Cancer Services

Lake Health/University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center

A National Reputation, a Local Experience

While access to the most advanced treatment is a priority for people who need cancer care, so is having the emotional support of family and friends nearby - in comfortable, familiar surroundings. Since 1997, patients and their families have found everything they need in one place: Lake Health/University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. We are proud to be the region's only comprehensive community cancer center.

Lake Health/University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center (LH/UHSCC) brings together Lake Health, one of Northeast Ohio's most respected health care providers, with the Seidman Cancer Center of University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University.

This collaboration provides the people of Lake, Ashtabula, Geauga and eastern Cuyahoga counties with access to the highest level of care possible. With the latest prevention and screening programs, diagnostic techniques, treatment technologies, and valuable support services, patients will receive state-of-the-art treatment and therapies found only in the best cancer programs across America.

A Commitment to Excellence

As a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCI-CCC), the Seidman Cancer Center has earned the highest distinction awarded by the National Cancer Institute for outstanding cancer care and research. To achieve this designation, centers must meet stringent guidelines covering the depth and breadth of research, medical expertise in all cancer-related specialties, and commitment to community outreach and education. Only 38 centers across the nation have earned this honor.

This designation is highly beneficial to patients. Each designated care center, including the Seidman Cancer Center and its community centers, shares knowledge, expertise, and research. This allows for input from a network of national cancer experts - bringing the finest cancer care to every patient.

A Team Approach to Treatment

Lake Health/University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center offers patients a unique team approach to cancer care. Highly trained physicians and expert clinical professionals work together to create individualized treatment plans based on the type and stage of the patient's cancer. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that each patient receives the latest, most sophisticated treatments available.

We have four medical oncologists: Dr. Mark Bergman, Dr. Maria Espinosa, Dr. Joel Saltzman, and Dr. Willem van Heeckeren, all of whom see patients in Mentor, Ohio at Lake Health/University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. Our physicians see in-patients at TriPoint Medical Center and West Medical Center. In addition, Drs. Fred Barton and Louis Novak are serving our radiation oncology needs.

However, what makes our center truly comprehensive in nature is our multidisciplinary team and the wide range of services which are offered here. In this center we have both Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology physicians and staff who frequently consult with one another to formulate the patient's treatment plan. This includes dedicated clinical research nurses. Our center is the largest community accrual site in the University Hospitals/Seidman Cancer Center system for clinical trial studies. We also employ an advanced practice palliative care nurse dedicated to taking care of our patients' symptoms and well-being as they are going through these difficult times in their lives. You will find a very experienced, compassionate Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology nursing and Radiation Oncology therapist staff to provide quality care. We have a dietitian who provides for our patients' dietary needs, a social worker on staff to provide patient assistance, and support group needs for our patients and their families. Our patients also have immediate access to our financial counselor on site for insurance and financial needs. Finally, we also have a massage therapist who provides a free service to our patients two days each week.

We have a laboratory that is conveniently located in the facility and a full service radiology department so that the patients do not have to travel to other sites. The lab is located next to the infusion center which is staffed with experienced oncology nurses who work with our patients in a relaxed setting. We also have an American Cancer Society resource center which is available to patients who are in need of specific information about their disease, and Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology nurses and therapists who can further review issues or questions.

For more information on our state-of-the-art treatments, please call 440-205-5491.