Chemotherapy

The Chemotherapy & Infusion Center is an important component of cancer treatment for many Roswell Park patients. Staffed by highly skilled nurses with special training in chemotherapy administration, the care team will ensure you receive the specified treatment written by your physician. 

Types of chemotherapy:

  • Systemic chemotherapy: Treatment with anticancer drugs that travel through the blood to cells all over the body.
  • Regional chemotherapy: Treatment with anticancer drugs directed to a specific area of the body.
  • IV chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs are administered through a vein.
  • Oral chemotherapy: Treatment with drugs given by mouth to kill cancer cells or stop them from dividing.
  • Topical chemotherapy: Treatment with anticancer drugs in a lotion or cream applied to the skin.

Chemoradiation therapy

Treatment that combines chemotherapy with radiation therapy.

Targeted therapies

Treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific types of cancer cells with less harm to normal cells. Some targeted therapies block the action of certain enzymes, proteins, or other molecules involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. Other types of targeted therapies help the immune system kill cancer cells or deliver toxic substances directly to cancer cells and kill them. Targeted therapy may have fewer side effects than other types of cancer treatment. Most targeted therapies are either small molecule drugs or monoclonal antibodies.

Hormonal treatment

Treatment that adds, blocks, or removes hormones. To slow or stop the growth of certain cancers (such as prostate and breast cancer), synthetic hormones or other drugs may be given to block the body’s natural hormones. Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the gland that makes a certain hormone. Also called endocrine therapy, hormone therapy, and hormone treatment.

Immunotherapy

A type of biological therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection, and other diseases. Some types of immunotherapy only target certain cells of the immune system. Others affect the immune system in a general way. Types of immunotherapy include cytokines, vaccines, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), and some monoclonal antibodies.

Immunotherapies we offer

Percutaneous Ethanol Injection

An injection of ethanol (alcohol) through the skin directly into a tumor to kill cancer cells. Ultrasound or a CT scan is used to guide the needle into the tumor. Also called alcohol ablation, ethanol ablation, and PEI.