The Shore Regional Cancer Center

The Shore Regional Cancer Center, located at 509 Idlewild Avenue, Easton, Maryland, offers a full range of cancer treatment programs. Trained, professional staff provide an integrated approach to healing - healing the body and healing the spirit. Prevention, education, early diagnosis, and high-quality, efficient, yet caring patient treatment are among the many attributes of the Regional Cancer Center's program.

Cancer treatment can involve:

SURGERY - Surgery is often the preferred treatment modality for many cancers and may be performed in conjunction with radiation and/or chemotherapy. The integration of treatment therapies is through the multidisciplinary approach of the surgeons and specialists at The Memorial Hospital at Easton and Dorchester General Hospital. Surgical subspecialties include general vascular and thoracic surgery, urology, orthopaedic procedures, cataract surgery, laser procedures, plastic and reconstructive surgery, obstetrics and gynecological surgery, and pediatric, hand, ear, nose and throat surgeries.

Requard Radiation Oncology Center

The Requard Radiation Oncology Center provides a full spectrum of services comparable to those offered at major metropolitan cancer centers and university medical centers. The full spectrum of contemporary radiation therapy consists of equipment and techniques that provide progressively more precise treatments for tumor type and location. This spectrum includes:

Three-dimensional treatment planning hardware and software enables the radiation oncologist to provide an optimal treatment plan individualized to each patient. This treatment precisely targets the tumor but minimizes damage to normal tissue, resulting in fewer side effects for patients.
External beam therapy is provided on a new state-of-the-art Varian 21EX linear accelerator with 120 leaf multileaf collimator. This enables the treatment to precisely target the tumor by conforming the 120 leaves to the shape of the tumor.
An on-site CT scanner is used to plan radiation therapy treatments. CT planning accurately determines the size, shape, and direction of the beam for each patient.
Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) enables even more precise dosage calculation and treatment delivery, with a computer calculating the ideal dose to determine the shape of the radiation beam to each part of the tumor. IMRT also allows the delivery of a higher dose of radiation to the tumor while significantly reducing the amount of radiation to healthy surrounding tissue, resulting in fewer side effects.
Image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) uses high resolution x-rays to pinpoint internal tumor sites seconds before treatment. A computer compares the current patient position to the desired position and robotically corrects patient setting for optimal precision for three-dimensional and IMRT treatments.
Stereotactic radiosurgery allows cranial and spinal tumors that are surgically inoperable to be treated with very fine and ultra-precise radiation fields. Using 3mm microleaves, beamlets target the tumor while sparing sensitive normal tissue in areas such as the optic nerve.
High dose rate brachytherapy (HDR) uses a miniature highly radioactive source on the end of a steel cable to robotically deliver a radiation treatment. HDR may be used in addition to 6 weeks of conventional radiotherapy. It may also be used instead of conventional therapy, as the Mammosite Ž for early stage breast cancers, with one week of treatments instead of six weeks.
Low dose rate brachytherapy includes a prostate seed implant program. Radioactive seeds are surgically implanted around the tumor and left in place, with the radioactivity gradually decreasing. Minimal safety precautions are required at home, with patient education provided for these.

CHEMOTHERAPY SERVICES - These services are available in outpatient treatment centers at Memorial Hospital at Easton and Dorchester General Hospital as well as in the private offices of local medical oncologists. Clinical pharmacists at each hospital work closely with the physicians and with an oncology certified nurse to provide the most current drug therapies for the treatment of cancer. The outpatient chemotherapy nurse also provides education, referrals to the social worker and dietician, and supportive care.

DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY - Diagnostic Radiology Services are provided at The Memorial Hospital and its Diagnostic and Imaging Centers in Easton, Denton, and Centreville. Services include Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Nuclear Medicine, Ultrasound, Angiography and Interventional Radiology, mobile PET scanning, and Mammography.

BREAST CARE SERVICES - These services include screening mammography, provided by the Radiology Department at sites in Easton, Denton, and Centreville, and diagnostic mammography, provided at the Memorial Hospital at Easton. The Shore Regional Breast Center provides personalized care for women with breast disease, including clinical care by a surgeon with special expertise in breast disease, education and support from an oncology certified nurse coordinator, and genetic counseling and testing. A mammographic stereotactic core breast biopsy service began in 1996, with a surgeon and radiologist collaborating to diagnose breast disease without exploratory surgery. Wellness for Women provides free screening mammograms for women who meet financial guidelines.

CLINICAL TRIALS - Participation in a clinical trial may be an option for patients receiving treatment for cancer. The center also participates in prevention trials for breast and prostate cancer.

SUPPORT SERVICES - A variety of services are provided to enhance the care of patients and support patients and families experiencing a cancer diagnosis.

COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE SERVICES - These services are provided to our patients through the Center for Integrative Medicine of Shore Health System.

The Regional Cancer Center may be reached by calling 410-820-6800.

Information on
CLINICAL TRIALS

Clinical Trials available through the Shore Regional Cancer Center

Information on Charitable Giving