Why Choose Us for Cancer Care?

Ranked Among the Top in the Nation

Our cancer program is unmatched in the Chicago area. It is one of only two programs in Illinois designated by the National Cancer Institute as an official Comprehensive Cancer Center. U.S.News & World Report consistently ranks the University of Chicago Medical Center's cancer program among the top in the nation and the highest in Illinois.

Video: At the Forefront of Cancer Care

Advanced Diagnosis & Treatment Methods

We offer a full spectrum of diagnostic services, including positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT). This combined technology can identify many early-stage cancers that can be missed with other procedures.

Patients at the University of Chicago Medical Center receive new treatments long before they are available elsewhere. Treatment options include:

• Sophisticated diagnostics, including a computerized system that creates three-dimensional scans of the brain. These detailed images allow doctors to pinpoint tumors before radiation therapy or surgery.
• Clinical trials of new treatments and investigational drugs when the illness has not responded to more conventional treatments.
• Surgical techniques that preserve organ function, including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted procedures that are performed through very small incisions
• Radiation therapy that effectively targets tumors while sparing healthy tissue. This includes image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) using Trilogy ^TM technology. The Trilogy system is an imaging and treatment machine combined into one. Using this system, our expert doctors can treat cancers with several types of radiation -- and do so more precisely than ever before. This can mean better outcomes and substantially fewer side effects for patients.
• Bone marrow/stem cell transplants for treatment of many types of cancers.

People from throughout the Midwest, the nation, and the world turn to our cancer program for effective solutions.

A Full Range of Cancer Experts

We have more than 150 cancer specialists. With so many physicians, our cancer care expertise ranges from the most common--such as breast, prostate, and colon cancer--to less common cancers--including osteogenic sarcoma, hairy cell leukemia and mesothelioma.

A multidisciplinary team of medical oncologists, radiation therapists, surgical oncologists, and others meet to discuss each patient's case. After considering the patient's lifestyle, our experts recommend individualized treatment plans.

Our team also includes cancer geneticists who offer cancer risk assessment and risk reduction plans to patients and their families. These experts study genes with the goal of preventing cancer or finding it before it becomes incurable.

A World-Class Research Center

University of Chicago scientists and physicians conduct wide-ranging, leading-edge research. Here, we have experts studying cancer at every level of the research spectrum--from basic science laboratory research looking at cancer cells at the molecular level, to clinical trials of promising new drugs.

Compassionate Care and Support

The University of Chicago Medical Center provides a variety of services to help you and your family deal with many challenges you may face. We are your partners in the fight against cancer--with support groups, informational programs, and a cancer resource center.

Annual Reports

Cancer Research Center

To learn more about University of Chicago cancer research, download the University of Chicago Cancer Research Center's 2008 annual report (2.4 MB PDF).

Cancer Program

To learn more about cancer care at the University of Chicago Medical Center, download the Cancer Program's 2006-2007 annual report (PDF--4.6 MB).