Cancer Services at UPMC Western Maryland

At the Schwab Family Cancer Center at UPMC Western Maryland, the most important cancer is yours.

As a Comprehensive Cancer Center, we are committed to patient-centered care and work closely with patients and families to address all needs during the cancer journey. We offer leading-edge technology, personalized treatment options, and a caring, experienced staff.

Contact Us

Call 240-964-1400 for more information about cancer services.

Hours

Monday through Friday – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cancers We Treat

All cancers are different, so our oncology specialists focus on diagnosing and treating your specific type of adult cancer. Our team of medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists, radiologists, and nurses collaborates to provide the most effective cancer treatment for you and your cancer.

The Schwab Family Cancer Center (SFCC) provides the tri-state’s most advanced cancer treatment services in a comfortable and supportive environment.

We specialize in treating:

• Breast cancer
• Colon cancer
• Lung cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Lymphoma

We also treat a wide variety of malignancies, including:

• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Leukemia
• Melanoma
• Mesothelioma
• Myeloma

Our team also has experience in treating cancers of the:

Your Cancer Care Team

The Schwab Family Cancer Center (SFCC) offers a complete range of oncology services and is led by some of the region’s most experienced medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and surgical oncologists. Our experienced staff works together on every aspect of diagnosis and treatment to provide seamless continuity and care coordination.

Members of the cancer care team you may meet with include:

• Dosimetry and physics staff – These staff members are part of the radiation oncology team. They assist the radiation oncologists with treatment planning.
• Medical oncologists – Physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. They use a variety of treatments, including chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Our physician-scientists not only treat patients in the clinic but also are active in research, participating in sophisticated nationwide clinical trials. This approach moves new treatments more quickly from the bench to the bedside, giving you access to the latest advances in treatment right in your community.
• Nurse navigator – Certified oncology nurse trained to help you understand your cancer diagnosis and treatment options. The nurse is available to help:
  • Assist you with anything you need.
  • Connect you with valuable resources in the community.
  • Coordinate communication between you and your care team.
• Nurses – A vital part of our team, nurses provide high-quality, compassionate care. They will be with you at every step of your cancer journey, helping you make informed decisions and educating you on your condition. Many of our nurses are certified oncology nurses. In obtaining this certification, they have demonstrated a detailed understanding of cancer care.  
• Pharmacy staff – Specially trained oncology pharmacists review and oversee the preparation of all medications. Pharmacists are also available to help educate you on taking multiple or complex medicines.
• Radiation oncologists – Specialize in using radiation therapy to treat cancer. They design treatment plans to deliver the most powerful dose of radiation to the treatment area with the fewest side effects on healthy organs and tissues.  
• Radiation therapists – Use the latest radiation therapy equipment to assist in radiation delivery. They work closely with the radiation oncologist, medical physicist, and dosimetrist to ensure the safe and effective delivery of radiation treatment.
• Social workers – An important part of the interdisciplinary team, licensed social workers advocate for you. They can help with practical concerns, as well as:
  • Connect you and your family with supportive services.
  • Connect you to other UPMC Western Maryland services or community resources.
  • Help you monitor your stress and anxiety.
  • Teach you ways to help alleviate stress and anxiety.
• Support staff – Our front desk staff, administrative assistants, receptionists, and unit assistants can help you and your family with anything you need while you’re at the cancer center. Whether you’re a new patient, you’re here to receive treatment, or you’re visiting a family member, they will guide you in the right direction and answer any questions you may have.
• Surgical oncologists – Surgeons who specialize in the removal of tumors and cancerous tissues. They work closely with other oncology specialists to provide comprehensive cancer care, aiming to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients.

Clinical Trial Participation

A clinical trial is a research study in which people with cancer and other diseases participate to help doctors improve future treatments. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the research participants in a clinical trial follow a predetermined protocol to evaluate the effectiveness of a specific medical intervention on treatment outcomes.

Not only do clinical trial participants help to improve their own health: They also contribute to medical research that could improve future cancer treatments. Participants often have access to experimental drugs and treatments that help advance medical research.

Patients receiving cancer care at UPMC Western Maryland have access to clinical trials that:

• Investigate new ways of preventing cancer.
• Monitor the quality of life and/or psychological impact of cancer.
• Screen patients for earlier diagnosis.
• Test new treatments.

Patients may also be enrolled in a variety of industry-sponsored studies. These include diagnostic, observational, registry, and supportive care trials, as well as treatment-related trials for breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer and other malignancies.

We are a member of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) through our affiliation with the University of Pittsburgh. Membership in the ECOG provides not only more opportunities for our patients to participate in clinical trials but allows them to stay in Cumberland while participating.

These ECOG studies include treatment trials for a variety of solid tumors and lymphomas, as well as prevention studies for some kinds of cancer.

Our goal is to find new and emerging treatments with the strongest likelihood of positively impacting our patients. Patients are sometimes connected to other institutions that provide access to additional clinical trials.

Institutions where patients participate in studies include:

• UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Georgetown Lombardi Cancer Center, Washington, D.C.
• National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.
• Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
• University of Maryland Greenbaum Cancer Center, Baltimore, Md.

Current Clinical Trials at UPMC Maryland