At the UCSF-John Muir Health Cancer Center in Berkeley, residents of the East Bay gain access to a comprehensive spectrum of cancer care services. As a collaborative endeavor with the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, this facility ensures that patients receive world-class treatment, deeply rooted in the latest research and meticulously tailored to their individual conditions and healthcare requirements. Complementing these advanced medical treatments, an extensive array of support services and educational resources are readily available, empowering both patients and their families to actively engage in and navigate the healing journey.
Our dedicated team of surgical and medical oncologists possesses vast experience in treating a wide array of cancers. This includes, but is not limited to, cancers of the breast, digestive tract, head and neck, lung, thyroid, and prostate, alongside gynecologic cancers, multiple myeloma, and sarcomas. John Muir Health, in partnership with UCSF, is committed to providing specialized and personalized care across all cancer types and stages.
The services offered at the Berkeley Outpatient Center encompass:
- Personalized treatment strategies for all stages of cancer, including advanced and complex cases, ensuring that every patient receives care that is specifically designed for their unique situation.
- Comprehensive treatment modalities such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy, supplemented by state-of-the-art lab and imaging services, all integrated to provide a holistic approach to cancer management.
- Diligent monitoring for cancer recurrence and dedicated survivorship care programs for individuals who have successfully completed their treatment, focusing on long-term health and well-being.
- Access to genetic testing and counseling services, offering patients personalized insights into their hereditary cancer risks and providing tailored recommendations for screening and preventive measures, empowering proactive health management.
For individuals concerned about breast health, including those experiencing breast pain or noticing new lumps, our specialized breast surgeons provide thorough evaluations and diagnoses. Utilizing the most advanced, minimally invasive techniques, such as ultrasound-guided and fine needle aspiration biopsies, we ensure accurate and comfortable diagnostic procedures. Furthermore, John Muir Health offers both annual screening mammograms, crucial for early detection, and diagnostic mammograms for investigating specific concerns. To enhance accessibility, both new and existing patients can conveniently schedule their screening mammograms online, reflecting our commitment to patient-centered care.
Our commitment to utilizing cutting-edge technology is exemplified by our state-of-the-art imaging capabilities, including the Biograph Vision 450 PET-CT scanner. This advanced technology allows for the detection of even minute changes within the body, providing superior image quality that leads to more accurate diagnoses and highly personalized treatment plans. The speed of image acquisition with this technology also significantly reduces exam times and minimizes radiation exposure, prioritizing patient comfort and safety.
The integration of radiation therapy into our on-site services at the Berkeley location means that East Bay patients now have seamless access to one of the nation’s leading radiation oncology programs, within the John Muir Health network. We specialize in external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), a highly precise method of delivering high-dose X-rays directly to tumors, effectively shrinking or eliminating cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. As the most prevalent form of radiation therapy, EBRT is typically administered using a linear accelerator (LINAC) in daily sessions, five days a week, over a course of several weeks. The treatment objectives are customized to each patient, ranging from cancer eradication and prevention of spread to improving overall quality of life by alleviating pain and other debilitating symptoms.
In addition to EBRT, we offer other advanced treatment techniques, including hepatic artery infusion (HAI). This specialized therapy is particularly beneficial for patients with colorectal cancer that has metastasized to the liver, and for those with bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) that is inoperable or has spread into the liver. HAI delivers concentrated chemotherapy drugs directly to liver tumors through the hepatic artery, the primary blood supply route for these tumors. This targeted approach can effectively reduce tumor size prior to surgery or eliminate residual cancer cells post-surgery. HAI is also a viable option when tumors are too numerous or widespread for surgical removal.
Cancer care represents just one facet of the comprehensive medical specialties available at the Berkeley Outpatient Center. This facility, a collaboration between UCSF Health and John Muir Health, provides a unique access point to a broad spectrum of medical services from two premier healthcare systems. This partnership ensures that patients receive integrated, high-quality care, conveniently located within their community.
The Berkeley Outpatient Center is easily accessible via public transportation, including the Ashby BART station and multiple bus lines. For those arriving by car, the center is conveniently located just off the Eastshore Freeway, with complimentary parking available within the building, making access to John Muir Health services as seamless as possible.
