History
The Jessa oncology department (including radiotherapy) exists now for more than 40 years in Jessa. Over the years, it has grown significantly in numbers, sub-specializations and excellence, always in accordance with latest technology, evidence and patient expectations.
In 1991 the Department created a dedicated palliative support team and in 1996 a separate palliative ward was opened.
Profile
The cancer centre is a part of Jessa ziekenhuis (980 beds). The oncology departments exists out of 3 linear accelerators for radiotherapy, 46 beds for medical oncology and hematology, 7 sterile rooms for hematology, a large outpatient clinic, an aferese unit and a palliative care unit with 7 beds. The hematology department executes autologous transplantation. The radiotherapy unit offers brachytherapy and stereotactic irradiation.
The physicians involved in the care for oncology patients are radiotherapy-oncologists (10), internal medicine-medical oncology (6), internal medicine-hematology (5) and palliative care physicians (3). Special attention is given to the psychosocial support in close cooperation with the general practitioners.
There is a dedicated and well-trained nursing department for oncology patients, most nurses follow on a regular basis education for oncology nursing. The nurses working on the palliative care department are dedicated only for providing palliative care.
Specialities
Our centre's goal is to provide integrated and personal care for all cancer patients, based on high quality cancer care.
A special unit provides clinical trials to our patients, we were the first centre in the region to provide oncologic rehabilitation and we offer services for all tumour-types.
A multidisciplinary breast cancer unit exists complying to the EUSOMA guidelines.
Palliative and Supportive Care
The oncology patients are treated by a multidisciplinary team involving the physicians, nurses, the palliative support team, the onco coaches, onco psychologists, dieticians, physiotherapists and social workers.
The physicians involved in palliative care are general practitioners with extensive palliative care training and experience. Together with 2 psychologists and 2 nurses they also provide palliative support on the oncology wards.
Supportive care is a special point of attention: laser units for treating mucositis and scalp coolers are utilised.
Last update: February 2023
