The purpose of the cancer program of the Houston VA Medical Center is to improve the quality of life and survival of patients with cancer. The HVAMC has cancer specialists from several disciplines including Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, and Surgery who provide care to patients with many different types of cancer. Our medical center was recently approved as a Teaching Hospital Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons, an organization that uses very strict criteria to certify cancer programs around the United States. Only the highest quality programs can become accredited, and we are very proud of this accomplishment.

This year a new Cancer Resource Center was developed for patients and their families. It is located on Ward 4B, in room 4B-119. In the Cancer Resource Center there is information about all of the important things that may concern a patient who has cancer. There are booklets about each of the different types of cancer and leukemia. Information is available about cancer treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Pamphlets describing how to eat while on cancer treatment, what to expect during treatment, and what the patient and family can do to make life easier during therapy are available, all free of charge. If a patient or family member has questions about cancer that are not answered by the booklets, a volunteer will assist them with an Internet search to find out whatever they need to know. The Cancer Resource Room is open from 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. Volunteers are available from 9 AM to 2 PM.

The HVAMC has a Cancer Registry staffed by Alka Mulchandani, CTR, that keeps track of the cancers diagnosed and treated in this hospital. Almost a thousand patients are diagnosed and treated for cancer at the HVAMC each year. By reviewing information on our patients, we can determine the survival of our patients.

We are always looking for ways to improve cancer care for our patients. Whenever possible, we try to cure the cancer. When this is not possible, the goal is to help the patients live as long as they can with the best possible quality of life. Services such as the Cancer Resource Room help patients to be informed about their disease and understand what is going on in their daily treatment.

Point of Contact: Hematology-Oncology Section