10 Words and Phrases That Offer Hope to Patients with Cancer

The cancer story in Orange County is changing: It’s about hope. As City of Hope continues to improve upon today’s cancer treatments and push for new breakthroughs, there are more than a few words and phrases that offer hope to patients across our community. Here are 10.

 

Remission: A turning point in cancer care when the signs and symptoms have diminished or disappeared. Remission can be partial or complete and can last from weeks to years or more. In a partial remission, the cancer shrinks but has not gone away completely. In a complete remission, cancer cells cannot be found by any tests. The goal of cancer treatment is the deepest and longest-lasting remission possible.

 

Immunotherapy: An innovative cancer treatment approach that harnesses a patient’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. City of Hope Orange County patients have access to leading physicians and researchers in cancer immunotherapeutics.

 

Precision Medicine:  Personalized cancer prevention and treatment tailored to a patient’s genomic profile and/or the molecular characteristics of their specific cancer. Our precision medicine techniques analyze patients’ unique genetic data, helping ensure they get the right care at the right time.

 

Clinical Trial: Many of today’s most effective cancer treatments are based on the results of clinical trials, rigorous scientific studies of promising new therapies. Patients at City of Hope Orange County have access to hundreds of clinical trials led by renowned City of Hope clinician-scientists.

 

Targeted Therapy: A type of cancer drug that work on cells with specific mutations, preventing them from growing and spreading. Targeted therapy is a cornerstone of precision medicine at City of Hope Orange County.

 

Stem Cell Transplant / Bone Marrow Transplant: A procedure that replaces blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow that are cancerous, faulty, or damaged. Our patients have access to one of the world’s largest and most successful bone marrow and blood stem cell transplant centers.

 

NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center:  A designation by the National Cancer Institute recognizing excellence in cancer treatment, research, and leadership in addressing the many faces of the disease. City of Hope is one of only 8 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in California.

 

Whole Person Care: City of Hope’s approach of treating the patient as a whole person so that life during treatment and after cancer can be rich and rewarding. By understanding who our patients are as individuals, we can know how to best care for and support them. Closely related to patient-centered care.

 

Patient-centered Care: Care that focuses on the individual patient’s specific health needs, goals, and values. City of Hope Orange County puts our patients and their families at the heart of everything we do, encompassing compassion, shared decision-making, physical and emotional well-being, and advanced cancer care that is multidisciplinary, accessible, and personalized.

 

Second Opinion: A frequently recommended step following a cancer diagnosis to ensure all information has been expertly evaluated before therapy begins. With their thorough understanding of the latest advances, treatments, and clinical trials, City of Hope Orange County’s highly specialized cancer physicians can offer expert second opinions that help patients get started with the confidence they are fully aware of and understand all the treatment options available to them.