Medical Oncology

Virtua partners with medical oncologists who specialize in diagnosing and treating cancer while providing you with the best quality of life during treatment. They are participating physicians in the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program. They use innovative therapies, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and more, to treat and manage your disease and help you manage side effects.

What Types of Treatments Are Used by Medical Oncologists?

Medical oncologists use a variety of tests and procedures to diagnose cancer, determine the stage and extent of your disease, and develop treatment plans based on your individual needs and preferences.

Drug treatments used by medical oncologists include the following:

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a medication created and administered to destroy cancer. Chemotherapy may be used to cure or control cancer, shrink tumors before surgery, or destroy residual cancer cells as part of your treatment plan after surgery.

Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy is a treatment that uses drugs or other substances that target the growth or spread of certain cancers based on your cancer’s specific molecular profile.

Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy uses hormone or hormone-blocking medication to treat cancer. It also can be used for treatment when cancer can't be removed surgically or for advanced-stage or recurrent cancer.

Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. It works by giving the immune system an overall boost or training the immune system to attack specific parts of cancer cells. In some cases, it can improve survival rates and increase the time the disease can be controlled.

What side effects can drug cancer treatments cause?

The side effects of drug cancer treatments vary based on many factors, including your treatment type and the medication used. The most common side effects include:

• Appetite and weight changes
• Blood-related problems, including bruising, blood blots, infections, and bleeding
• Bowel and bladder changes, including constipation, diarrhea, and incontinence
• Brain changes, including confusion, forgetfulness, and trouble concentrating
• Fatigue
• Mental health concerns, including anxiety and depression
• Pain and nerve issues
• Sexual function, sexuality, and fertility changes
• Skin, hair, and nail changes, including hair loss, dry skin, itching, rashes, hot flashes, and nail changes
• Swelling or lymphedema

Your medical oncologist will talk with you about the possible side effects of your specific treatment. The team will help develop a plan to prevent or manage those side effects, which may include:

• Medications
• Physical therapy
• Palliative care (symptom management)
• Help managing hair loss
• Social work and mental health counseling
• Nutritional counseling
• Specialized sexual function treatment

Medical Oncology Care at Virtua

Your care starts with an evaluation and discussion with a medical oncologist. Our team works closely with you to help you understand your cancer diagnosis and explain the disease. We talk with you about your treatment goals and expectations and what support you may need.

What to expect during your cancer treatment

Clear communication: We discuss how you want to communicate about your disease and treatment. Information about your cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, so we personalize our discussions to your preferences – being transparent and direct or sharing only the details you want to know when you want to know them.

Supportive care: We encourage you to bring a family member or friend to your appointments. They can help take notes, ask questions, learn about the support you may need through treatment, and be a source of comfort.

Expert collaboration: We also discuss your care at our multi-disciplinary tumor board. This is a meeting of cancer treatment specialists, including oncology doctors, surgeons, and nurses, who evaluate the details of your case and develop the most effective, comprehensive treatment plan for you.

Personalized treatment: Once we’ve selected the best therapy to effectively treat your cancer, we’ll discuss how and how often your treatment will be administered.

Treatments are given through intravenous (IV) infusion or injection, orally as pills or capsules, or topically as a cream. Your treatment schedule depends on your cancer type, treatment goals, treatment type, and how you respond to the medications used. You may get treatments daily, weekly, monthly, or cycle through on-and-off periods.

Our team works closely with you before and throughout treatment to help you manage side effects. We’re here to support you and your family and address your needs and concerns.