Avalon Hospice

Cancer is not a single disease with a single cause.  Rather, it is a group of distinct diseases with different causes and manifestations that have varying prognoses.  There are more than 100 types of cancer.

Cancer is a general term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and invade healthy tissue.  Cancer can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymphatic systems.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.3 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year and more than 500,000 Americans died of cancer in 2008.  Cancer accounts for nearly 1/4 of all deaths in the U.S. and is exceeded in mortality rate only by heart disease.

In 2008, lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women, followed by prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women with the third leading cause in both genders being colo-rectal cancer.

Because of the prevalence of cancer and its many forms, we have developed an extensive training program to educate our caregivers on the various types of cancers, their causes and the appropriate courses of treatment.

Our Interdisciplinary Team of caregivers will assist patients and family members in dealing with the varied symptoms and associated problems related to cancer.  Each patient's plan of care is individually designed to address specific symptoms and charateristics and is different for each patient.  In addition to professional hospice nursing services, you may also receive bereavement counseling, the assistance of a licensed social worker, occupational or physical therapist and dietician, to name a few. 

If you or a family member or loved one have been diagnosed with a life-limiting form of cancer, please contact one of our hospice professionals.  They will be ready to discuss your care options and you can rest assured that when your care is provided through one of our hospices, you will be receiving the best care available from the most highly trained professionals.