Cancer Disease Management Teams

Through disease management teams, we are holding ourselves to the same standards as the world’s leading cancer programs. This level of commitment is rare among programs of our size – and we wouldn’t have it any other way.  

Disease management teams at Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute

Disease management teams help us fulfill our commitment to delivering the best available care. As cancer research is uncovering new possibilities, we carefully consider how they might benefit our patients.

We change our care practices to reflect research findings after a thorough review process that includes tapping into world-renowned expertise.

Our membership in the MSK Cancer Alliance allows us to discuss proposed changes with experts from one of the world’s leading cancer research institutions. Our membership adds additional oversight to everything we do.

Disease management teams draw on the expertise of the Cancer Institute’s renowned cancer experts. Each team includes all the medical specialties involved in treating that type of cancer. For example, the lung cancer team consists of pulmonologists (lung doctors), surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists and others.

How our disease management teams benefit patients

Many institutions have to wait years to implement research findings that have the potential to improve care. Our membership in the MSK Cancer Alliance means we are able to bring innovations to patients at a much faster pace.

The efforts of our disease management teams benefit patients with any cancer type and are especially important for cancers that can be difficult to treat. These cancers include lung, breast and colorectal cancer. We are able to personalize cancer treatments through our tumor boards.

Disease management teams at Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute are transforming care

Our efforts are improving every aspect of cancer care, including:

• Detection: If you need an imaging test, such as a computed tomography (CT scan) of the abdomen and pelvis, we may also recommend a CT scan of the chest. This additional test helps us determine whether cancer has spread to the lungs.
• Staging: We are changing the way we use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to make cancer staging more accurate. Staging is a process for determining how serious the cancer is so we can recommend the most appropriate treatments.
• Treatment: We routinely perform genetic testing to check for certain gene changes (mutations) in people with colorectal cancer. This information helps us select the chemotherapy drugs that are most effective in attacking the mutation.
• Clinical trials: Disease management teams help us align research activities around care topics that matter most to our patients. These activities allow us to pursue the clinical trials that are most needed in our community.

More about disease management teams

We offer disease management teams for:

• Breast cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Gastrointestinal cancer
• Upper gastrointestinal
• Head and neck cancer
• Lung cancer
• Skin and soft tissue cancer