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The Penn State Health Approach to Cancer Care
Penn State Health is fighting cancer on every front, from prevention and early detection to advanced treatment and ongoing support - including community outreach to help reduce the burden of cancer on the communities we serve. As an academic medical center, our cancer experts aren’t just providing leading-edge care - they’re tirelessly seeking promising new ways to find and treat cancer. That means we can offer therapies you won’t find anywhere else in Pennsylvania.
We bring together a team of specialists to ensure each person gets the very best treatment available. We understand that comprehensive care includes more than medical treatment. It provides education, support and guidance to help each patient and their family get the services they need to fight cancer and feel better.
You can get complete care and services under one roof in our primary location at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center - including private chemotherapy rooms, leading-edge radiation therapy, an outdoor healing garden and more. We also offer services at Penn State Health St. Joseph and through our partnership with Mount Nittany Health. We make it convenient to get expert care nearby.
We combine sophisticated technology and innovative treatments with a full range of support services to ensure you and your family have what you need every step of the way.
Complete Care for Cancer
Everything we do focuses on your health and well-being. We bring together a team of experts to give personal attention and treatment based on your needs. Your team explains all your options so that you and your family can make well-informed decisions about your treatment.
It’s comforting to know that we draw from the latest therapies to develop your treatment plan. We use breakthrough technology and approaches to give you the best possible results. You can also be confident that you’re working with an expert team at the forefront of cancer advancements.
We know there's a lot of information and appointments to keep track of, so we offer education, guidance and assistance to make your experience convenient and as worry-free as possible. Whether it’s assisting you with making appointments or introducing you to meditation or visualization techniques to help you through treatment, we’re here to support you.
Cancer Support Groups
Bladder Cancer Support Group
This group provides an opportunity to share cancer related experiences and provide encouragement, hope, education and emotional support to patients with bladder cancer and their...
This group provides an opportunity to share cancer related experiences and provide encouragement, hope, education and emotional support to patients with bladder cancer and their families through formal meetings, personal contact and newsletters. This group supports bladder cancer research through awareness functions, seminars and fundraising. For more information, please call the support group liaison at 717-531-0003, extension 285863 or email Theda Shaw, RN, MSN, Clinical Program Coordinator.
Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant
The BMT Support Group is designed to offer support, encouragement, information and resources regarding all aspects of the stem cell transplant process. The group is...
The BMT Support Group is designed to offer support, encouragement, information and resources regarding all aspects of the stem cell transplant process. The group is open to all Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant patients, family members, caregivers, friends and donors.
For more information, please call 717-531-0003, extension 281210.
Breast Cancer Support Groups
We offer several support groups at the Penn State Health Breast Center.
Moving Forward is an informal setting where you can meet other women diagnosed...
We offer several support groups at the Penn State Health Breast Center.
Moving Forward is an informal setting where you can meet other women diagnosed with breast cancer. Sessions are held the second Monday of every month, from 6-7:30 p.m. For more information or to register, contact Nichole Cook at 717-531-7492.
FORCE is a support group for BRCA gene mutation carriers. FORCE provides information, support awareness and advocacy for individuals and families affected by hereditary breast, ovarian and related cancers. Please contact 717-531-1631 for more information.
Pink Ribbon Program is a therapeutic exercise program designed for patients after breast cancer surgery and promotes awareness and advocacy for individuals and families affected by hereditary breast, ovarian and related cancers. The support group focuses on the support and educational needs of patients and families whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. Contact Jennifer Price via email or phone 717-531-7075 for more information.
CLIMB (Children’s Lives Include Moments of Bravery)
A cancer diagnosis affects everyone in the family. Children especially need help to cope, understand, and adjust to their family’s new circumstances.
CLIMB® (Children’s Lives...
A cancer diagnosis affects everyone in the family. Children especially need help to cope, understand, and adjust to their family’s new circumstances.
CLIMB® (Children’s Lives Include Moments of Bravery) a program of The Children’s Treehouse Foundation, is a support program for children ages 6 - 12 who have a caregiver or grandparent diagnosed with cancer. This free six-week program meets one night per week on the Penn State Health campus in Hershey. The program is facilitated by trained hospital staff and volunteers. Pre-registration is required.
Contact Natalie Chango at [email protected] for more information.
Leukemia/Lymphoma Blood Cancer
Offers support and education for patients and family members dealing with blood cancers. The group allows an opportunity for participants to share experiences and enhance...
Offers support and education for patients and family members dealing with blood cancers. The group allows an opportunity for participants to share experiences and enhance coping. For more information, call 610-276-3199.
Melanoma
The Melanoma Support Group has been created to provide support to Stage 3 and 4 melanoma patients and their caregivers by sharing our experiences and...
The Melanoma Support Group has been created to provide support to Stage 3 and 4 melanoma patients and their caregivers by sharing our experiences and practical information while providing encouragement, hope, networking, and educational opportunities. Structured meetings will include introductions, sharing experiences and feelings, exchanging information, and building a sense of belonging. Speakers and experts on topics of interest identified by the group members will be scheduled. We will support melanoma research through advocacy and related activities.
For more information, please contact Carol Mallon, MS, RN, AOCNS at 717-531-5784 or Mary Ellen Loser, BSN, RN, CPSN at 717-531-1657.
Prostate Cancer Support Group
This support group is open to all men who are newly diagnosed or dealing with recurrent or advanced prostate cancer, along with their spouses, family members...
This support group is open to all men who are newly diagnosed or dealing with recurrent or advanced prostate cancer, along with their spouses, family members and caretakers. Meetings will provide encouragement, hope, education, emotional support, personal interactions, and mentoring of new patients.
Patients, spouses, family members and caregivers receive encouragement, information and support. The Prostate Cancer support group meets quarterly (January, April, July and October) on the second Monday of each month.
For more information, call 717-531-5784.
Strength for the Journey
Strength for the Journey is a free support group for all cancer patients who meet the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 11-noon at St. Joseph Cancer...
Strength for the Journey is a free support group for all cancer patients who meet the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 11-noon at St. Joseph Cancer Center. The group provides a lifeline to information, support, and encouragement from diagnosis through survivorship.
For more information, please call 610-378-2517.
Experts in Care
Meet our doctors, view their profiles and select the one that’s right for you.
Find a doctor near youWhy Choose Penn State Health for Cancer Care
Families across Pennsylvania come to Penn State Cancer Institute for our patient-centered, leading-edge cancer care
Nationally Recognized Cancer Care
We’re known for offering advanced, comprehensive care delivered by an experienced, skilled team. Penn State Health is:
- Accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) with an Outstanding Achievement Award from the CoC
- Certified by the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) through the American Society of Clinical Oncology
- Accredited by the American College of Radiation Oncology
Expert, Team-Based Care Designed for You
We're the region's only comprehensive cancer center, with world-renowned cancer specialists and scientists at the forefront of cancer care and research. Our specialists have expertise in nearly every type of cancer — including childhood cancers - treating approximately 2,000 people every year.
We offer a full range of services, from genetic counseling and cancer screening to the latest treatments. You can get treatments you can’t find anywhere else in Pennsylvania, such as CAR-T cell therapy for adults with lymphoma. You can count on personalized treatment that’s based on your needs - treatment that gives you the best possible results.
Cancer Research and Clinical Trials
In the same building where we're treating patients, our researchers are seeking discoveries to help prevent, treat and cure cancer. This allows clinicians and researchers to work together to further cancer care. We bring together leading experts in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and other areas to find better ways to combat cancer.
Our research programs focus on population health and cancer control, mechanisms of carcinogenesis and experimental therapeutics. We also conduct children’s cancer research at Penn State Health Children's Hospital and Penn State College of Medicine. Our innovative research is supported by Highmark Health, THON and Four Diamonds.
When you come here, you can access promising new therapies you won’t find anywhere else nearby, including clinical trials through our Pediatric Experimental Therapeutics Program. Find out if a cancer clinical trial is right for you.
Related Services and Treatments
- Art therapy
- Breast care
- Cancer outreach
- Cancer prevention
- Cancer risk evaluation
- CAR-T therapy
- Children's cancer care
- Genetic counseling
- Infusion therapy
- Inpatient care
- Low-dose CT lung cancer screening
- Medical oncology/hematology
- Nutrition support
- Supportive/palliative care
- Pastoral Services
- Patient Information
- Pet therapy
- Pharmacy Services
- Radiation oncology
- Social work services
- Surgical oncology
- Survivorship
- Y-90 Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT)
Convenient Locations
Find the care your family needs, close to home, at one of our many locations throughout central Pennsylvania.
Find a location near you