North Florida Community Cancer Resource

By specializing in cancer, Florida Oncology Associates, a division of Integrated Community Oncology Network, can provide many resources as far as treatment is concerned. They can provide a lower cost alternative for cancer treatment than many hospitals can and they have the added benefit of many centers scattered throughout the North Florida area.

"The thing that sets us apart," says Dr. Thomas Marsland, President of Florida Oncology Associates "is that we can offer quality care...in the whole Northeast Florida area. We have practices everywhere from Brunswick all the way down through Palatka, St. Augustine and Palm Coast."

For chemo patients, having a treatment center in your neighborhood can be a real boon, since the treatment is often tiring and it's important to have each treatment at a precise time.

FOA offers the majority of their treatments under one roof and the various doctors who treat the patients with simultaneous therapies communicate with each other to boost the effectiveness of the treatment and gauge the effects on the patient.

"The approach is very much an integrated approach." says Dr. Marsland "because of the communication between the physicians. I'd say it's sort of one-stop shopping...you're not going somewhere for radiation, somewhere else for your chemotherapy...It's all provided within the same practice."

FOA treats more than 6,000 patients a year at their various practices and they also conduct clinical trials.

"We're actively involved with clinical research...we've placed over 200 patients on clinical trials just this year so far."

They have VeridexCellSearch, a newer diagnostic tool that counts cancer cells in the blood. VCS is especially important for metastatic breast cancer. It's often used after the first round of chemo, to determine if immediate changes need to be made in the treatment, so that the cancer doesn't progress and is killed off more quickly and efficiently.

"We're one of the very few community practices that actually has this capability....We try to be on the cutting edge of state-of-the-art...quality care."

The practice is also serious about providing support to their patients, whether it's a breast cancer support group, or advice on how to lower the cost of treatment and how to handle insurance.

"We have medically trained social workers that are an integral part of our practice. They help us in terms of reimbursement issues for patients...The cost of cancer treatment can be extremely prohibitive for many patients, so we provide assistance to the patient in trying to identify co-pay foundations and other sources that will help defray the cost of medications."

For more information on Florida Oncology Associates visit the website of their parent organization at iconspecialists.com or call their local number at (904) 363-2113.