Cancer: With you for every step of your cancer journey

The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center is proud to be the only comprehensive cancer center in Wisconsin, as designated by the National Cancer Institute.

In 1971, the National Cancer Act called for the creation of cancer centers of excellence throughout the United States. The Carbone Cancer Center was established as one of the first six university-based comprehensive cancer centers in 1973.

To gain a "comprehensive" designation (the highest ranking given by the National Cancer Institute), a center must meet specific criteria:

• Strong basic laboratory and clinical cancer research and the translational research that forms the bridge between them

• Innovative cancer treatments involving clinical trials

• Cancer prevention and control programs

• Training and education of health care professionals

• Cancer information services

• Community outreach and education

In addition, the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Advisory Board, whose members are appointed by the president of the United States to oversee the NCI's programs and policies, must recommend approval for a center to receive the comprehensive designation. The center must repeat an external review of the criteria above every five years.

If you have cancer, you may benefit from participating in a cancer clinical trial. Clinical trials give you access to new, innovative treatments. At the UW Carbone Cancer Center, we offer more than 250 cancer clinical trials to find better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. Each trial goes through a special review process and will be carefully explained to you.

Your genetic makeup can impact your risk of developing cancer. Understanding that risk can be lifesaving. Our oncology genetic counselors offer personalized genetic risk assessments to people with a personal or family history of cancer.

A healthy diet can help you manage symptoms of cancer and cancer treatment. Our dietitians offer individualized nutrition plans for you and your family.

If you are diagnosed with cancer, you may wish to get a second opinion. At the UW Carbone Cancer Center, we offer second opinions on diagnoses and treatment plans. Learn what makes a high-quality second opinion

During cancer treatment, you may need extra support. At UW Health, we offer special programs to help you feel your best. Women who have had breast cancer surgery may benefit from CareWear. We also have a Wig Salon for those who experience hair loss due to cancer treatment.

There’s more to cancer care than medications and surgery. We also offer integrative medicine services like acupuncture, mindfulness for stress reduction and massage therapy.

Our specialists treat a variety of cancers affecting different types of blood cells, such as:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

• Hodgkin's lymphoma

• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

• Multiple myeloma

• Myelodysplastic syndromes

• Myeloproliferative disorders

Our doctors work quickly to identify blood cancers so treatment can begin sooner.

Our expert team of doctors and other healthcare professionals cares for more than 850 new breast cancer patients and more than 3,000 survivors each year.

The UW Health Brain Tumor Center is a leader in the diagnosis, research and treatment of patients with brain tumors.

At UW Health, we work as a team to diagnose and treat many kinds of gastrointestinal cancers, such as:

• Barrett's Esophagus

• Colon cancer

• Esophageal cancer

• Liver cancer

• Pancreatic cancer

• Rectal cancer

No matter what stage your cancer is, we offer the latest treatments to help you achieve better health.

Cancers affecting the urinary system and genitals may cause particularly distressing symptoms. We bring together a variety of specialists to meet your specific needs by treating several types of genitourinary cancers:

• Adrenocortical cancer

• Bladder cancer

• Kidney cancer

• Penile cancer

• Prostate cancer

• Testicular cancer

• Transitional cell cancer or the renal, pelvis and ureter

• Urethral cancer

We offer many treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and minimally invasive surgery for genitourinary cancers.

UW Health provides personalized care to women with various types of gynecological cancers like:

• Cervical cancer

• Ovarian cancer

• Uterine cancer

• Vulvar cancer

We also assist with any other concerns you may have regarding gynecological cancer treatment, such as family planning.

The UW Head and Neck Cancer Program and the Carbone Cancer Center bring together specialists from a variety of disciplines to provide innovative and effective treatment for patients with head and neck cancers.

UW Health’s pediatric cancer specialists at American Family Children’s Hospital and the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center provide state-of-the-art care for many forms of childhood cancer, including:

• Pediatric Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

• Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

• Pediatric Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  

We care for infants, children and adolescents with cancer, hematological, neurocutaneous and immunological disorders.

Sarcomas are cancers in the connective tissue of the body, including the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle and blood vessels. Our team of orthopedic surgeons, gynecologic oncologists, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists work together to provide the best possible care.

Our team of dermatologists, surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons and otolaryngologists work together to provide the most comprehensive care for patients with melanomas of the skin and eye.

Bone marrow transplants replace stem cells damaged by cancer or cancer treatments. They are sometimes called stem cell transplants.

At UW Health, we offer transplants from a donor with a specific protein marker that closely matches yours. These are called allogeneic stem cell transplants. We also perform transplants where we harvest your healthy blood stem cells and return them to you. This is called an autologous transplant.

We also perform double umbilical cord blood transplants which require two units of donated umbilical cord blood for a successful adult transplant.

Our Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) program is accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT).

Chemotherapy is the name of a group of drugs that destroy cancer cells. Used to cure cancer or prevent cancer from returning, chemotherapy can slow down cancer growth and control cancer symptoms.

Immunotherapy triggers your immune system to attack and kill cancer cells. Many immunotherapies are offered only through clinical trials. Others are approved for treatment outside of clinical trials. CAR T-cell therapy for aggressive lymphoma is one type of immunotherapy offered at UW Health.

This treatment uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) may be used in combination with other cancer treatments. There are many types of radiation therapies.

Surgery may be recommended to prevent, diagnose, stage or treat cancer.

• Preventive surgery — Surgery to remove tissue or organs that could become cancerous. Preventive surgery may be recommended following a cancer screening or genetic risk assessment. 

• Diagnostic surgery (biopsy) — Surgery to diagnose cancer. During a biopsy, doctors remove tissue and evaluate it in the laboratory.

• Staging surgery — Surgery that helps your doctors to determine how far cancer has spread.

• Treatment surgery — Surgery to remove all or part of your cancer. 

At UW Health, we offer minimally invasive, robotic and traditional surgical options. Minimally invasive surgery requires smaller incisions. This speeds recovery time.