Tumor registry, cancer research and the cancer registry are lifelines to national networks advancing the understanding of the diseases, their diagnosis and treatment. O'Connor's involvement keeps our physicians and cancer care staff up-to-date on the latest developments and helps them share information with their colleagues about particular cases of cancer.

Tumor Board

The Cancer Care Committee promotes a multidisciplinary approach to the care of the cancer patient by conducting monthly cancer conferences called "tumor boards." Representatives from many disciplines attend and participate in these conferences during which physicians present difficult or interesting cases. After the presentation, a patient's treatment and care are discussed by the physicians and a plan is determined. In addition to the tumor boards held onsite at O'Connor, our physicians also attend tumor boards held at Kaiser and other area hospitals where O'Connor cases are presented.

For more information about the tumor board, call (408) 947-4075.

Cancer Research

O'Connor has long recognized the importance of participation in clinical research. This research not only allows current patients access to therapies that might not otherwise be available, but also adds to the body of information that can be used to better treat patients in the future. Patients are always given the choice of whether they would like to participate in a given study and informed consent is obtained.

In the last several years, O'Connor patients have chosen to participate in several pharmaceutical trials. Many patients have also been referred to Stanford and the University of California at San Francisco for participation in trials available there. Patients treated in the Radiation Therapy Department have had access to protocols from SWOG, NSABP and ECOG through the Kaiser affiliation.

For more information about cancer research, call Shirley Sampson at (408) 947-2569.

Cancer Registry

Integral to the O'Connor Hospital Cancer Program is the Cancer Registry. It provides a system to monitor the types of cancer diagnosed and/or treated at the hospital and is important in the evaluation of the cancer care provided. The registry collects demographic, cancer identification, treatment and follow-up data on each patient. These data contribute to the staging, planning, treatment, and continuity of care for patients. In addition, information about each patient's treatment and outcome is submitted to state and national organizations that report statistics for California and the U.S. More than 4,000 cases are followed annually as part of the lifetime follow-up maintained by the tumor registry.

Gail Hodge, certified tumor registrar, manages the registry efficiently with the assistance of Antonia Madero. It is through their diligent work that the registry produces the data necessary for the evaluation of the cancer program.

For more information about the cancer registry at O'Connor, call (408) 947-4075.