Cancer Institute Services

Medical Oncology Clinic

The St. John’s Cancer Institute works with all area Hematologists and Medical Oncologist’s to provide a patient focused team approach to your cancer care.  Our on-site Outpatient Medical Oncology Clinic with Dr. Zimmer is located on the 1st floor of the Pavilion; the infusion center provides exceptional care in an efficient and caring manner. Outpatient chemotherapy (as well as other therapies such as blood transfusions, etc.) may be given in the physician's office/clinic or in St. John's Outpatient Day Hospital.

Chemo-Infusion Unit/Day Hospital

As part of the Outpatient Day Hospital on the 9th floor the hospital, the Chemo-Infusion Unit/Day Hospital offers services such as blood transfusions, chemotherapy, antibiotic, and other IV infusions, injections and dressing changes. Some procedures such as bone marrow aspirate and biopsy, epidural exams and other tests associated with lab studies are also done in the Chemo-Infusion/Day Hospital Unit.

Inpatient Adult Oncology

The inpatient Adult Oncology Unit, located on the 8th floor of the hospital, provides compassionate, holistic care to cancer patients and their families. These services are provided by a healthcare team consisting of physicians, certified chemotherapy infusion nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers and chaplains. This team strives to create an environment that promotes quality of life and supports quality medical practice.

St. John's Hospital also features a one of a kind Inpatient Hospice Unit.  Located on the newly remodeled 11th floor, the Hospice unit provides a caring and comfortable environment for patients and families with end of life care needs.

Pediatric Oncology

The St. John’s Children’s Hospital in conjunction with the SIU School of Medicine offers leading edge Pediatric Oncology services.  These dedicated teams of specialists offer pediatric patients and their families treatment options using the latest in nationwide clinical research trials through the Children’s Oncology Group to provide exceptional patient focused treatment options close to home.

Pediatric Oncology including outpatient services as well as our pediatric in patent unit with general, intermediate and intensive care units ready to serve the specific needs of children and their families. The unit is staffed by certified pediatric oncology nurses, clinical nurses and a clinical nurse specialist.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy uses precisely targeted high-energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells. It is a very effective treatment for many cancers and is most commonly used to treat cancers of the lung, breast, brain, prostate and uterus. Radiation Therapy may be the only form of treatment required or it may be combined with surgery and/or chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy is performed under the direction of a Radiation Oncologist. It is most often delivered externally as a patient lies on a table while cancer specialist by the latest radiotherapy equipment to deliver high energy X-rays to a specific body part. Treatments last 10-20 minutes and are typically performed on an outpatient basis five days a week for two to eight weeks.

St. John’s offers many advanced form of radiation therapy including Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), and Brachytherapy including MammoSite™.  Click here for more detailed information about Radiation Therapy services.

Cancer Research

Clinical research is an integral part of our commitment to providing our patients access to leading edge cancer treatments.  Local and National Clinical Trials are offered through our affiliation with the several organizations including: 

• Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), a clinical research component of the American College of Radiology (ACR). 
• The Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a corporative group incorporating all national pediatric clinical trials.
• University of Chicago  Phase II Consortium through our affiliation with SIU School of Medicine
• Local trials through corporative efforts with Springfield area physicians and researchers.

St. John's Cancer Institute’s Clinical Research Team features clinical research nurses specializing in both adult and pediatric clinical research.  Our team works together with area physicians to bring patients access to the vast resources clinical trials and research performed throughout the United States and Canada can provide.

Patient Resource Center/Community Education

The Patient Resource Center, created in partnership with the American Cancer Society, is a resource area for patients and families where they can access current information on cancer care and treatments as well as learn about local resources offered through the American Cancer Society and other organizations.  Some of the community resources available include:

Look Good…Feel Better *
Road to Recovery *
Support to Recovery *
Wig Bank *
Various Community Events *
Cancer Screenings
General Cancer Support Group
Special Friends Support Group (Pediatric cancer support group)

Breast Cancer Network of Strength
(formerly known as Y-Me™ Breast
Cancer Support Group)
Mind Body Medicine Services **
Massage Therapy **
Resource staff
Videos, pamphlets, magazines, and books
Cancer Help ™ Computer***

* Services provided by the American Cancer Society
** Services provided by St. John's Hospital Center for Living
*** The Cancer Help ™ computer is updated monthly with information from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD. Internet access is available along with the videos, pamphlets, periodicals, magazines and books. A nurse is readily available to answer questions.

The Resource Center is located on the 1st floor lobby of the Cancer Institute in the Pavilion and is open daily. 

For a list of Community Education dates and times.

Community Service

Community Service is a part of the core value of service at St. John's Hospital. Community education and support are offered through various programs held in the community and at the hospital. Programs focus on variety of topics related to cancer and include the following:

Prostate Cancer Screening
Head & Neck Cancer Screenings
Health Fair’s & Cancer Screenings customizable to most any group
Resources for primary and secondary schools

For a list of Community Education dates and times.

To inquire how we can partner with your group or organization please call 217-525-5666.