The Finley Hospital
350 North Grandview Ave.
Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone: (563) 582-1881
Toll Free: 1-800-582-1891

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Clinical Trials    What Every Woman Should Know About Breast Cancer    Living With Cancer Resource Guide

At The Wendt Regional Center we're dedicated to offering the best in cancer care. In fact, we've raised the standard of radiation cancer treatment available in the tri-state area with our state-of-the-art linear accelerator, radiation simulator and computerized 3-D treatment-planning computer.

Wendt Regional Cancer Center Staff
563.589.2468 or 800.397.2467

Facts About Wendt Regional Cancer Center Services

• Provide radiation oncology services for 11 counties in the tri-state area.
• Only provider of radiation therapy in Dubuque and the surrounding area
• Perform approximately 22,000 procedures per year.
• Greater than 90 percent of patient volume (radiation treatment) is outpatient.
• Treat adults (age 18+) - curative and palliative
• Two board certified radiation oncologists
• Supported by a comprehensive cancer care program
• On campus Navigator program from American Cancer Society

  Dr. James Baer

Our physicians are Board-certified Radiation Oncologists by the American College of Radiology:

Dr. Baer provide cancer patients with high-quality radiation therapy through the use of advanced methods and equipment. From high-energy external beam X-ray to internal seed implants, modern techniques are made available to our local community. Our patients can be assured of receiving appropriate and effective treatment, while staying close to home.

Three-Dimensional Treatment Planning
Successful treatment outcome in radiation oncology is based on two broad principles:

1) irradiation of tumor-bearing tissues to adequate, or curative, doses; and
2) sparing of normal, or uninvolved, tissues from unnecessary radiation.

Optimal treatment planning procedures play a key role in achieving these goals. Recent improvements in computer systems and treatment planning software allow physicians to visualize a patient's anatomy in three dimensions relative to the radiotherapy treatment machines. This information enables us to "conform" radiation dose more closely to the shape of an individual's tumor by creating specially tailored blocking devices and/or optimizing the directions from which radiation is administered. On average, such three-dimensional treatment planning, by improving the accuracy of planning, creates both better coverage of tumors and reduced treatment of normal tissues. Studies of patients treated with conformal therapy indicate that acute side effects of radiation are reduced and that higher doses of radiation may be delivered to some tumors without increasing the risk of side effects of treatment. Multi-institutional trials are underway to determine the optimum application of this technology for tumors of the brain, lung, and prostate, and already appear quite promising.

The Wendt Center uses the ADAC Pinnacle 3-D Treatment Planning System, which is widely recognized as the most comprehensive 3-D treatment planning system available.  Pinnacle uses the newest methods of imaging and technology available to create a virtual world of 3-D planning.

IMRT
The Wendt Center has recently implemented a highly sophisticated treatment approach called IMRT.  It allows for even more computer-optimization and automated delivery of treatment plans than 3-D Dimensional planning.  What this means is that instead of just planning the treatment in the computer and treating through a fixed set of fields, we actually use the computer for the treatment itself.  This enhancement in accuracy is achieved by the delivery of many tiny radiation beams, rather than a single large radiation beam passing through the body.  Consequently, different parts of an individual field can get different doses.  This means that we can really zero in on the area we want to treat, and spare normal tissues that, even just a few years ago, would not have been possible to spare from the radiation beam.  This technique has made impressive changes in the way we practice and still is not yet used in many institutions.  We can now effectively increase our chance of curing someone while at the same time decrease their side effects from treatment.

Prostate cancer and head and neck cancer fit the ideal criteria for IMRT because both have adjacent, sensitive, dose-limiting tissues.  Both of these cancers are currently being treated with IMRT at the Wendt Center .  IMRT may be used to treat other types of cancer in many anatomical locations.  IMRT is not for every situation.  At the Wendt Center , treatments are customized to each individual.  IMRT does not present benefits over conventional radiation therapy treatment in such situations as treating a large homogeneous site.  For this type of treatment, conventional techniques are used.

Your physician will discuss with you what method of treatment - conventional, IMRT, or 3-D - is most appropriate for your care.

Clinical Research Trials and Cancer Prevention Trials
The Wendt Regional Cancer Center has maintained its participation in the Clinical Trials of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) as an affiliate of Mayo Clinic since 1995.  For the patient, participating in Clinical Trials provides them with the opportunity not only to receive state-of-the-art cancer treatment, but also to improve the treatment of the future patients of the Wendt Cancer Center and throughout the world.  Knowledge gained from Clinical Trials has been essential in the world's overall progress against cancer.  Clinical Trials offer patients a link to basic research.  Our goal is to translate the best of that research into findings that directly benefit our patients.

The Wendt Center also participates in the STAR trial with National Surgical Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) through the University of Iowa and Dubuque Internal Medicine.  The STAR trial attempts to determine whether a new drug, Raloxifene is superior to Tamoxifen in reducing the incidence of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

In the near future, the Wendt Cancer Center will be participating in the NSABP-3, a colon and rectum cancer prevention trial through the University of Iowa and Dubuque Internal Medicine.

Tumor Conferences
The Finley Hospital Cancer Care Team sponsors weekly tumor conferences with a primary focus of providing multidisciplinary consults on cancer cases.  All major cancer sites are covered throughout the year, with emphasis on the top five sites: breast, prostate, lung, colorectal and bladder.

A physician moderates the conference, which provides stimulating discussion that can determine how to best manage challenging cases.  Tumor Conference presentations include a medical history and physical assessment, radiographic studies, pathological interpretations, TNM staging, and recommended therapeutic intervention(s).  Conferences are open to all physicians/medical staff, nursing and other healthcare providers and are approved for continuing education credit.