Overview
Cancer is personal, which is why we work as a comprehensive care team of world-class experts to deliver specialized treatment approaches for every patient and every type of cancer we see. By taking a personalized approach to cancer, we keep your treatment one step ahead and all in one place — providing a coordinated care experience that puts you at the center of your cancer care.
Partnering with the Masonic Cancer Center — one of the nation's leading comprehensive cancer centers — M Health Fairview combines a rich history of science and discovery with a commitment to delivering personalized cancer care for every family we serve. This partnership allows M Health Fairview to provide the most advanced treatment options and early phase clinical trials.
Conditions and Treatments
Please note: We diagnose and treat many types of cancers, including complex, co-occurring conditions. Below is a list of some of the conditions and treatments.
Specialties
Gynecologic Oncology
Our program is at the forefront of gynecologic cancer treatments and has one of the highest five-year cancer survival rates, as determined by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.
Surgical Oncology
Our surgical oncologists evaluate and treat patients with a variety of cancers and are often leading the development of surgical methods and techniques, which are then adopted elsewhere as standards of care.
Interventional Oncology
We offer minimally invasive treatment options for a variety of cancers. Our procedures are not only effective but also typically don't require incisions, hospital admission, or long recovery times.
Radiotheranostics
Radiotheranostics uniquely offers patients advanced diagnostic and treatment options with improved outcomes.
Radiation Oncology and Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to shrink tumors, kill cancer cells, and treat other non-cancerous conditions. Our approach is to limit radiation exposure as much as possible while still delivering optimal outcomes for patients.
Cancer Care Resources and Programs
Cancer Research
M Health Fairview Cancer Care has created a collaborative research environment focused on the causes, prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. This knowledge is shared with scientists, students, medical professionals and the community, and is used to improve quality of life for patients and survivors.
Cancer Rehabilitation
Cancer treatment and surgery can make you physically and mentally tired. Research shows that physical activity and participation in daily activities reduces side effects that result from cancer treatment. Increasing activity levels and participating in things you enjoy can lessen fatigue and improve your mood and sleep.
Cancer Care Clinical Trials
M Health Fairview has more than 225 clinical trials available to treat more than 100 different types of cancer. Since 1998, when we became an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, over 78,000 people have participated in new treatments, dosages, protocols or devices as part of a clinical trial.
Cancer Risk Management
As part of University of Minnesota Health Cancer Care, the Cancer Risk Management Program is designed to help patients evaluate their risk of developing cancer and work with them to manage their cancer risk.
Pediatric Cancer Care
As an academic pediatric health system, we offer world-class clinical expertise matched with the most timely and trusted paths for treating the whole child throughout their cancer journey. Our team-based approach ensures that each child and family experiences cancer care that is molded to their personal journey and needs.
Social Work Services for Cancer Patients
A cancer diagnosis and the impacts of treatment can be a difficult and stressful time. Each person has a unique way of handling the diagnosis, making important decisions about treatment, involving friends and family, and integrating this new diagnosis into their everyday life. Our cancer social workers can help.
Multi Specialty Breast Cancer Clinic
Five new clinics have opened across the metro to provide convenient access to medical oncologists and surgeons specialized in breast cancer treatment, all in one location.
Developmental Therapeutics Clinic
Offering the newest treatments for advanced and complex cancers with cutting edge bench-to-bedside research.
Cancer Survivorship
Cancer survivorship marks the journey beyond diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing life after cancer and its unique challenges and triumphs. At M Health Fairview, our program offers comprehensive support to ensure your well-being as a survivor, no matter where you are in your journey.
Galleri Cancer Test
The Galleri test is a simple blood draw and should be used in addition to guideline-recommended cancer screening, such as mammography, colonoscopy, prostate specific antigen (PSA) or cervical cancer screening. Galleri can benefit patients with an elevated risk of cancer due to age, such as those aged 50 or older.
Radiation Oncology
Our specialized team of radiation oncologists, work side-by-side with other experts at M Health Fairview, to create individualized radiation treatment plans for more than 2,500 new patients each year.
CAR Tcell Therapy
M Health Fairview is proud to be among the few centers nationwide to offer CAR T-cell therapy. CAR T-cell therapy is for patients whose cancer has returned or has not responded to other treatments, and has high remission rates. It's administered in one dose, works immediately and reaches full strength in days.
Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy
A blood and marrow transplant replaces a person's abnormal stem cells with healthy ones from another person (a donor) and is most often used to treat patients with blood cancers or other blood disorders.
Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy HIPEC
Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a highly concentrated chemotherapy that is directly administered into the abdomen during surgery for certain cancers. Our surgical oncologists started one of the first HIPEC programs in the region, and continue to be a leaders in this advanced treatment.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is an emerging form of cancer treatment with great promise and limited toxicity. Its goal is to harness the power of the patient's immune system and use it to fight cancer.
Nutrition Works Program
Nutrition is important throughout the cancer treatment process. People with cancer often need to choose foods that are different from foods in their regular diet. When you have cancer, it is essential to keep up your strength and help reduce the side effects of treatment. Nutrition Works is designed to help your body heal faster and help you learn a new lifestyle and eating pattern.
Caregiver Support
Caring for a loved one with cancer can impact every aspect of a caregiver's well-being. M Health Fairview has partnered with local non-profit The Negative Space to provide free tools and support so that caregivers can access the help they need and deserve every step of the way.
Looking for quality care? Our physicians provide a coordinated care experience that puts you at the center of your cancer care.
Easy access to world-class Cancer Care, closer to home.
Why M Health Fairview?
We don't just treat cancer, we treat you
No one takes your cancer care as personally as we do. The combination of our rich history of science and discovery and our commitment to delivering personalized care for each patient and family we treat make M Health Fairview Minnesota's top institution for cancer care.
From the common to complex, our approach to cancer care starts with understanding you and how to best apply our academic-driven research, multidisciplinary expertise, and innovative approach to personalized care to develop a treatment path tailored for you.
World-class cancer care, close to home
When you or a loved one is facing a cancer diagnosis, the question of where you will receive care may not be the first thing you think of. Even so, where you receive care is an important factor to consider.
M Health Fairview’s broad network of hospitals and clinics across the Twin Cities closes the distance for you to access our breakthrough science and expert care. We are where you need us to be — delivering complete, world-class care right in your community.
Minnesota's top institution for cancer care
Celebrating its 30th year, the Masonic Cancer Center is one of only 54 institutions in the United States – and the only institution in the Twin Cities – to be designated by the National Cancer Institute as a Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The Masonic Cancer Center creates a collaborative research environment focused on the causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer. We apply the knowledge gained through our research to improve quality of life for patients and survivors, and share our discoveries with other scientists, students, professionals, and the community.
No institution is working harder to advance the science of cancer care than the team of experts at the Masonic Cancer Center, and M Health Fairview patients benefit from working with the specialized team of doctors, nurses, researchers, and healthcare professionals committed to providing life-saving care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike most other hospitals and health systems, academic-driven health systems are connected to a university, and particularly to a medical school. This type of organization offers several benefits when it comes to treating cancer specifically.
Academic health systems are the first institutions to benefit from cutting-edge clinical research as it moves from the lab to the bedside. In many cases, academic programs are large enough to support a wide range of cancer specialists, including teams focused on rare cancers. They typically have invested in state-of-the-art equipment that enables them to lead the way at the forefront of cancer-fighting technology. These institutions are also the training grounds for the next generation of cancer doctors through medical residence and subspecialty fellowship programs.
When you or a loved one is facing a cancer diagnosis, the question of where you’ll receive care may not be the first thing you think of. Even so, where you receive care is an important factor to consider.
Your treatment plan may include frequent treatment sessions that may extend for weeks or months. That means that having conveniently located care sites can make a big difference in navigating your cancer journey. How far will you have to travel to see your cancer care team? Are there convenient, community-based locations for chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other treatments you may need?
Learn More About M Heath Fairview’s Cancer Care Locations.
As you evaluate cancer care programs, it can be helpful to take a look at their quality designations, including awards, accreditations, and rankings. These honors are the result of independent, third-party review and evaluation of a cancer program’s quality, safety, and patient outcomes. It’s one way that you can be sure you’re choosing a health system that has the cancer care expertise you need.
NCI Designation
Not all quality designations are alike. Designation as a National Cancer Institute (NCI) cancer center is among the rarest and most prestigious quality designations a cancer program can receive. Only about 70 programs nationwide are NCI-designated cancer centers – placing programs with this designation in the top 4 percent of the country’s 1,500 cancer programs.
Although some cancers may be more common than others, every cancer is also unique to the individual fighting it. How do you know that the treatment plan your doctor has developed is the best one for your specific case? One way to know for sure is to seek a second opinion from another physician.
Second opinions are a common practice in cancer care, and almost all doctors welcome another doctor’s viewpoint. In fact, some health systems present cancer cases at multidisciplinary tumor boards, where a team of experts from surgery, medical oncology, radiology, pathology, and other relevant specialties come together in real time to consider each patient’s case and determine the best course of treatment for that individual.
Second opinion consultations can help you feel confident that you’re getting the best possible treatment for your cancer, and they are covered by many health insurance plans, too. To find out how to get a second opinion, talk with your doctor or care coordinator.
Cancer is an illness that can uniquely affect many areas of life, for both patients and their families. That means that great cancer care doesn’t stop at treating the disease — it addresses a broader range of patient needs.
When evaluating a cancer program, you may want to know if the center has a specially trained support services staff on hand to meet with patients and their families from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. A specialized patient support services staff may include specialists in cancer psychology, oncology nutrition, social work, transitional care coordination, spiritual support, and integrative therapy.
It can also be helpful to know whether the center offers classes, meetings, and appointments focused on specific issues patients might be experiencing.
Clinical trials are research studies that aim to develop and test new treatments for diseases, such as cancer. Some clinical trials may also study cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and survivorship. Clinical trials are a crucial part of the fight against cancer: today’s innovative advances in cancer detection and treatment are all the result of previous clinical trials. And tomorrow’s clinical trials may hold the key to finally curing cancer itself.
Participation in clinical trials is voluntary, and people with many types and stages of cancer may be eligible. Taking part in a clinical trial may expose patients to a new therapy that could be an effective cancer treatment for them. Clinical trial participants are also helping to save lives by testing innovative treatments for future patients. To find out if a clinical trial may be right for you, talk with your doctor.
Cancer treatment is complex. At different points in your treatment plan, your care may be guided by doctors from several specialties, including surgery, radiology, and medical oncology, among others. To get the best care, it can be helpful for all of your doctors to work together as a unified, interdisciplinary team.
In a truly multidisciplinary approach, expert groups of surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, and radiation and medical oncologists, as well as support care teams, residents, nurses, and care coordinators all work under one roof and come together to review patient care plans and discuss the next course of action. This meeting of minds allows for the exchange of ideas, helping you make informed decisions about your treatment and resulting in a more coordinated, smoother cancer treatment journey.
Recognition, accreditations, and distinctions
Cancer Care Stories
Erebi Nyenkan is more than her disease
