ORLANDO, Fla., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Cancer Centers of Florida, the largest independent oncology practice in central Florida, now offers a mobile positron emission tomography (PET) system, providing patients access to state- of-the-art imaging technology at its Ocoee location. This system is the leading technology for diagnosing and guiding the treatment of cancer.
Early intervention is PET’s most valuable benefit. The earlier a cancer is detected, the better the chance for recovery.
PET scans show the body’s physiologic changes, revealing tumors and tissue activity that are not captured by other diagnostic technologies. This significantly enhances the ability of physicians to diagnose cancer at earlier stages, better defines the stage of the tumor, and helps identify the best treatment option.
“Throughout the course of cancer treatment, a PET scan can help physicians manage patient therapy,” said Dr. Barry Berman medical oncologist and president of Cancer Centers of Florida. “Monitoring the response to a given treatment and providing precise feedback on its effectiveness help ensure patients receive appropriate care.”
Patients can also benefit from having a more thorough understanding of their diagnosis, as well as a reduction of invasive procedures such as biopsies and surgeries. A PET scan procedure typically takes about two hours.
By utilizing a mobile PET unit, Cancer Centers of Florida is able to provide the technology to patients at the practice’s Ocoee cancer center, with future plans to use the system at its other practice sites.
“The PET unit provides us with another tool in our fight against cancer,” added Dr. Jeffrey Stephenson, radiation oncologist at Cancer Centers of Florida. “Being able to do the testing locally enhances our commitment to bringing quality cancer care directly to the communities where our patients live.”
The benefits of PET in cancer care are becoming increasingly recognized. Recently, Medicare expanded coverage for PET technology to include the staging of recurrent breast cancer, as well as restaging of recurrent or residual thyroid cancers of follicular cell origin. This coverage expansion adds to a growing list of Medicare-approved indications for PET that also include colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancers, non-small cell lung cancer and lymphoma.
This PET system is made possible through the cancer center’s partnership with US Oncology -- a leading national network of nearly 1,000 oncologists, with 81 outpatient cancer centers in 32 states.
About Cancer Centers of Florida
Cancer Centers of Florida -- a regional oncology and hematology practice with physicians who treat approximately 5,000 patients annually -- has been providing cancer care to the central Florida region since 1994. Its dedicated team of cancer-care specialists serves four practice locations in the Greater Orlando area: 505 N. Maitland Ave. in Altamonte Springs, 1111 N. Blackwood Ave. in Ocoee, 7975 Lake Underhill Dr. in East Orlando and 52 West Gore St. in downtown Orlando.
Cancer Centers of Florida
CONTACT: Steve Sievert, +1-832-601-6193, for Cancer Centers of Florida
Web site: http://www.usoncology.com/