Leon Hess Cancer Center

• Milestones in Cancer Care
• History Behind the Leon Hess Name

Leon Hess Cancer Center at Monmouth Medical Center stands at the forefront of providing the most extensive array of highly advanced cancer services, delivered by a team of specialists in a caring and supportive environment.

For nearly 40 years, Monmouth Medical Center’s leadership role in oncology services has been broadened through the ongoing expansion of state-of-the-art programs and technologies offered in all areas of cancer prevention, detection and treatment.

Illustrating its prominence as a leading academic cancer center, Monmouth Medical Center has earned national approval from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons as a “teaching hospital cancer program” for nearly 25 years — a prestigious distinction achieved by only one in five hospitals in the United States offering cancer care that meets the stringent standards for this select designation.

The Leon Hess Cancer Center Cancer Registry maintains detailed information on each cancer incidence, treatment and outcome.

Our cancer center centralizes a vast array of outpatient services under one roof, making care more convenient, efficient and effective. It features “comprehensive multidisciplinary” medical services that are led by teams of three major physician specialists who you can see all in one visit, including:

Surgical Oncology - A surgeon who can order diagnostic tests, perform a biopsy to see if your tumor is malignant and/or operate to remove cancer if necessary.
Medical Oncology - A medical oncologist or hematologist who can give chemotherapy that kills the cancer cells.
Radiation Oncology - A radiation oncologist who can pinpoint the places where your cancer is growing and use precisely focused X-rays to reduce or destroy it.

Together, these three cancer specialists, in consultation with your primary care physician, and in conjunction with your Cancer Care Management Team will work with you to create the most appropriate and effective plan of treatment for your cancer.

We have established Multidisciplinary Disease Site Centers (MDSC) to centralize your visit. Our goal is to make your visit to Leon Hess Cancer Center patient friendly. Currently, we have designated locations and time slots for the following specific MDSC – Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center, Head and Neck Cancer Program, Thoracic/Esophageal Cancer Program, Prostate Cancer Program, Colorectal Cancer Program and General Medical/Hematological Program.

The cancer center provides patient-focused outpatient chemotherapy, infusion and transfusion services, as well as specialized oncology inpatient care.

In addition the center offers cancer research clinical trial opportunities as well as providing patients and their loved ones a full complement of associated support services, including:

• Genetic counseling
• Cancer rehabilitation program
• Nutrition assessment and counseling
• Psychological counseling
• Pastoral care
• Social services
• Pain and symptom management
• Wellness Center and Complementary medicine (acupuncture, spiritual guidance and massage therapy)
• Wound Care