InterCommunity Cancer Center Of Western Illinois

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The InterCommunity Cancer Center format is the culmination of years of research, design and development. It demonstrates a commitment to patient oriented cancer care.

The InterCommunity Cancer Center of Western Illinois is a free-standing cancer center offering radiation therapy. At the Center, we understand the difference between cancer outpatients and other medical patients. That's one reason we invest in "human scale" facilities.

Every attempt is made to minimize other stresses our patients might encounter from a treatment facility. Special services include healthcare advice and written materials, complete Medicare and insurance billing plus financial consultation regarding our charges. We are a participating provider with Medicare and accept assignment on the Medicare claims.

External Beam Therapy where a beam of radiation is directed through the skin to the cancer and the immediate surrounding area. Three types of external beam therapy are available:

• Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT) uses computers and special imaging techniques to show the size, shape and location of the tumor. The beams can then be tailored precisely to the size, shape and location of the tumor.

• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is a specialized form of 3D-CRT that allows radiation to be more exactly shaped to fit the tumor. With IMRT, the radiation beam can be broken up into many “beamlets,” and the intensity of each beamlet can be adjusted individually. Using IMRT, it may be possible to further limit the amount of radiation to healthy tissue near the tumor.

• Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) we use on-board CT imaging to pinpoint tumors rapidly and accurately at the time of a radiation therapy treatment—adjusting for the movement of tumors and the body’s organs. As a result, the amount of healthy tissue exposed to radiation can be reduced, minimizing the incidence of side effects.

High Dose Rate (HDR) radiation therapy involves placing radioactive material into a tumor or into its surrounding tissue.

• Brachytherapy uses radiation sources (such as thin wires, ribbons, capsules or seeds in small, sealed containers) placed internally to deliver a high dose of radiation directly to the cancer cells. Breast brachytherapy is delivered using the MammoSite® Catheter.

• Mammosite™ delivers bursts of radiation to the cancerous area over a period of five days, as compared to six weeks with standard radiation therapy. MammoSite places the radiation source inside the lumpectomy cavity, delivering radiation directly to the area where cancer is most likely to recur.