Acute Hospitalizations – Via Marcona Office

Oncology

The Oncology Department at Casa di Cura IGEA is a 10-bed hospital ward that offers patients a full range of instrumental and laboratory diagnostic services.

The oncologist is the primary care provider for patients with malignant neoplasms, and works closely with all other specialists involved in the diagnosis and treatment process, throughout all stages of the disease.

Oncology was born within the IGEA Nursing Home in 1998, initially called Oncology Medicine, and since 2022 reclassified as Oncology Operating UnitSince then he has been dedicated to the global care of adult cancer patients affected by solid tumors, throughout their treatment journey, from diagnosis to advanced disease. It offers a wide range of services, from outpatient visits to standard treatments. MAC e Day hospital, up to hospitalization, when necessary.

The diagnosis, in the presence of the best diagnostic technologies available today with latest generation equipment, the clinical assessment, the specific treatments (chemotherapy, hormonal therapies, biological and molecularly targeted drug therapies, immunotherapies) possibly integrated with other therapeutic approaches, and ancillary and palliative care is addressed promptly and in the appropriate settings, following national and international guidelines.

The facility offers spacious and functional spaces for exams, visits, and treatments, allowing patients to receive their necessary care in comfort and peace of mind. The medical and nursing staff (with extensive experience in oncology) includes personnel specialized in the indication, preparation, administration, and monitoring of oncology treatments.

Attention to the person and their needs in a particularly difficult moment of life always remains at the centre of the oncology team's thoughts, which also has a service psycho-oncology for staff, patients and family members who need it.

In the same direction, particular attention is also paid to women who have to undergo therapies that are certainly alopecising: in selected cases a cooling helmet (Paxman Scalp Cooler) which reduces the frequency of chemotherapy-related alopecia, allowing for an improvement in quality of life.

Since 2000 we have been constantly collaborating with theNational Cancer Institute of Milan (INT) in the care and co-management of patients mainly affected by breast cancer, carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract, adult soft tissue sarcomas (Rare Tumor Network).

Since 2010 we have been oncology consultants at the Istituto Clinico Città Studi (ICCS).
Since 2019 we have been oncology consultants for the Istituto Auxologico Italiano.
Since 2019, the IGEA Nursing Home has been active Inter-company Breast Unit with MultiMedica

Description of Activities

Oncology Department

The Oncology Department is located on the 2nd floor and consists of 6 rooms with 10 beds in total (3 single rooms).

Hospitalizations are reserved for the management of fragile patients due to comorbidities or who present complications or non-surgical oncological emergencies, for the execution of complex diagnostic procedures and oncological treatments, for the management of any adverse events resulting from therapies, and for palliative care.

UO DH Center (Day Hospital and MAC – Complex Outpatient Macroactivity)

The Operational Unit of the DH Centre is located on the 4th floor and provides services under the Day hospital and MAC.

Il Day hospital offers an organizational and operational model within a hospital setting, aimed at providing diagnostic and therapeutic services. It is characterized by scheduled hospitalizations or cycles of hospitalizations, each lasting less than 12 hours, with the provision of multi-professional or multi-specialty services that cannot be performed on an outpatient basis.

Le MAC performance They are provided on an outpatient basis using technical beds. MAC is a flexible tool that can meet the multiple needs of patients attending the facility. The services provided can be summarized and grouped according to the following indications:

patients undergoing oncological treatment (MAC 01-02-04)
patients requiring supportive care (MAC 05)
patients requiring infusion therapies (MAC 09-10)
patients requiring diagnostic maneuvers or complex procedures (MAC 11-12)

Day Hospitals and MACs ensure continuity of care and reduce complications related to prolonged hospitalization. They provide patients with appropriate treatment, avoiding unnecessary overnight admissions. They facilitate care pathways by pre-establishing preferential care lanes for the management of acute/chronic exacerbations and meet the health and care needs of patients who do not meet hospitalization criteria but still require a hospital setting for complex diagnoses and treatment.

Oncology Clinic

The Oncology Clinic is located on the 4th floor and is dedicated to the admission of new patients (first visits) and the follow-up of all patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and/or have undergone anti-cancer treatments.

Pathologies Treated

Specifically, the Oncology Unit is dedicated to the diagnostic, clinical, and therapeutic assessment of adult cancer patients with solid tumors, and in particular:

Breast cancer
Neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach, pancreas, bile ducts, colon and rectum)
Lung neoplasms (non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, pleural mesothelioma)
Neoplasms of the genitourinary system (bladder, kidney, prostate and testicle)
Gynecological neoplasms (ovary, endometrium)
Rare tumors (soft tissue sarcomas)

Therapies Administered

In the Oncology Operating Unit, the following are provided: specific anti-tumor treatments at all stages of the disease, both in the early and preventive phase and in the advanced phase. Such treatments include chemotherapy, hormonal therapies, biological therapies and with mechanical molecular targeted drugs, and immunotherapies, are integrated as necessary with other therapeutic approaches (surgery, radiotherapy, local-regional therapies), also in collaboration with other hospital facilities.

Ancillary and palliative care (including pain therapy) is also administered as needed.

Staff of the Oncology Operating Unit

The Oncology Unit is directed by Dr. Antonio Ghidini, a medical oncologist, supported by oncology specialists, professional nurses, and a dedicated secretariat.

The team also includes a pharmacist, nutritionist, geneticist, and psycho-oncologist who provide support to staff, patients, and their families.

Team

Technical Manager: Dr. Antonio Ghidini
Medical directors: Dr. Roberta Bukovec – Dr Isabella Garassino – Doctor Luisa Roncari
Nursing Coordinator: Ambrogio Fornabaio
Professional nurses: Daniela Ferrari – Chiara Cerioli – Raffaella Savorana – Lucy Vas
Secretary: Stefania Viadana
Pharmacist: Patricia Pirotta
Psycho-oncologists: Dr. Maurizio Fischbein – Dr. Simona Gatta
Geneticist: Dr. Pierangela Castorina
Nutritionist: Dr. Monica Fanoli