Our cancer care services
The MediSys Health Network (comprised of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center) is proud to announce a partnership with the world-renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) to provide high-quality cancer care in Jamaica, Queens.
This collaboration aligns the deep community ties and acute care knowledge of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center with the specialized cancer expertise of MSK to reduce healthcare barriers and increase access to effective cancer care. Additionally, our program expands the reach of MSK cancer research through MediSys’ long-standing community presence in Queens, allowing new treatment approaches to better reflect our diverse population of over 2.4 million Queens residents.
Our oncology program offers proven therapies and innovative treatment approaches from our collaborative team of MediSys and MSK oncologists for many forms of cancer. We utilize advanced on-site imaging technology to ensure diagnostic accuracy and aid our physicians in providing effective, expert treatment.
Treatments
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy utilizes your immune system to treat cancer by boosting its capability of finding and killing cancer cells. This treatment approach may involve the use of checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, cytokines, immunomodulators, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, or oncolytic viruses.
Surgery
Many cancers may be physically removed from your body through surgery. This form of treatment is often supplemented by other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiology to eliminate any remaining cancer cells in the affected area.
Oral Therapy
Cancer-fighting drugs similar to those used in chemotherapy are also available in oral form as liquids, tablets, or capsules. While this can offer fewer side effects than receiving chemotherapy through infusion in some cases, it is just as important as with traditional chemotherapy to closely follow your doctor’s instructions to manage side-effects and receive the full benefits of treatment.
Interventional Radiology
Interventional radiology enables our team of Queens oncologists to accurately diagnose your cancer, get a detailed look at the affected area, and perform minimally invasive treatment. It may also be used to supplement a surgical procedure by allowing for accurately targeted treatment and killing remaining cancer cells in the affected area after your surgery is complete.
Clinical Trials
MediSys and MSK cancer research expands the reach of cancer research to the diverse population of Queens, allowing local residents the opportunity to participate in clinical trials for potentially life-saving new treatments and therapies.
Next Generation Sequencing
Our oncologists use next generation sequencing, a tumor-based test that evaluates for gene mutations, to determine if there are specific mutations that have therapeutic targets. This expands the treatment options available for patients and improves care outcomes.
Cancers Treated
Our team of MediSys and MSK oncologists treat a wide range of cancers, including:
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer often only presents symptoms in its advanced stages. However, our Queens cancer care specialists can screen you for this form of cancer to diagnose and treat it early, giving you the best chance at a positive outcome.
Colon Cancer
Colon cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) typically begins with polyps that form inside your large intestine, some of which can later become cancerous. These polyps may not present any symptoms, but if they become cancerous, they may present symptoms such as altered bowel habits, blood in your stool, abdominal pain, and weight loss.
Pancreatic Cancer
This form of cancer typically begins as cancerous cellular growths within the ducts through which digestive enzymes are transported out of the pancreas. This form of cancer often only presents any symptoms in its late stages.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer diagnosed in women after skin cancer, although in rare cases, it can also develop in men. Symptoms may include a lump or unusually thick area of tissue on the breast or a change in the breast’s size, shape, or appearance.
Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, often begins in the gastroesophageal junction where the food you swallow first enters the stomach, although it can first occur in any part of the stomach. Symptoms may not begin until the disease’s later stages and may include swallowing problems, stomach pain, indigestion, a feeling of bloating, and a loss of appetite.
Gynecologic Cancer
Gynecologic cancer begins in any part of a woman’s reproductive organs and may begin as cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, or vulvar cancer. All women are at risk of developing gynecologic cancer, with this risk increasing with age. As with other forms of cancer, early treatment is most effective for positive outcomes.
Head and Neck Cancer
Head and neck cancers typically form in the squamous cells of the mucosal surfaces of the head and neck. They may initially develop in your mouth, throat, larynx, paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, and salivary glands.
Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer first forms in the gland located at the base of your neck that regulates hormones affecting your heart rate, weight, temperature, and blood pressure. Several variations of this disease exist, including papillary, follicular, Hurthle cell, poorly-differentiated, anaplastic, medullary, and other rare forms of thyroid cancer, but most are curable with treatment.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer involves an abnormal growth of skin cells due to mutations in their DNA. It often develops on parts of skin exposed to the sun, but can also form on parts of the body that are typically covered. The three major types of skin cancer you may develop include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Hepatobiliary Cancer
Hepatobiliary cancer can affect the liver, gallbladder, or bile duct. These organs work together to produce bile and help to digest the food you eat. This type of cancer can occur in a variety of specific forms, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (the most common form of liver cancer) or cholangiocarcinoma (tumors that grow in or outside of the bile duct).
About Our Physicians
Through Jamaica Hospital’s collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering, you will have convenient access to a world-class team of expert MediSys and MSK oncologists who will help you through every step of cancer treatment. Our physicians and staff strive to offer comprehensive, patient-centered Queens cancer care that makes the most effective use of the unparalleled resources for your treatment.
Jamaica Hospital’s Patient Navigation Program
Patient navigators are trained to guide cancer patients through diagnosis, the treatment process, and the various resources available to support them both during and after their treatment. These professionals assist patients with overcoming language, childcare, trust, and employment-related barriers to treatment, ensuring that no matter your situation, you are able to receive the care you need.
MediSys Health Network presented a video to capture compelling stories of resilience from our patients and the difference we have made in their lives: MediSys Gala Video
Schedule an appointment with our Queens cancer care specialists
Whether you need diagnostic testing or treatment, Jamaica Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering’s clinical collaboration offers unmatched Queens cancer care for any form of cancer. To schedule an appointment or learn more about our oncology program, please call (718) 206-6742.
