Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center

 
Cancer genetics, targeted therapies, new chemotherapy drug combinations.   The Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center is a collaboration between Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital to care for adults with cancer. Dana-Farber provides outpatient services, while inpatient care is provided by Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The center received U.S. News & World Report’s highest grade for use of advanced technology, nurse-to-patient ratio, and availability of key services. Care is delivered via specialized treatment centers such as the Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology which treats mesothelioma and other cancers of organs within the chest. The center utilizes the latest advances in tumor genetic testing to design a personalized treatment plan that aims to innovatively support each patient’s individual medical, physical and emotional needs. The center also makes available a battery of support services that include nutritional advice, integrative therapies like acupuncture and Reiki, pain and palliative specialists, and mental health professionals. The personalized medicine strategy permeates the institution’s research efforts. It is also known for significant strides in the study of tumor tissue to identify genetic changes responsible for feeding cancer’s growth.