Cancer Care - Dignity Health - Mercy Hospital Downtown

Oncologists guide patients through every stage of care, from diagnosis through treatment and follow-up. They help explain test results, recommend treatment options and manage side effects. 

Your oncologist collaborates with a multidisciplinary care team that may include medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and surgeons. Their goal is to provide personalized cancer care while supporting physical, emotional and spiritual health.

In partnership with the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center (CBCC), Mercy Hospital Downtown delivers infusion therapy in a comfortable, peaceful setting. Services at our infusion center include: 

• Antibiotic therapy

• Blood transfusions

• Central line draws and dressing changes

• Chemotherapy

• Fluids to treat dehydration

• Infusion education

• Injections or IV treatments to prevent side effects

• Plasmapheresis

• Vaccinations

Yes. We partner with the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center (CBCC) to deliver radiation therapy services. We’re one of the few locations on the West Coast to offer access to a pain-free, nonsurgical option for tumors located anywhere in the body. Using this advanced technology, we’re able to: 

• Complete treatment in as few as one to five visits

• Precisely deliver high-dose radiation, minimizing damage to healthy tissues

• Re-treat areas that have previously had radiation

• Shrink or eliminate tumors with few or no side effects

• Treat inoperable and surgically complex tumors

Yes, we offer specialized surgical options to treat cancer, including minimally invasive robot-assisted surgery. Our surgical center is nationally recognized as a Center of Excellence for both Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). This means the care we provide meets high national standards.

Our cancer patient navigators help guide patients and their families through the cancer journey. They partner with you from diagnosis through treatment and recovery to:

• Be your compassionate, helping hand through every step of treatment

• Connect you and your family with hospital and community support services

• Coordinate communication between you and your health care team

• Explain procedures and treatments

• Help schedule and coordinate appointments

• Offer support with educational, practical, emotional or logistical issues

You can reach our cancer patient navigator at (661) 865-2573.

Most health insurance plans cover cancer care, including visits with an oncologist, diagnostic testing, surgical procedures, and treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Coverage details can vary based on your plan and provider network. Before your appointment, our team at (661) 632-5000 can help review insurance coverage, explain benefits and answer questions so you can focus on your care.

Referral requirements depend on your health insurance plan. Some insurance plans in California require a referral from a primary care doctor, while others allow you to schedule an oncology appointment directly. It’s important to check with your insurance provider before your visit. Our cancer care team at (661) 632-5000 can also help with referral questions, insurance verification and appointment scheduling.