Donations from Alissa’s Hope Provide Financial Help for Patients

As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more widely available, many people wonder whether it's right for them. BJC HealthCare wants you to have the information you need to make the right decision for yourself and your loved ones.

Michael, a 51-year-old business owner, was a one-pack-a-day cigarette smoker for 30 years who quit in 2017. As someone who enjoyed good health, Michael never worried about his lungs. However, chronic shoulder pain that he attributed to over-exercising and weightlifting began to bother him. On a whim, Michael Googled "causes of shoulder pain" and was surprised when lung cancer came up in the search result.

As a former marketing executive at Anheuser-Busch and a sales and operations vice president with Staples, Geri saw her diagnosis as just another challenge that needed an execution strategy.

Missouri Baptist is part of Heartland Cancer Research, one of 34 community networks that comprise the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP).

Cancer screening tests are important because they can identify a malignancy before symptoms appear, when the disease may be easier to treat.

The Cancer Registry is known for its substantial supportive role in the Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s Cancer Program. The Registry works with physicians, administrators, healthcare providers and planners to provide support for cancer program development, to ensure compliance to regulatory reporting requirements and standards, and to serve as a primary resource for cancer information and statistical information.

When Leslie heard the word, “cancer,” her stomach sank.

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Often the disease does not show symptoms until it has progressed to advanced stages, when it is difficult to treat and chances of survival decrease. A low-radiation-dose CT scan can detect lung cancer at its earliest stages, making treatment both easier and more effective.

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world; yet recent research shows most people know very little about the disease. Did you know that more people in the United States die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer?

Alissa Nicks, founder of Alissa’s Hope, and Dan Schultz, a volunteer with Alissa’s Hope, continued the charity's tradition of providing funds for screenings that can save lives, awarding grants to two Missouri Baptist cancer screening programs.

Since launching in November 2014, the Missouri Baptist Medical Center Computed Tomography (CT) Lung Cancer Screening has screened 2,594 people for early-stage lung cancer. Forty-six of them had cancer. 

David Patton is one of those. Read how the nurse navigator assisted him through the program.

The Cancer Registry is known for its substantial supportive role in the Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s Cancer Program. The Registry works with physicians, administrators, healthcare providers and planners to provide support for cancer program development, to ensure compliance to regulatory reporting requirements and standards, and to serve as a primary resource for cancer information and statistical information.

The Cancer Registry is known for its substantial supportive role in the Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s Cancer Program. The Registry works with physicians, administrators, healthcare providers and planners to provide support for cancer program development, to ensure compliance to regulatory reporting requirements and standards, and to serve as a primary resource for cancer information and statistical information.

Lynn’s husband Steve was diabetic and diagnosed with end stage renal disease 11 years ago. Without warning, Steve’s condition turned critical three years ago. Desperate for guidance and strength, Lynn was connected to April and the Palliative Care team at Missouri Baptist Medical Center.

You’ll be glad to know that the physicians at Missouri Baptist Cancer Center are all leading cancer specialists. Our physician team includes board-certified specialists that are involved in investigational research and use the latest diagnostic and treatment options for our cancer patients.

We understand that every second counts in the fight against cancer. With every cancer diagnosis comes a host of possible emotional responses:  uncertainty, anger, and most of all – fear.  That is why we see patients within 48 hours after referral to our Cancer Center.

Missouri Baptist Cancer Center is committed to offering patients the most advanced treatment and surgical options available. As early adopters of new technology, Missouri Baptist Cancer Center offers both  RapidArc™ Therapy and the da Vinci® Surgical System.

Lymphedema is a type of chronic swelling that can occur if there is damage to the lymphatic system or if the lymphatic system becomes overloaded by excess fluid due to infection or other medical issues, such as surgery, radiation or trauma to the lymph vessels. 

As the first and only National Lymphedema Network  Affiliate Treatment Center in the St. Louis area, find out how the Center for Outpatient Therapy and Wellness can help.

Patients like Mary Elise, a retired teacher in Ste. Genevieve, can take part in advanced clinical research thanks to the Missouri Baptist Cancer Center involvement with the Heartland Cancer Research NCORP. As part of the TAILORx trial, Mary Elise help researchers studying the effects of chemotherapy on early-state cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men. According to the American Cancer Society, one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.

The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment & Genetic Counseling Program at Missouri Baptist Medical Center provides comprehensive breast cancer screenings and customized surveillance plan for patients with an increased risk of breast cancer.

Our Cancer Support Center at the Cancer Center at Missouri Baptist focuses on cancer diagnosis, treatment, emotional support and community resources.

Pancreatic cancer affects an estimated 38,000 people each year in the United States. The best results with treatment are achieved when surgery is used for removal of the tumor.