Know Cancer

When faced with a diagnosis of cancer, one of the most important decisions you and your loved ones must make is who to trust for your care. For patients and families battling cancer or blood-related illnesses, the Joan Karnell Cancer Center of Pennsylvania Hospital offers a wide-ranging program that combines cutting-edge technology and broad-based expertise with the intimacy of a personalized medical practice. As a member of the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Network, Pennsylvania Hospital provides patients with access to the latest cancer treatments, clinical trials and education programs. This relationship enhances the center's ability to deliver progressive medical care along with integrity, sensitivity and support. Treating cancer is an involved process, one that requires the expertise of more than just one specialist. Karnell Cancer Center offers you a closely integrated team of medical, surgical, radiation and related cancer specialists who use their knowledge and experience to help fulfill your physical, emotional, family and social needs. Nutritional counselors, social workers, nurses, chaplains, home-care and hospice professionals, behavioral health experts and physical, occupational and speech therapists will also support you. Complementary therapies such as music therapy and shiatsu massage are also available. Our Palliative Care Program focuses on relieving physical, emotional, social and spiritual suffering. We complement our multidisciplinary approach with clinical research through our membership in the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, which provides access to studies from the Penn Cancer Clinical Trials Group, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) and the American College of Surgeons (ACOS). The Karnell Cancer Center also conducts Phase I, II and III clinical trials through various pharmaceutical research programs. The availability of these clinical trials provides you with the opportunity to participate in promising new approaches to cancer care and treatment.