The use of new technology and other medical advancements have likely saved countless lives among the many other improvements made in the treatment of a broad range of cancers. Space Coast Cancer Center (SCCC) has been a leader of quality care in Brevard County for 30 years and is committed to advancing oncology care in the entire county. No matter what type of cancer or form of treatment, SCCC’s team of experts is committed to providing the highest quality medical care and service to patients and families. That’s why SCCC also believes in a strong personalized approach to treatment that focuses on the patient.
With centers in Titusville, Merritt Island, Viera and Melbourne, there’s a center for treatment within 30 minutes of nearly every home in Brevard County.
SCCC offers the most effective and safe treatment available through state-of-the-art radiation therapy utilizing the Varian Trilogy Linac and Varian TrueBeam Linac machines.
“ We’re not done even when the treatments are over. We have all these things to help them with survivorship,”said Dr. Bryant.
The technology includes intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) that spares normal areas around a tumor and image-guided radiation therapy. Stereotactic body radiosurgery delivers a few very high doses of radiation to small, well-defined tumors. Image guided radiation therapy improves the precision and accuracy of the delivery of treatment. Radiotherapy can be used to treat different types of cancer, which means that more patients can be spared surgery and/or chemotherapy.
“The goal is to deliver a radiation dose that is high enough to treat the cancer while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy organs,” said board certified radiation oncologist Cynthia Bryant, M.D.
The TrueBeam and Trilogy also incorporate respiratory gating and the most recent RapidArc technology which synchronizes delivery of radiation with the patient’s own respiratory cycle.
“We design treatment to ensure accuracy and safety,” said Dr. Prendergrast.
In addition to radiation therapy, SCCC also offers comprehensive infusion therapy (chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immune therapy, biologic therapy, etc.), laboratory services, CAT scan and PET/CT, clinical trials, financial counselors and clinical patient navigators.
Outside of the latest treatments, technology has improved the patient experience, making it more convenient to access information and 
medical records.
Integrated electronic health records allow each patient to have one chart for medical oncology, radiation oncology, laboratory, diagnostic imaging (CAT scans, PET/CTs), and reference labs. Physicians have interfaces with all local hospitals, as well as national reference labs (Quest and LabCorp), and specialty labs – Genoptix, Myriad, Oncotype DX. The patient portal allows patients to review their labs at home online.
Strength In Partnerships
Space Coast Cancer Center was selected to participate in the Innovative Oncology Business Systems (IOBS) program, “Come Home,” that focuses on team-based care. Space Coast Cancer Center’s hours of operation are expanded in Titusville to provide an alternative to expensive and inconvenient emergency department services. Patients will be admitted to the hospital only when medically necessary, and as soon as they are stable enough to safely complete therapy in an outpatient setting, they will be discharged from the hospital.
Space Coast Cancer Center has also partnered with Moffitt Cancer Center by joining the Moffitt Oncology Network. SCCC is one of the first 17 practices in the United States to be nationally certified for quality by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI).
Physicians from SCCC and Moffitt work together on patient care and novel clinical research. SCCC utilizes the experts and best practices at Moffitt, including its multidisciplinary cancer care, peer review and quality assurance standards.
“ We treat our patients like we want our family members to be treated in case of a diagnosis of cancer, and we do not leave any stone unturned in our attempts to provide our patients with the best possible care,” said Firas Muwalla, M.D.
“The affiliation allows us prompt access to the Moffitt consultants/nationally renowned experts to discuss cases with them when we need advice,” said Firas Muwalla, M.D. “It also allows our patients to be evaluated at Moffitt promptly. As part of the affiliation, Moffitt provides a patient navigator for SCCC. This helps with having our patients seen at Moffitt within two weeks maximum and within 1-2 days if medically necessary.”
The affiliation also gives SCCC access to Moffitt cancer treatment pathways and clinical trials. As well as web-based multi-disciplinary conferences where physicians can discuss challenging cases with the Moffitt experts who review patients’ imaging studies and pathology slides. This provides a comprehensive consultation/opinion for patients who cannot make the trip to Tampa for a face-to-face evaluation.
Patient Focused
“Technology moves at a rapid pace like new apps for your iPhone,” said R. Duff Spawls, MSSW, M.D. who is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology.
But the physicians and staff understand the importance of focusing on the patient and not just the technology. “The doctor-patient relationship improves chances of being cured and improves the reaction to treatments,” Dr. Sprawls explains.
One of the advantages of receiving treatment at a cancer center is patient convenience; everything can be done under one roof, from lab tests to treatments of radiation and chemotherapy, if necessary. The mission of the physicians and staff is to provide state-of-the-art cancer care utilizing the most modern and safest technology, following evidence-based national guidelines.
“The concept of being under one roof is more nurturing for patients,” explained Dr. Bryant.
Behind the scenes at Space Coast Cancer Center, a team of experts provides education, support, assurance, safety and effectiveness for patients as well.
“The nurses and staff are excellent,” said Dr. Ashish Dalal who has been with Space Coast Cancer for 13 years. He is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology. “They really connect with patients and and are able to answer questions.”
There are many questions and needs that arise in the midst of cancer treatment and a variety of support services are available for education and the physical and emotional needs of patients. Space Coast Cancer Center utilizes the most modern and safest technology paired with physicians and staff who care about the health and well-being of patients. For more information about Space Coast Cancer Center, visit SpaceCoastCancer.com
This article appears in the February 2015 issue of SpaceCoast Living HEALTH.
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