At Illinois CancerCare, we strive to provide comprehensive, compassionate care that enhances the lives of patients and their families. In fact, it’s our mission. That is combined with our researchers tirelessly investigating new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, treat and ultimately defeat cancer.

Much of our work is made possible through the generosity of those who give through the Peoria Cancer Center Foundation. They share our vision for a world without cancer. Support of the Peoria Cancer Center Foundation helps to further ground-breaking clinical cancer research, enhance patient care and increase community awareness on prevention and early detection.

Research

Thanks to the research initiatives of the Illinois CancerCare physicians along with physicians all across the country and the patients that have participated in clinical cancer research trials, tremendous progress has been made in the fight against cancer. These research initiatives have produced remarkable advances in the way we prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

Cancer is more survivable today than in the past. The medical advances achieved by our nation’s best doctors and researchers have given us reasons to hope. Declining death rates clearly stem from research advances in the early diagnosis and treatment of a variety of tumors.

• Overall, cancer deaths are decreasing for the first time in 70 years.
• More than 10 million Americans who have faced a cancer diagnosis are alive today, compared to only 3 million in 1975.
• Overall, cancer survivorship has increased from 30 percent in the early 1970s to 64 percent today.
• The statistics are even better for those diagnosed before the age of 65, with roughly 7 out of every 10 surviving their disease in this age group -- good news as it means that progress from cancer research has been fast enough to offset a growing and aging American population – two factors that push the number of new cancer diagnoses upward.

The physicians of Illinois CancerCare have played a large role in many cancer research trials. Illinois CancerCare has a history of bringing quality, groundbreaking research trial opportunities to the people of central Illinois both in the treatment and in the prevention of cancer, which in many cases are the only way to get the very latest treatments available. Illinois CancerCare played a vital part in the early research of several drugs which have become very important in the arsenal of chemotherapy and supportive drugs used nationwide today.

In 2009, the Peoria Cancer Center Foundation completely or partially funded six clinical cancer research trials. One such investigator initiated trial offers potential hope to prostate cancer patients that have failed first line treatment.

Education

We believe educating the community about cancer prevention, the benefits of early detection and the need for cancer research is of the utmost importance. Each plays an integral part in increasing the odds of living with the disease.

We are committed to the community where we live and work. All funds raised stay right here in central Illinois. Which means your donated dollars will help us continue to provide educational programs locally geared both towards educating the community on preventative measures and providing educational support to cancer patients and their families once diagnosed.

In 2009, Illinois CancerCare and Peoria Cancer Center Foundation coordinated 11 educational programs to the community. The events provided information to the people of central Illinois about the importance of early detection and how research and participation in clinical trials can continue to provide hope. In September, Dr. Michael Veeder presented to a crowd of about 65 people at Bradley University on the topic “Cancer: past, present and future.”

Want to help? To learn more about how you can help, please visit our Ways to Give page.