients treated for lungcancer over the last 5 years. Our outcomes are similar to other CoC-accreditedprograms for Stage I patients, but we have substantially better outcomes for those who are diagnosed with more advanced disease, in Stages II, III, and IV. Our collaborative approach helps us deliver a coordinated effort, and we treat lung cancer aggressively with a multidisciplinary approach.

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

Stage I60%

Stage IV46.99%

Stage III91.84%

Stage II86.49%

Prostate Cancer 5-Year Survival 2014

Our prostate cancer outcomes align closely with national benchmarks for survival. Prostate cancer tends to be a slow-growing disease, but we are focusing our efforts on early detection and careful monitoring for patients identified in the high-risk category.

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

Stage I89%

Stage 081.82%

Stage IV22.32%

Stage III64.86%

Stage II56.02%

Uterine Cancer 5-Year Survival 2014

Our outcomes for gynecological cancers track along with the national benchmarks from other CoC-accredited programs, but we are pleased that our survival rates are considerably better for patients with Stage III and IV uterine cancer.

There are few things more frightening than a potential cancer diagnosis. Virtually every family has been touched by the disease — some more than once. For many, the treatment can be as challenging as the odds, and patients often face a difficult journey on an uncertain path. We created our program with this truth in mind, and we remem-ber it every day, in every interaction with our patients. That’s why our “standard routine” is anything but, and we deliver truly personalized care for each individual.

Accessibility: We make an extraordinary effort to accom-modate new patients in a timely manner. While many academic centers can’t promise appointments for weeks or even months, we share our patients’ urgency and commit to getting them in within 48 hours of calling whenever possible.

Responsiveness: Once under our care, patients are often amazed by our physicians’ level of commitment and atten-tion. We work hard to be available to our patients and strive to respond quickly and completely by email, cell phone, and in person throughout treatment.

Convenience: Coping with cancer is difficult enough without the added burden of navigating a complicated healthcare system. That’s why we’ve organized all of our services so patients and their families can see their physi-cians and receive treatment in one general area on the hospital campus. We also offer nurse navigators and social workers to help patients manage every aspect of care within our hospital and beyond.

Collaboration: Our approach draws experts who share a collaborative spirit, and our process enables them to do their best work. We hire only highly credentialed, certified professionals who work well together to provide patients with continuity of care from hospital to outpatient treatment. And we work closely with referring physicians, including primary care, to provide ongoing oversight.

Support: Expert medicine is only part of the battle when it comes to comprehensive cancer care. Our program supports patients’ social, emotional, and spiritual needs as well, with complementary services that promote healing on every level.

• Holistic services (nutrition, pain management, lymphedema services, yoga, and more)

• Classes that promote the mind/body connection

• Support groups (disease-specific and age-specific groups meet to provide tips, coping techniques, and camaraderie)

• Healing Arts (a humanistic and holistic approach to healing through music, art, pet therapy, meditation, and spiritual care for all faiths and cultures)

• Outreach services (educational materials, lectures, supplies, and resources)

• Survivorship Program (support services for patients as they regain their health and well-being)

“What makes our program unique is the com-bination of things we offer. The caliber of our experts is on par with any academic medical center, we have invested in the finest technol-ogies available, but on top of that, we have a culture of caring that is really unparalleled.”

— Robert Sinha, MDMedical Director, Radiation Oncology

Putting patients first, from philosophy to reality.


A cancer center centered around the patient.In March of 2015, we moved into our new $5.5 million expanded space in the Oak Pavilion. We have been seeing about 2,000 new patients each year, some coming from as far as 100 miles away, making the new Cancer Center a welcome and much-needed resource.

Our new facility combines the warmth and friendliness of a community hospital with the advanced care you might expect from a large academic medical center. Everything is in place for our team to deliver the most personalized care possible, addressing each patient’s goals, preferences, and unique circumstances. Patients rely on us for every aspect of their care from diagnosis to survivorship, with inte-grated services such as nutrition counseling and referrals for genetic counseling and/or testing.

Every detail of the new El Camino Hospital Cancer Center has been carefully designed to enhance patient comfort and convenience:

• Our patients receive seamlessly coordinated care in one location, close to the Radiosurgery Center for easy access to CyberKnife® and other radiation treatments.

• Our expanded infusion center enables us to treat more patients, with less wait time, and in a more comfortable environment. Patients receive chemotherapy in privacy, enjoying natural light, memory-foam chairs, and radiant heat panels.

• Our in-house pharmacy speeds up test turnaround and access to customized infusion medication. Blood samples are sent to the lab at high speed via an underground pneumatic tube that runs under-ground between the Center and the main hospital.

• Our new “healing space” enables us to host meditation; yoga; and other classes, support groups, and seminars.

• Our convenient boutique is stocked with a variety of products to inform or complement cancer treatment, such as hats, scarves, clothing, skin care, books, and more.

There are few things more frightening than a potential cancer diagnosis. Virtually every family has been touched by the disease — some more than once. For many, the treatment can be as challenging as the odds, and patients often face a difficult journey on an uncertain path. We created our program with this truth in mind, and we remem-ber it every day, in every interaction with our patients. That’s why our “standard routine” is anything but, and we deliver truly personalized care for each individual.

Accessibility: We make an extraordinary effort to accom-modate new patients in a timely manner. While many academic centers can’t promise appointments for weeks or even months, we share our patients’ urgency and commit to getting them in within 48 hours of calling whenever possible.

Responsiveness: Once under our care, patients are often amazed by our physicians’ level of commitment and atten-tion. We work hard to be available to our patients and strive to respond quickly and completely by email, cell phone, and in person throughout treatment.

Convenience: Coping with cancer is difficult enough without the added burden of navigating a complicated healthcare system. That’s why we’ve organized all of our services so patients and their families can see their physi-cians and receive treatment in one general area on the hospital campus. We also offer nurse navigators and social workers to help patients manage every aspect of care within our hospital and beyond.

Collaboration: Our approach draws experts who share a collaborative spirit, and our process enables them to do their best work. We hire only highly credentialed, certified professionals who work well together to provide patients with continuity of care from hospital to outpatient treatment. And we work closely with referring physicians, including primary care, to provide ongoing oversight.

Support: Expert medicine is only part of the battle when it comes to comprehensive cancer care. Our program supports patients’ social, emotional, and spiritual needs as well, with complementary services that promote healing on every level.

• Holistic services (nutrition, pain management, lymphedema services, yoga, and more)

• Classes that promote the mind/body connection

• Support groups (disease-specific and age-specific groups meet to provide tips, coping techniques, and camaraderie)

• Healing Arts (a humanistic and holistic approach to healing through music, art, pet therapy, meditation, and spiritual care for all faiths and cultures)

• Outreach services (educational materials, lectures, supplies, and resources)

• Survivorship Program (support services for patients as they regain their health and well-being)

“What makes our program unique is the com-bination of things we offer. The caliber of our experts is on par with any academic medical center, we have invested in the finest technol-ogies available, but on top of that, we have a culture of caring that is really unparalleled.”

— Robert Sinha, MDMedical Director, Radiation Oncology

Putting patients first, from philosophy to reality.


A cancer center centered around the patient.In March of 2015, we moved into our new $5.5 million expanded space in the Oak Pavilion. We have been seeing about 2,000 new patients each year, some coming from as far as 100 miles away, making the new Cancer Center a welcome and much-needed resource.

Our new facility combines the warmth and friendliness of a community hospital with the advanced care you might expect from a large academic medical center. Everything is in place for our team to deliver the most personalized care possible, addressing each patient’s goals, preferences, and unique circumstances. Patients rely on us for every aspect of their care from diagnosis to survivorship, with inte-grated services such as nutrition counseling and referrals for genetic counseling and/or testing.

Every detail of the new El Camino Hospital Cancer Center has been carefully designed to enhance patient comfort and convenience:

• Our patients receive seamlessly coordinated care in one location, close to the Radiosurgery Center for easy access to CyberKnife® and other radiation treatments.

• Our expanded infusion center enables us to treat more patients, with less wait time, and in a more comfortable environment. Patients receive chemotherapy in privacy, enjoying natural light, memory-foam chairs, and radiant heat panels.

• Our in-house pharmacy speeds up test turnaround and access to customized infusion medication. Blood samples are sent to the lab at high speed via an underground pneumatic tube that runs under-ground between the Center and the main hospital.

• Our new “healing space” enables us to host meditation; yoga; and other classes, support groups, and seminars.

• Our convenient boutique is stocked with a variety of products to inform or complement cancer treatment, such as hats, scarves, clothing, skin care, books, and more.

Scott M.’s training as an Air Force pilot has ser ved him well in his up-and-down fight against colon cancer. Several years ago, he was diagnosed at another facility with what was thought to be hemorrhoids, and he suffered for about a year before scheduling surgery. When the time came for the procedure, the news was much more serious: colon cancer. Scott had surgery to remove a large section of his colon, and things seemed to stabilize. Then, a CT scan showed a lesion on his liver, showing a reoccurrence of cancer.

Scott was referred by multiple sources to Dr. Shane Dormady, known as a tough but tender expert with a no-holds-barred attitude. Chemotherapy over the next few months was grueling, but Scott found comfort in the professional, compassionate care of our specialized nurses. Scott credits them with seeing him through, even referring jokingly to his sessions in the infusion center as “spa days.” He says, “They are so positive in the face of such negativity. You can’t help but feel better.”

The extensive chemo saved Scott’s life, but wreaked havoc with his system, and he required multiple surgeries to manage the side effects. Dr. Shyamali Singhal performed multiple procedures, painstakingly removing damaged organs and tissue and searching for additional cancer cells. She coordinated additional procedures with gastroenterology experts to handle more complications.

Scott then had to undergo CyberKnife® treat-ments to combat new lesions in his liver, and he is currently in remission. “Cancer picked the wrong guy to mess with. I’m a fighter, and I won’t give up,” he says. “Fortunately, I found doctors as stubborn and committed as I am. Together, we are gonna win this battle.” Scott is continuing to serve as a member of the San Mateo County Mounted Patrol.

Former pilot still rides high with help from a squadron of cancer experts.

Scott M. / COLON CANCER SURVIVOR


The El Camino Hospital Cancer Center is committed to investing in technology that offers our patients advanced treatments and therapies.

Mammography and Breast Imaging: We use advanced digital mammography, which can detect early and highly curable cancers too small to be felt, along with computer-aided detection technology that flags areas of concern for our radiologists. Our advanced technologies include whole breast ultrasound and breast MRI for advanced screening purposes, and we recently added tomosynthesis to offer 3D mammography.

MRI and Artemis Imaging and Navigation: Prostate cancer patients benefit from Artemis technology, which enables us to combine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound to provide exceptionally clear and detailed real-time imaging.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): This therapy uses multiple small radiation beams of varying intensities to precisely radiate a tumor without harming surrounding tissue. With our computerized 3D planning system, the beam of radiation can be conformed to the exact size and shape of the tumor and regulated to provide the optimum dose of radiation to the cancerous area.

CyberKnife®: This innovative radiation therapy device can pinpoint solid tumors anywhere in the body with submilli-meter accuracy using image-guidance technology. As a result, no incisions, anesthesia, or hospitalization is required, and treatment is usually limited to fewer than five sessions.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery: We are advancing some of the technologies used to treat a variety of cancers, particularly neurological tumors. Included in our suite of services is a device called BrainLab,™ which is based on linear accelerator technology that shapes high-energy beams directly on the tumor. Photon beams are delivered through a high-resolu-tion “beam shaper” that can be automatically and precisely positioned to allow the beam to conform to the shape of the lesion from any angle.

Brachytherapy: Brachytherapy is an innovative treatment for certain types of prostate, lung, and breast cancers. The procedure involves the surgical implantation of radioactive “seeds” that amplify the radiation dose just to the area needed, sparing surrounding healthy tissue.

Robotic Surgery: We have an extensive robotic surgery program with a high volume of cases and exceptionally experienced surgeons. Our four da Vinci® Si Surgical Systems provide our experts with an alternative to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy, enabling them to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures through very small incisions, with unmatched precision. These minimally invasive surgeries and endoscopic procedures typically mean less trauma, scarring, and risk of complication for patients.

Full-service facilities offer convenient treatment.Expertise is only half the battle when it comes to fighting cancer. Having the right facilities and equipment is equally important. We are dedicated to investing in infrastructure and technologies so our physicians can do their best work, and we are committed to staying at the forefront as cancer treatment advances.

Our campus in Mountain View was named the nation’s most technologically advanced institution, and it was built from the ground up with input from care teams so that every area provides the tools needed for optimal patient care. The campus houses several cancer care services, including:

• Inpatient oncology unit on the 4th floor• Imaging services (MRI, ultrasound, PET scan, CT, etc.) • State-of-the-art surgical suites

On-site resources

• Infusion Center• Laboratory• Nurse navigators• Nutritionists• Physician offices and

treatment rooms• Social workers

• Boutique • Breast Health Center and

High-Risk Breast Program• Clinical trials• Health Library and

Resource Center • Imaging services

STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY KEEPS US ON THE LEADING EDGE.

Scott M.’s training as an Air Force pilot has ser ved him well in his up-and-down fight against colon cancer. Several years ago, he was diagnosed at another facility with what was thought to be hemorrhoids, and he suffered for about a year before scheduling surgery. When the time came for the procedure, the news was much more serious: colon cancer. Scott had surgery to remove a large section of his colon, and things seemed to stabilize. Then, a CT scan showed a lesion on his liver, showing a reoccurrence of cancer.

Scott was referred by multiple sources to Dr. Shane Dormady, known as a tough but tender expert with a no-holds-barred attitude. Chemotherapy over the next few months was grueling, but Scott found comfort in the professional, compassionate care of our specialized nurses. Scott credits them with seeing him through, even referring jokingly to his sessions in the infusion center as “spa days.” He says, “They are so positive in the face of such negativity. You can’t help but feel better.”

The extensive chemo saved Scott’s life, but wreaked havoc with his system, and he required multiple surgeries to manage the side effects. Dr. Shyamali Singhal performed multiple procedures, painstakingly removing damaged organs and tissue and searching for additional cancer cells. She coordinated additional procedures with gastroenterology experts to handle more complications.

Scott then had to undergo CyberKnife® treat-ments to combat new lesions in his liver, and he is currently in remission. “Cancer picked the wrong guy to mess with. I’m a fighter, and I won’t give up,” he says. “Fortunately, I found doctors as stubborn and committed as I am. Together, we are gonna win this battle.” Scott is continuing to serve as a member of the San Mateo County Mounted Patrol.

Former pilot still rides high with help from a squadron of cancer experts.

Scott M. / COLON CANCER SURVIVOR


The El Camino Hospital Cancer Center is committed to investing in technology that offers our patients advanced treatments and therapies.

Mammography and Breast Imaging: We use advanced digital mammography, which can detect early and highly curable cancers too small to be felt, along with computer-aided detection technology that flags areas of concern for our radiologists. Our advanced technologies include whole breast ultrasound and breast MRI for advanced screening purposes, and we recently added tomosynthesis to offer 3D mammography.

MRI and Artemis Imaging and Navigation: Prostate cancer patients benefit from Artemis technology, which enables us to combine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound to provide exceptionally clear and detailed real-time imaging.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): This therapy uses multiple small radiation beams of varying intensities to precisely radiate a tumor without harming surrounding tissue. With our computerized 3D planning system, the beam of radiation can be conformed to the exact size and shape of the tumor and regulated to provide the optimum dose of radiation to the cancerous area.

CyberKnife®: This innovative radiation therapy device can pinpoint solid tumors anywhere in the body with submilli-meter accuracy using image-guidance technology. As a result, no incisions, anesthesia, or hospitalization is required, and treatment is usually limited to fewer than five sessions.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery: We are advancing some of the technologies used to treat a variety of cancers, particularly neurological tumors. Included in our suite of services is a device called BrainLab,™ which is based on linear accelerator technology that shapes high-energy beams directly on the tumor. Photon beams are delivered through a high-resolu-tion “beam shaper” that can be automatically and precisely positioned to allow the beam to conform to the shape of the lesion from any angle.

Brachytherapy: Brachytherapy is an innovative treatment for certain types of prostate, lung, and breast cancers. The procedure involves the surgical implantation of radioactive “seeds” that amplify the radiation dose just to the area needed, sparing surrounding healthy tissue.

Robotic Surgery: We have an extensive robotic surgery program with a high volume of cases and exceptionally experienced surgeons. Our four da Vinci® Si Surgical Systems provide our experts with an alternative to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy, enabling them to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures through very small incisions, with unmatched precision. These minimally invasive surgeries and endoscopic procedures typically mean less trauma, scarring, and risk of complication for patients.

Full-service facilities offer convenient treatment.Expertise is only half the battle when it comes to fighting cancer. Having the right facilities and equipment is equally important. We are dedicated to investing in infrastructure and technologies so our physicians can do their best work, and we are committed to staying at the forefront as cancer treatment advances.

Our campus in Mountain View was named the nation’s most technologically advanced institution, and it was built from the ground up with input from care teams so that every area provides the tools needed for optimal patient care. The campus houses several cancer care services, including:

• Inpatient oncology unit on the 4th floor• Imaging services (MRI, ultrasound, PET scan, CT, etc.) • State-of-the-art surgical suites

On-site resources

• Infusion Center• Laboratory• Nurse navigators• Nutritionists• Physician offices and

treatment rooms• Social workers

• Boutique • Breast Health Center and

High-Risk Breast Program• Clinical trials• Health Library and

Resource Center • Imaging services

STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY KEEPS US ON THE LEADING EDGE.

Michelle J. / MELANOMA SURVIVOR

For as long as she can remember, Michelle J. had the “beauty mark.” The mole was in a place that rarely saw the sun, but blonde, fair-skinned Michelle was savvy about the dangers of skin cancer, and when the mark began to change, she went in to see her doctor. He referred her to a dermatologist, Dr. Greg Morganroth of El Camino Hospital. Dr. Morganroth removed the suspicious mole and sent it out for a biopsy. The news was sobering: what had once been a benign mark was now a Stage III melanoma. When Dr. Morganroth shared the diagnosis with Michelle, she anticipated waiting weeks for her next-step appointments. Instead, she learned that Dr. Morganroth had arranged for her to see surgical oncologist Dr. Shyamali Singhal that very same day!

Michelle was diagnosed on June 5 and had her sentinel node biopsy just five days later. The cancer had begun to spread, and the surgical team removed several other mela-nomas. Michelle was able to begin chemo immediately after surgery, right according to plan. By summer’s end, she was done with chemo and, hopefully, with melanoma. Michelle’s scans are now 100 percent clear, and she has nothing but praise for her care team at El Camino Hospital. As she puts it, “They saw me as a person first, not as a diagnosis.” Michelle credits her recovery to her team’s excellent com-munication and collaboration, and the speed with which she was treated. “Melanoma is a ticking time bomb,” Michelle explains, “The more you delay, the more time you lose.”

From mole to melanoma.

Working to save lives today and tomorrow. While much of our attention is focused on delivering world-class care to patients undergoing treatment, we feel an enormous responsibility to help prevent others from ever facing the disease, and to finding new, better cures for those who may be diagnosed down the road. This sentiment has spurred the creation of a range of educational programs that promote health and wellness, includ-ing lectures, tips, health screenings, events, and prevention initiatives that inform community members about how they might live longer, healthier lives. We are also involved in research to help advance the fight against cancer.

Research: Cancer care is advancing at an impressive rate and clinical research is the lifeblood of new techniques and therapies. We are active in a variety of clinical trials designed to improve cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. We offer access to leading-edge therapies not typically available outside of larger institutions. We are also working to expand our clinical trials to participate with major academic medical centers.

Our long-term goal is to be involved in a trial in every major tumor area, in every stage of the disease, from prevention to diagnosis to treatment (including metastatic disease).

While cancer is life-threatening, we are determined to do everything we can to treat it — and beat it. We provide a comprehensive range of services, including education for cancer prevention, leading-edge diagnostic technology for detection, and the most advanced options for treatment. Our experts work closely together to create customized treatment plans that consider each patient’s disease state, overall health, lifestyle, support system, and specific needs. Depending on the type and severity of the disease, treatment typically combines several modalities:

Medical oncology: on-site infusion center and pharmacy, personalized therapies based on a patient’s specific genetic makeup, proactive symptom management with referral to resources, and nutrition specialists for support and pain management, as needed

Surgical oncology: minimally invasive techniques, including robotic-assisted surgeries for prostate and gynecologic cancers, and oncoplastic reconstruction for breast cancer

Radiation oncology: radiofrequency ablation, stereotactic radiosurgery (CyberKnife®), brachytherapy, Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), and partial breast therapy

Our treatment outcomes have earned us more than just a great reputation and the gratitude of our patients. We consistently receive referrals for patients who are diagnosed elsewhere — even at academic medical centers — but come to us for advanced treatment they cannot get at other facilities. We often care for patients who have late-stage cancer, or those with recurrent/metastatic disease who have run out of options elsewhere. While we cannot promise a cure, we do promise to explore every avenue to help individuals live as long, and as comfortably, as possible.

We battle cancer on all fronts, from prevention to diagnostics to treatment and survivorship.


Michelle J. / MELANOMA SURVIVOR

For as long as she can remember, Michelle J. had the “beauty mark.” The mole was in a place that rarely saw the sun, but blonde, fair-skinned Michelle was savvy about the dangers of skin cancer, and when the mark began to change, she went in to see her doctor. He referred her to a dermatologist, Dr. Greg Morganroth of El Camino Hospital. Dr. Morganroth removed the suspicious mole and sent it out for a biopsy. The news was sobering: what had once been a benign mark was now a Stage III melanoma. When Dr. Morganroth shared the diagnosis with Michelle, she anticipated waiting weeks for her next-step appointments. Instead, she learned that Dr. Morganroth had arranged for her to see surgical oncologist Dr. Shyamali Singhal that very same day!

Michelle was diagnosed on June 5 and had her sentinel node biopsy just five days later. The cancer had begun to spread, and the surgical team removed several other mela-nomas. Michelle was able to begin chemo immediately after surgery, right according to plan. By summer’s end, she was done with chemo and, hopefully, with melanoma. Michelle’s scans are now 100 percent clear, and she has nothing but praise for her care team at El Camino Hospital. As she puts it, “They saw me as a person first, not as a diagnosis.” Michelle credits her recovery to her team’s excellent com-munication and collaboration, and the speed with which she was treated. “Melanoma is a ticking time bomb,” Michelle explains, “The more you delay, the more time you lose.”

From mole to melanoma.

Working to save lives today and tomorrow. While much of our attention is focused on delivering world-class care to patients undergoing treatment, we feel an enormous responsibility to help prevent others from ever facing the disease, and to finding new, better cures for those who may be diagnosed down the road. This sentiment has spurred the creation of a range of educational programs that promote health and wellness, includ-ing lectures, tips, health screenings, events, and prevention initiatives that inform community members about how they might live longer, healthier lives. We are also involved in research to help advance the fight against cancer.

Research: Cancer care is advancing at an impressive rate and clinical research is the lifeblood of new techniques and therapies. We are active in a variety of clinical trials designed to improve cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. We offer access to leading-edge therapies not typically available outside of larger institutions. We are also working to expand our clinical trials to participate with major academic medical centers.

Our long-term goal is to be involved in a trial in every major tumor area, in every stage of the disease, from prevention to diagnosis to treatment (including metastatic disease).

While cancer is life-threatening, we are determined to do everything we can to treat it — and beat it. We provide a comprehensive range of services, including education for cancer prevention, leading-edge diagnostic technology for detection, and the most advanced options for treatment. Our experts work closely together to create customized treatment plans that consider each patient’s disease state, overall health, lifestyle, support system, and specific needs. Depending on the type and severity of the disease, treatment typically combines several modalities:

Medical oncology: on-site infusion center and pharmacy, personalized therapies based on a patient’s specific genetic makeup, proactive symptom management with referral to resources, and nutrition specialists for support and pain management, as needed

Surgical oncology: minimally invasive techniques, including robotic-assisted surgeries for prostate and gynecologic cancers, and oncoplastic reconstruction for breast cancer

Radiation oncology: radiofrequency ablation, stereotactic radiosurgery (CyberKnife®), brachytherapy, Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), and partial breast therapy

Our treatment outcomes have earned us more than just a great reputation and the gratitude of our patients. We consistently receive referrals for patients who are diagnosed elsewhere — even at academic medical centers — but come to us for advanced treatment they cannot get at other facilities. We often care for patients who have late-stage cancer, or those with recurrent/metastatic disease who have run out of options elsewhere. While we cannot promise a cure, we do promise to explore every avenue to help individuals live as long, and as comfortably, as possible.

We battle cancer on all fronts, from prevention to diagnostics to treatment and survivorship.


Angela M. / OVARIAN CANCER PREVIVOR

My mom died from ovarian cancer when I was 18,” says Angela M., a 44-year-old technology professional and mother of two. “She was only 49.” Even though Angela’s mother was a nurse, she didn’t recognize the symptoms of ovarian cancer until it was too late. Those symptoms — abdominal pressure, fullness, bloating, pelvic pain, indigestion, and changes in bladder/bowel habits — are often difficult to detect, even by a trained healthcare professional. There is no screening test for the disease.

After her mother died, Angela was worried about her own risk, as cancer was also common in other women in her family. She chose to have a genetic test and an ultrasound. The genetic test was negative, but the ultrasound showed a mass. Angela

was referred to Dr. Albert Pisani, a gynecologic oncologist. He removed the mass, which was benign. However, a later ultrasound revealed two cysts on Angela’s ovaries. She decided to have a preventive hysterectomy, as she wasn’t planning to have more children. “My surgery was a success,” says Angela. “Dr. Pisani used the da Vinci® Robotic System, which left only five small incisions.”

Since Angela had children at home, she was happy that she only needed one night in the hospital. “Three days after my surgery, I went to a school event, and everyone was surprised to see me out.” Now, Angela works to spread awareness about ovarian cancer through her charity, Toasting to Teal. (Find it on Facebook.)

Minimally invasive surgery has maximum benefits for young mom at risk for ovarian cancer.

“We always look for the needle in the haystack, the ray of light. Instead of saying what we can’t do, we look for what we can do. There’s always another option.”

— Shane Dormady, MD, PhDMedical Director, Medical Oncology

“The secret to the Cancer Center’s success has been philanthropy. Each time we have needed some-thing to help us get to the next level, El Camino Hospital Foundation has found a way to support us.”

— Shyamali Singhal, MD, PhD Medical Director, Cancer Center

We believe the best way to create a comprehensive, customized treat-ment plan, particularly for complex cases, is to gather a variety of expert opinions. We hold regular tumor board conferences where a multidisciplinary group of physicians and caregivers jointly review a patient’s condition and proposed treatment from diagnosis (pathol-ogy, films, test results, and biopsies) to medical history, treatment plan, and prognosis. This process gives patients the benefit of multiple “sec-ond opinions” and leads to versatile, innovative treatment planning.

We hold monthly tumor boards to review prostate, colon, breast, and gynecology-oncology cases, and we also have a general tumor board to evaluate additional cases. The meetings are always well attended by a range of professionals:

In 2011, the El Camino Hospital Foundation introduced the Sapphire Soirée, a yearly gala event dedicated to raising funds for the Cancer Center. The Sapphire Soirée has raised nearly $2.5 million to date. Proceeds from previous years were used to launch the patient navigation program, build the Pamela and Edward Taft Healing Space for holistic healing activities, establish outreach programs for high-risk breast cancer and melanoma, and develop a dedicated survivorship program.

This past year’s Sapphire Soirée was dedicated to fundraising for cancer prevention and early detection. Los Altos Hills residents Michelle and Peter Detkin chaired the glamorous event, held at the Menlo Park Circus Club on May 15, 2015. Four hundred fifty community leaders, physicians, and hospital supporters came to dine, dance, and take part in the live auction. Auction items ranged from fun to fanciful, and even featured fine jewelry, including a stunning sapphire necklace donated by Darren McClung Estate & Precious Jewelry. Foreigner provided the musical entertainment. Net proceeds, more than $375,000, were put toward establishing the cancer prevention and early detection program. Housed in its own clinic, this destination program will conduct screenings, educate community members about their cancer risk, help them develop proactive plans for personal health, bank tissue for research purposes, and participate in cutting-edge clinical trials pertaining to early detection.

You can make a gift to support cancer care at El Camino Hospital by going to www.elcaminohospital.org/donate

If you would like to receive an invitation to next year’s Sapphire Soirée, please call 650-940-7154 and we’ll put you on the guest list.

Tumor board conferences provide multidisciplinary perspective.

Philanthropy: The lifeblood of our cancer program.

• Medical oncologists

• Surgical oncologists

• Radiation oncologists

• Pathologists

• Specialized nurses

• Primary care physicians

Angela M. / OVARIAN CANCER PREVIVOR

My mom died from ovarian cancer when I was 18,” says Angela M., a 44-year-old technology professional and mother of two. “She was only 49.” Even though Angela’s mother was a nurse, she didn’t recognize the symptoms of ovarian cancer until it was too late. Those symptoms — abdominal pressure, fullness, bloating, pelvic pain, indigestion, and changes in bladder/bowel habits — are often difficult to detect, even by a trained healthcare professional. There is no screening test for the disease.

After her mother died, Angela was worried about her own risk, as cancer was also common in other women in her family. She chose to have a genetic test and an ultrasound. The genetic test was negative, but the ultrasound showed a mass. Angela

was referred to Dr. Albert Pisani, a gynecologic oncologist. He removed the mass, which was benign. However, a later ultrasound revealed two cysts on Angela’s ovaries. She decided to have a preventive hysterectomy, as she wasn’t planning to have more children. “My surgery was a success,” says Angela. “Dr. Pisani used the da Vinci® Robotic System, which left only five small incisions.”

Since Angela had children at home, she was happy that she only needed one night in the hospital. “Three days after my surgery, I went to a school event, and everyone was surprised to see me out.” Now, Angela works to spread awareness about ovarian cancer through her charity, Toasting to Teal. (Find it on Facebook.)

Minimally invasive surgery has maximum benefits for young mom at risk for ovarian cancer.

“We always look for the needle in the haystack, the ray of light. Instead of saying what we can’t do, we look for what we can do. There’s always another option.”

— Shane Dormady, MD, PhDMedical Director, Medical Oncology

“The secret to the Cancer Center’s success has been philanthropy. Each time we have needed some-thing to help us get to the next level, El Camino Hospital Foundation has found a way to support us.”

— Shyamali Singhal, MD, PhD Medical Director, Cancer Center

We believe the best way to create a comprehensive, customized treat-ment plan, particularly for complex cases, is to gather a variety of expert opinions. We hold regular tumor board conferences where a multidisciplinary group of physicians and caregivers jointly review a patient’s condition and proposed treatment from diagnosis (pathol-ogy, films, test results, and biopsies) to medical history, treatment plan, and prognosis. This process gives patients the benefit of multiple “sec-ond opinions” and leads to versatile, innovative treatment planning.

We hold monthly tumor boards to review prostate, colon, breast, and gynecology-oncology cases, and we also have a general tumor board to evaluate additional cases. The meetings are always well attended by a range of professionals:

In 2011, the El Camino Hospital Foundation introduced the Sapphire Soirée, a yearly gala event dedicated to raising funds for the Cancer Center. The Sapphire Soirée has raised nearly $2.5 million to date. Proceeds from previous years were used to launch the patient navigation program, build the Pamela and Edward Taft Healing Space for holistic healing activities, establish outreach programs for high-risk breast cancer and melanoma, and develop a dedicated survivorship program.

This past year’s Sapphire Soirée was dedicated to fundraising for cancer prevention and early detection. Los Altos Hills residents Michelle and Peter Detkin chaired the glamorous event, held at the Menlo Park Circus Club on May 15, 2015. Four hundred fifty community leaders, physicians, and hospital supporters came to dine, dance, and take part in the live auction. Auction items ranged from fun to fanciful, and even featured fine jewelry, including a stunning sapphire necklace donated by Darren McClung Estate & Precious Jewelry. Foreigner provided the musical entertainment. Net proceeds, more than $375,000, were put toward establishing the cancer prevention and early detection program. Housed in its own clinic, this destination program will conduct screenings, educate community members about their cancer risk, help them develop proactive plans for personal health, bank tissue for research purposes, and participate in cutting-edge clinical trials pertaining to early detection.

You can make a gift to support cancer care at El Camino Hospital by going to www.elcaminohospital.org/donate

If you would like to receive an invitation to next year’s Sapphire Soirée, please call 650-940-7154 and we’ll put you on the guest list.

Tumor board conferences provide multidisciplinary perspective.

Philanthropy: The lifeblood of our cancer program.

• Medical oncologists

• Surgical oncologists

• Radiation oncologists

• Pathologists

• Specialized nurses

• Primary care physicians

Sanjiv S., 77, had been smoke free for many years when his former habit caught up with him: he was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2005. Fortunately, Sanjiv’s first cancer was caught very early. El Camino Hospital Cancer Center oncologists treated Sanjiv with BCG, an innovative form of immunotherapy that involves introducing a weakened bacterial solution directly into the bladder to stimulate the immune system so that it kill cancer cells.

Although Sanjiv was cured of his bladder cancer, tobacco was not finished with him. In 2013, he was diagnosed

with lung cancer. Fortunately, his cancer had not yet spread, and doctors were able to treat it through surgery alone. Sanjiv has been cancer free for two years and is leading a normal life, even traveling to high-altitude locations without experiencing shortness of breath. Sanjiv has only the highest praise for the El Camino Hospital staff and the excellent pre- and postoperative care he received. As a two-time cancer survivor, he knows the importance of catching cancer early. “Prevention and early detection — that’s all there is,” Sanjiv says. “Cancer is a very threaten-ing disease. The earlier you detect and treat it, the better.”

Sanjiv S. / BLADDER AND LUNG CANCER SURVIVOR

An early detection success story.

At 31, Geetan J. was six months pregnant and all seemed to be going well. Her obstetrician had advised her to check her breasts throughout her pregnancy. When Geetan felt a distinct lump, she was worried but wanted to believe it was a normal byproduct of changing hormones. Such was not the case, and Geetan and her family struggled to take in the news that a tumor was growing in her body, along with her baby.

She was quickly referred to Dr. Shane Dormady for the spe-cialized care needed in this delicate situation. “Dr. Dormady already had a plan in place when I met him,” says Geetan, who recalls how Dr. Dormady’s kindness and warmth helped ease her fears. “There isn’t a lot of data for this situation, but his expertise and manner gave me great comfort.“

Geetan had four cycles of personalized chemotherapy during the last few months of her pregnancy, and then delivered a healthy baby boy at 35 weeks. Just two weeks later, Dr. Saul Eisenstat performed a double mastectomy. Then Geetan went in for more chemotherapy, which would be an ordeal for any woman but was particularly challenging for a mother with a newborn and an older son, too. This was followed by radiation therapy with Dr. Robert Sinha. Geetan is incredibly thankful for the collaborative team effort of the doctors at the Cancer Center. They worked together to deliver the care that saved not only her life, but her baby’s as well. “I’ve been given a second chance at life. And I plan to make every moment count.”

Geetan J. / BREAST CANCER SURV IVOR

Diagnosis of cancer while pregnant required very special delivery of treatment.

650-962-4597 Nina Alves, New Patient Coordinator

650-962-4592 Fax number for referrals

Sanjiv S., 77, had been smoke free for many years when his former habit caught up with him: he was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2005. Fortunately, Sanjiv’s first cancer was caught very early. El Camino Hospital Cancer Center oncologists treated Sanjiv with BCG, an innovative form of immunotherapy that involves introducing a weakened bacterial solution directly into the bladder to stimulate the immune system so that it kill cancer cells.

Although Sanjiv was cured of his bladder cancer, tobacco was not finished with him. In 2013, he was diagnosed

with lung cancer. Fortunately, his cancer had not yet spread, and doctors were able to treat it through surgery alone. Sanjiv has been cancer free for two years and is leading a normal life, even traveling to high-altitude locations without experiencing shortness of breath. Sanjiv has only the highest praise for the El Camino Hospital staff and the excellent pre- and postoperative care he received. As a two-time cancer survivor, he knows the importance of catching cancer early. “Prevention and early detection — that’s all there is,” Sanjiv says. “Cancer is a very threaten-ing disease. The earlier you detect and treat it, the better.”

Sanjiv S. / BLADDER AND LUNG CANCER SURVIVOR

An early detection success story.

At 31, Geetan J. was six months pregnant and all seemed to be going well. Her obstetrician had advised her to check her breasts throughout her pregnancy. When Geetan felt a distinct lump, she was worried but wanted to believe it was a normal byproduct of changing hormones. Such was not the case, and Geetan and her family struggled to take in the news that a tumor was growing in her body, along with her baby.

She was quickly referred to Dr. Shane Dormady for the spe-cialized care needed in this delicate situation. “Dr. Dormady already had a plan in place when I met him,” says Geetan, who recalls how Dr. Dormady’s kindness and warmth helped ease her fears. “There isn’t a lot of data for this situation, but his expertise and manner gave me great comfort.“

Geetan had four cycles of personalized chemotherapy during the last few months of her pregnancy, and then delivered a healthy baby boy at 35 weeks. Just two weeks later, Dr. Saul Eisenstat performed a double mastectomy. Then Geetan went in for more chemotherapy, which would be an ordeal for any woman but was particularly challenging for a mother with a newborn and an older son, too. This was followed by radiation therapy with Dr. Robert Sinha. Geetan is incredibly thankful for the collaborative team effort of the doctors at the Cancer Center. They worked together to deliver the care that saved not only her life, but her baby’s as well. “I’ve been given a second chance at life. And I plan to make every moment count.”

Geetan J. / BREAST CANCER SURV IVOR

Diagnosis of cancer while pregnant required very special delivery of treatment.

650-962-4597 Nina Alves, New Patient Coordinator

650-962-4592 Fax number for referrals

SOME MEMBERS OF THE EL CAMINO HOSPITAL CANCER CENTER TEAM Front row, left to right: Imtiaz Qureshi, MD, Diagnostic Radiologist; Robert Sinha, MD, Radiation Oncologist; Shane Dormady, MD, PhD, Medical Oncologist; Jiali Li, MD, PhD, Medical Oncologist; and Shyamali Singhal, MD, PhD, Surgical Oncologist. Back row, left to right: William Buchholz, MD, Internal Medicine, Hematology; Saul Eisenstat, MD, General Surgeon; Peter Naruns, MD, General Surgeon; Buff Greider, MD, Family Medicine; Shahin Fazilat, MD, Plastic Surgeon; Albert Pisani, MD, Gynecologic Oncologist; and Prithvi Legha, MD, General Surgeon.

HELP. HEALING. HOPE.

For more information or referral to one of our experts, please call or visit our website.

800-216-5556 www.elcaminohospital.org/cancer

2015 Cancer Program Report

Documents