Cancer & Oncology at Larkin

Larkin Health Systems provides a broad range of exceptional cancer services across our network. Each of our facilities is equipped with advanced technologies, Board Certified Physicians, and versatile medical professionals with decades of experience in treating moderate to life-threatening forms of cancer. This includes malignant (cancerous) tumor cells, benign (non-cancerous) tumor cells, and precancerous cells (learn more about these distinctions below).

Our Oncologists will perform a full assessment of your cancer's stage (which is the size and spread of your cancer) and grade (which is the aggressiveness/ speed of your cancers growth) to determine the best possible treatment plan for you.

Minimally Invasive Techniques

Leveraging minimally invasive techniques and cutting-edge technologies such as Gamma Knife Radiosurgery and Zap-X Radiosurgery, many of our treatments can be performed on an outpatient basis or with a minimal hospital stay. These advancements enable greater precision, lower rates of complications, and optimal patient recovery when compared to traditional techniques. We perform minimally invasive surgical techniques to remove cancer including robotic surgery (using the da Vinci surgical system), laparoscopic surgery, and endoscopic surgery.

These techniques allow surgeons to perform the entire operation with sophisticated technology and through small (1cm) incisions which decrease the chance of scarring, infections, and trauma when compared to "open" procedures and other traditional approaches.

Types of Treatment

Cancer treatment falls into two major categories, local treatments and systemic treatments, which can be used in conjunction or in a staged approach. Local treatments are those that target the cancer directly such as surgical techniques that physically remove the cancer and radiation therapy which uses high doses of radiation (externally or internally) to disrupt the DNA of the cell and its ability to divide, thereby killing the cell.

For example, Stereotactic Radiosurgery is an external form of radiation therapy that uses a machine outside the body (such as the Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion and Zap-X Radiosurgery System) to deliver hundreds of beams of high energy radiation to a specific site. The goal of radiation therapy is to minimize radiation exposure to the healthy cells that surround the cancer.

Brachytherapy is an internal form of radiation therapy and involves the placement of solid radioactive materials such as seeds and capsules near the cancer cells or tumors. Systemic therapy is used to treat cancer cells within the entire body and can be delivered orally, through an IV, or injection. This includes chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy