Our Cancer Program has been recognized by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons as offering the very best in cancer care and treatment. St. Joseph & Redwood Memorial Hospitals and St. Joseph Home Care, together with our community partners, form a comprehensive team offering care, support and information for cancer patients and their families. Our mission is to reduce morbidity and mortality from cancer. And since the program’s inception in 1992, we have carried out this mission by continuing to grow to meet the needs of our communities.
For more information, call (707) 269-4242 or
(800) 477-1922.
American Cancer Society Information Services:
Call 1-800-227-2345 to speak with highly trained cancer specialists available 24/7 to provide information on free services offered by the American Cancer Society, including help with lodging and transportation, support groups, up to date cancer specific information, and clinical trials matching service.
- Visit the American Cancer Society website for up-to-date cancer information, daily news updates and interactive tools to help make treatment decisions.
- The Cancer Survivors Network is a free on-line community created by and for people with cancer and their loved ones. People can share their stories and learn from others who have faced cancer.
The Latest Technologies for Diagnosis & Treatment
The New 64-Slice CT Scanner
St. Joseph Hospital Diagnostic Imaging introduces the "Cadillac" of CT Scanners - delivering head-to-toe 3D imaging in less than 60 seconds. Our new CT Scanner will better assist physicians in early diagnosis and treatment by offering a clearer anatomical visualization and improved soft tissue evaluation. This means a more comprehensive diagnosis in less time - and with greater patient comfort. We at St. Joseph Hospital are pleased to be the first to offer this leading technology on the north coast.
The Power of PET
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a non-invasive nuclear medicine scanning procedure which uses positron emitting radioactive isotopes to show three-dimensional functional images, reflecting an organ’s metabolism rather than just its anatomy, as in conventional scanning techniques. PET is used to diagnose and monitor cancer, in addition to diseases of the heart, brain, and lungs. PET allows for the diagnosis of cancer and other diseases in their early stages, yielding better patient outcomes.
PET/CT - the all-in-one full body scan
The newest diagnostic system for detecting cancer at St. Joseph Hospital is called a PET/CT Scan -- the only one of its kind in Humboldt County. It is a combination of Positron Emission Tomography (PET), which detects cellular activity, and Computerized Tomography (CT), which reveals a cross-section of body tissues and organs. In the past, difficulties arose from trying to interpret the results of a CT scan done separately from a PET scan, due to the fact that the patient's body position had changed. By combining these technologies into a single device, the PET/CT Scanner makes it possible to collect both anatomical and biological or metabolic information at the same time -- during a single examination. This provides physicians a much more complete and clearer picture of what is happening in the body. This integrated information permits accurate tumor detection and localization for a variety of cancers, including breast, esophageal, cervical, melanoma, lymphoma, lung, colorectal, head and neck, and ovarian cancer. With the help of a PET/CT scan, physicians can now detect cancers, as well as some heart disease and brain disorders, at a much earlier stage.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Our Vantage MRI by Toshiba combines a compact magnet with noise-reduction technology and ergonomic design to produce superior image quality with greater patient comfort, allowing the patient's head to remain outside the tube for most procedures. A new MRI technique called Parallel Imaging, along with Toshiba's patented speeder coil technology, allows the Vantage to capture images in a fraction of the time required by older machines. The faster scans mean less chance of blurring from patient movement, less repositioning during the procedure and less time in the exam room. The Vantage also packs a full 1.5-Tesla field strength -- roughly double the magnetic strength of most 'open' MRI machines -- providing the top quality images needed for the most accurate diagnosis possible. Because of its ability to image soft tissue, MRI plays a critical role in diagnosing cancer. It can reveal the shape, size and location of tumors, and it is used to monitor tumor growth, including malignant and non-malignant tumors in the brain. MRI is even used to augment mammography tests for breast cancer.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
This newer type of radiation therapy means higher cure rates and fewer side effects through more exact and focused treatment. "Very simply, IMRT is a major breakthrough in the practice of Radiation Oncology," said Dr. Michael Harmon, Oncology physician at the St. Joseph Hospital Cancer Center. "It allows for pinpoint accuracy in targeting tumors, while at the same time greatly reducing the radiation dose to healthy vital tissues." The new IMRT technology has already contributed to substantially improved clinical outcomes in prostate cancer, according to studies in the Journal of Radiation, Oncology, Biology and Physics.
High Dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDR)
High dose rate brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy commonly used to treat gynecologic cancers. For selected cases of breast cancer, the MammoSite catheter is used for treatment and therapy can be completed in just one week.
Prostate Seed Implant Program
Through the development of the Prostate Seed Implant Program, a new option in prostate cancer treatment is now available and is considered an alternative to radical surgery or conventional radiation treatments. This technique essentially treats the prostate from the inside out rather than from the outside in. Decreased radiation doses to the surrounding normal tissues may decrease both the short term and long term side effects.
Our Team of Expert Professionals in Oncology
"Our goal is to use the most advanced technology and provide it in a supportive and patient-friendly environment," said Dr. Harmon. "Offering state-of-the-art technology at a local level eliminates the need for patients to travel hundreds of miles for treatment--treatment which may involve dozens of sessions, spanning many months. Emotional and financial burdens are greatly diminished by being able to receive care in the comfort of one's own community."
See below for credentials:
Michael Harmon, MD
Join Luh, MD
Hospital & Home Care
Radiation Oncology
The Radiation Oncology Department of St. Joseph Hospital has been serving the community since 1979. Together, a team of board-certified radiation oncologists, certified oncology nurse clinicians, and support staff provide an atmosphere that is highly conducive to the healing process, which includes healing of the whole person--body, mind and spirit. In treating patients and their families with compassion and dignity, our team focuses on alleviating fear and anxiety through calm understanding and reassurance from initial diagnosis through recovery. Through their expert care, the Radiation Oncology Department applies external beam radiation of varying degrees to the patient’s area of concern, which could include cancerous areas of the prostate, breast, lung, colorectal, and head and neck. They are recognized as a leader in providing therapeutic services to all patients served and in bringing new technology and treatments to local cancer patients.(707) 269-4229
Cancer Surgery The most esoteric tumors can be removed right here at St. Joseph Hospital. Surgical treatment of prostate and colon cancer is routinely provided. Especially noteworthy is our commitment to conserving breast tissue by minimizing surgery; whereas 75 percent of breast cancer patients nationwide are given a full mastectomy, here at St. Joseph Hospital, that same percentage, 75 percent, receive instead the far less disfiguring lump ectomy. A remarkable accomplishment for a community hospital!
St. Joseph Home Care Humboldt County - provides nursing, home health aides, physical, occupational, speech therapies and social work services to patients in their own homes.
Eureka (707) 443-9332 Fortuna (707) 725-3389
Humboldt Home Infusion Program - provides infusion therapy for patients in their own homes. Provides chemotherapy and pain control, utilizing the pharmacies of the hospitals and the nurses from St. Joseph Home Care. (707) 269-4258
Outpatient Laboratory Services - provides necessary lab work for oncology patients.
(707) 441-4420
Support Services and Information
Breast Cancer in Humboldt County - Click here to read the RMH & SJH 2005 Site Report on Breast Cancer in Humboldt County . The report includes local and national statistics as well as general information and local education and treatment initiatives.
Cancer Conferences - are held weekly for the review of the needs of the newly diagnosed cancer patients by a multi-disciplinary team. The Cancer Committee is a multi-disciplinary committee, which has the responsibility of ensuring that needed oncology services are available.
Cancer Registry Services - is an information system designed for the collection, management, and dissemination of data on persons with cancer. (707) 445-8121 Ext 6312
Community Resource Centers - assist individuals with information and referrals for community resources.
Blue Lake - (707) 668-5239
Eureka - (707) 442-5239
Fortuna - at the High School (707) 725-4461, ext 3124
Loleta - (707) 845-0464
Rio Dell - (707) 764-5239
Willow Creek - (530) 629-3141
Evergreen Lodge provides fourteen private living suites and four RV sites for oncology patients who require temporary, low rent accommodations while receiving treatment. (707) 445-8121 ext. 7980
Institutional Review Board - ensures that any medical research involving human subjects is done both legally and ethically with the appropriate level of oversight. (707) 445-8121 ext. 6545
Kris Kelly Health Information Center - provides the latest in health information for the public to access in an easy, stress-free manner. (707) 442-9094
I Can Cope Support Group provides a forum for education and support for individuals who are dealing with cancer. Join us for this series of free educational telephone classes for patients, their families and friends facilitated by medical professionals. Each class highlights a different topic relevant to the cancer experience. Click here for the schedule.
Hospice Care Hospice services for terminally ill patients, their families, and caregivers are provided through Hospice of Humboldt, a non-profit organization. Established by a small group of people, Hospice of Humboldt saw their first patient in 1979. Their team of healthcare professionals includes physicians, nurses, medical social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, counselors, and hospice aides who focus on making patients as comfortable as possible. Services are provided in a variety of settings based on individual patient and cultural needs.
(707) 445-8443 Hospice of Humboldt Online