Nurses

The nursing staff reflects LSO's approach to personalized care and education of patients, getting to know them and their individual treatment plans as well as serving as a valuable resource for information about those plans and the latest in cancer care. LSO employs a full-time research nurse and will provide patients with a Home Care Guide to Cancer along with materials from its extensive medical and educational video library.

The Nutritionist

Hippocrates wrote more than 2,500 years ago, "Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food," and extraordinary scientific documentation supporting the powerful medicinal effects of certain fruits and vegetables in fighting cancer is now lending support to his decree. Immunology and nutrition specialist Dr. Glen Luepnitz recommends cooperative, or adjuvant, therapies that boost effectiveness throughout the course of medical treatment. He also helps patients, from children to the elderly, maximize health and fitness.

The Lab

Lone Star Oncology's CLIA certified lab plays a vital role in patient care. Its instruments can determine if cancer is in remission and can monitor certain side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation. The lab's automated CBC instrumentation can return results in less than 10 minutes. This laboratory is a sophisticated lab that performs highly specialized tests necessary to care for the cancer patients.

Investigational Studies

Lone Star Oncology regularly conducts investigation studies, or protocols, in the treatment of cancer. Every member of the staff is dedicated to the tireless pursuit of new medical knowledge and technology to help patients recover from cancer. Each is committed to finding the right treatment for each LSO patient.

Treatment Plan

Immediately after the first meeting, a treatment plan will be prescribed customized to the specific needs of the patient's diagnosis. Treatments that involve a number of medications administered on a specific program require patients be present for scheduled appointments to ensure optimum effectiveness. Because every patient's responses to certain drugs and treatments are different, it is critical to communicate how you are feeling to LSO doctors and nurses.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy may be administered to treat cancer or may be used in conjunction with radiation therapy or surgery. Treatments are administered intravenously, intramuscularly or subcutaneously. Intravenous infusions are given in a group infusion room that may appear impersonal at first, but actually becomes a great support environment for patients, who often use the time to share their experiences with one another. Patients are welcome to bring reading materials or whatever helps them pass the time. An LSO nurse is always nearby.

"Bosom Buddies"

"Bosom Buddies is a voluntary cancer support group for LSO patients. It meets bi-monthly on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the lobby of the Northwest Austin clinic. It is a powerful tool in feeling understood and supported during treatment. Patients have found it to be a very inspirational and successful component in recovery.