Oncology and Hematology
We are dedicated to providing every patient the most effective treatment, but we also know you are more than your cancer diagnosis. You are your goals and interests, your family and friends, your professional and personal life. A cancer diagnosis does not change how much these things matter to you…so they matter to us, too.
Our Medical Oncology group works with you to develop and implement a treatment plan that fights your cancer while supporting your ability to lead the life you love.
When should you visit a Medical Oncologist?
Medical Oncologists use medical interventions in the treatment of cancer. We can help patients at several stages of their cancer journey:
- If you’ve had an abnormal scan, test or lab work that could indicate cancer, our expert team can help you achieve the most accurate diagnosis.
- If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, we can develop and implement the best treatment plan for your specific type of cancer, stage and your personal needs.
- If you are already under the care of a surgical and/or radiation oncologist, we can work with your team if a medical oncology component is necessary during your treatment.
- If you’ve had surgery for cancer and face a high risk of recurrence, we provide adjuvant therapy aimed at preventing a return.
- If you have advanced cancer, we offer medical therapies that can both extend your life and enhance your quality of life.
We are a broad-based team with subspecialties in a wide range of cancers, including:
- Malignant blood disorders
- Lung cancer
- Urological cancer
- Gastrointestinal cancer
- Melanoma
- Sarcoma
- Brain tumors
What services and treatments do you provide?
We treat patients using chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that attacks cancer cells to stop them from growing, dividing and reproducing. There are numerous chemotherapy medications available, and we will identify the most effective option based on your stage and type of cancer, underlying conditions, overall health and other factors.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted Therapy is an excellent option when physicians have identified a specific mutation or set of mutations causing your cancer. Targeted Therapy medications directly attack the mutation and destroy or reduce the growth of cells that carry the mutation. Due to the focused approach, there is less damage to healthy cells.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy uses the body’s own defenses to fight certain types of cancer, including lung cancer and lymphoma, by improving how the immune system identifies and targets cancer cells. Some treatments spark the immune system to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, while others cause it to destroy cancer cells and stop their spread.
Molecular Testing
When indicated, we will send your cancer specimen for advanced gene testing to identify the best possible therapy tailored for you as an individual.
Research
Sometimes the best treatment is a new treatment that is not yet available to the public at large. Through our clinical trial system, you may have access to the newest and most hopeful treatments being studied in a research setting.
A comprehensive approach
Your individual treatment plan may include one or a combination of these medical therapies. Our team also works closely with your surgical and radiation oncologists to provide the most complete, effective treatment for your specific needs.
We believe in a team management approach to each patient’s care, a philosophy backed by the extensive and variety of specialists within the Regional One Health system.
A team approach with you at its center.
We never forget the most important members of your cancer care team – you and your support system. Our goal is to help our patients live longer and better, and this happens when patients and their loved ones are actively engaged in their care.
As we manage and coordinate your treatment, we don’t just seek to understand your cancer – we seek to understand your goals and challenges. Numerous issues, both medical and non-medical, impact how we best deliver care to each patient. Our desire is always to understand you as a whole person and to match the best science and medical care to the life you want to lead.
Meet Our Providers
Our board-certified Medical Oncology team is led by Alva Weir, MD a renowned hematologist and medical oncologist with over 40 years of experience as a researcher, educator and Chief of Oncology at the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
