Tampa General Hospital’s Medical Oncology program uses a multi-faceted, patient-centric approach to deliver cutting-edge individualized drug and gene therapy cancer treatments. Medical oncology is the most rapidly changing field in medicine, and Tampa General is at its forefront thanks to our academic approach, ground-breaking research and clinical trial leadership. In fact, we’ve been designated as a ‘high performing’ cancer care hospital by U.S. News & World Report for 2023-24, which places us in the top 10% of hospitals nationally.
Our Medical Oncologists
TGH’s medical oncologists are hand-selected from across the country for their passion, brilliance and compassionate patient care. Our team is self-motivated to engage in high-level research to spearhead the development and testing of new techniques, methods and technology, as well as to stay abreast of emerging therapies from their colleagues around the globe.
Tampa General’s medical oncologists work on multidisciplinary teams with radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, pathologists and members of any other relevant departments to coordinate the most effective cancer care possible for our patients. This comprehensive approach allows for consideration of the case from virtually every angle and helps ensure that even the smallest details are taken into account.
Cancer Treatment Options
Our medical oncology treatment options include three primary types of therapy:
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment using cytotoxic (tumor cell-killing) drugs. There are many types of chemotherapy, which vary in terms of their chemical structure and how they work. Different types are used to treat different cancers.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy treatments use antibodies or the patient’s own immune system (or a transplant donor’s) to attack and eradicate cancer cells. These types of treatments include immune checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplant - also known as bone marrow transplant (BMT).
Targeted Therapy
In targeted therapy, drugs are administered via either an intravenous (IV) infusion or as oral pills. These drugs work by targeting the enzymes and proteins of cancer cells to prevent growth or replication thereby causing the cells to self-destruct, all while leaving healthy cells unaffected.
TGH Cancer Institute - When You're Fighting Cancer, You Deserve Every Advantage
Types of Cancer Treated
Our medical oncologists specialize in treating a broad range of cancers, including:
- Breast cancer
- Brain cancer
- Genitourinary cancer (including kidney, bladder, prostate and testicular)
- Colorectal and gastrointestinal (GI) cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Hematologic Malignancies, including lymphoma, leukemia and myeloma
- Lung cancer
- Pediatric cancer
- Skin cancers (melanoma and non-melanoma)
What to Expect
When you seek cancer treatment at TGH, you can expect to be assigned a dedicated Care Navigator who will streamline the care process, expedite wait times and provide support and information for you and your family. While the exact therapies and treatment plan will vary based on the type of cancer involved and many other factors, you can feel confident that your Care Navigator and your entire medical oncology team are committed to providing the compassionate, world-class care and cutting-edge treatment you need.
