The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports roughly 42 million Americans are infected with types of HPV. About 13 million Americans, including teens, are infected each year. Patients with head and neck cancer  being seen often have tumors on the lining of the throat, mouth, voice box and the structures above the shoulders. 

Connection between HPV, head and neck cancers

"The majority of patients with head and neck cancer now come to see us with cancers of the tonsils and back of the tongue. As the incidence of cigarette smoking has decreased significantly, we've seen the number of patients with head and neck cancer has remained the same," says Guy Petruzzelli, MD, PhD, the physician in chief and surgical quality officer at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center and the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute. "We now know that those patients have a cancer that is definitely related to chronic infection or exposure to the human papillomavirus, or HPV." 

The best way to get protected from HPV is to get the HPV vaccine, which is offered to kids starting at 9 years of age. The CDC recommends children get two doses of the vaccine before they are 11 to 12 years old. 

Safety of the HPV Vaccine

"The HPV vaccine is not made up of any genetic material at all. The HPV vaccine is made up of the shell of the virus, which is not genetical material," Dr. Petruzzelli says. "There is absolutely no way to contract human papillomavirus infection from the HPV vaccine. It is an incredibly safe vaccine." 

While HPV is a leading cause of head and neck cancers, that doesn’t mean alcohol and tobacco use don’t still play a harmful role.

Alcohol and tobacco are "synergistic," meaning they work together, Dr. Petruzzelli says. These can make changes in the DNA that cause an infection. Free radicals from the alcohol can cause direct DNA damage, which can cause many types of cancer. But a newer fix has entered the mix, causing concern in the world of medicine.

The dangers of vaping

"It's not healthy. It's something that should not be in your body. They're chemicals and toxins that should not be in your body, and they're inhaled. So, there's toxicity everywhere they're inhaled," Dr. Petruzzelli says. "In the nose, sinuses, voice box, throat, windpipe and down into the lungs. That data is maturing as we're understanding it more, but we know that people who vape are not as healthy as people who don't. As we study it more and deeper, it will develop into higher incidence of some forms of cancer and reactive airway disease in those folks."

Ensuring head and neck cancer doesn't spread

"When we see a patient who has a head and neck cancer, especially a head and neck cancer that is lower down in the throat (voice box or swallowing tube), we need to look at the esophagus to make sure it hasn't spread there. So that's a part of our work up," Dr. Petruzzelli says. 

The biggest symptom of head and neck cancer is a lump in the neck. Dr. Petruzzelli says this is something to bring up your primary care provider immediately to work quickly for a referral to OSF cancer services team if needed. 

Tickles in the back of the throat, or persistent coughs that don't go away for weeks are a major concern as well. 

Every week, the head and neck cancer team will meet to evaluate patients' information to come up with the best medical plan possible. Using guidelines from nationally recognized organizations like the National Cancer Institute (NCI) helps personalize the care for each patient. Surgery, radiation or a combination of both are on the table, depending on the patient. 

Dr. Petruzzelli says about 50,000 patients are diagnosed with head and neck cancer every year, and because the diseases are so uncommon, they really need to be seen by experts. OSF Cancer Institute has specialists dedicated to head and neck cancer, just the same way as the other forms of cancer. 

The multi-disciplinary team at OSF HealthCare follows patients every step of the way. World-class surgical expertise, along with nurses, cancer navigators, dietitians and more help patients in their cancer journey. 

To connect with a primary care provider at OSF HealthCare, visit the OSF website.

Video Interview Clips

Introducing the Intuitive Ion Robot, a minimally invasive way to biopsy a patient’s lungs and get them answers more efficiently.

"Robotic bronchoscopy has really become the way of the future in terms of lung nodule diagnosis. It allows us to biopsy very small nodules (dense areas of tissue, or spots)," says Rachael Davis, MD, a pulmonologist with OSF HealthCare. "We can biopsy lung nodules that were not able to be biopsied previously because they were so small. It also allows us to biopsy nodules that are far out on the edge of the lungs that were unreachable before."

The goal of the Ion technology is primarily to diagnose lung cancer early. However, it also gives patients with non-cancerous lung nodules peace of mind. The Ion Robot can stage lung cancer as well. 

"We are hoping to diagnose lung cancer while it is very small, at a very early stage, and provide people the opportunity for either surgical or radiation cure of their cancer. That's our number one goal," Dr. Davis says. "But we do have quite a few patients who have lung nodules, and we don't know what they are. So, we're able to provide them with an answer that says, 'this is what your lung nodule is, and it's not cancer.’”

If a person has a history of smoking or one of their family members has received a lung cancer diagnosis, Dr. Davis says it’s important to get screened.

"Early-stage lung cancer often is asymptomatic. They have no cough, no shortness of breath or anything else. The most important thing we can do about lung cancer is to encourage people to get screened," Dr. Davis says. "Anyone who has a smoking history should talk with their primary care provider or lung doctor about whether they qualify for lung cancer screening. With that, we can find very small lung nodules and diagnose them early."

Screening remains the greatest tool to cure lung cancer. Some nodules used to be biopsied using a needle from outside the body. The robotic bronchoscopy allows the team to biopsy it from the inside in a much safer way, preventing possible complications. When a lung nodule is diagnosed at an earlier stage, it's much more likely to cure the patient. 

"A lung cancer screening is very simple. It's a low-dose CAT scan of the lungs. Most lung cancer screenings are covered by insurance. It's a two-minute procedure," Dr. Davis says. "You get scheduled for a CAT scan. You come in and there's no contrast or IV required. You come in, get your CAT scan, and it's read within 24 hours." 

The OSF Lung & Pulmonology team has doubled the number of patients they see each week since launching the technology one year ago at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. While the team currently does six biopsies a week, the plan is to perform three to four biopsies five days a week by mid-2025. 

Initially, most patients are cared for at the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute. The medical team will then refer patients for the Ion Robot biopsy, keeping the patient on one hospital campus. 

If cancerous nodules are found in the patient's lungs, they will be referred to the OSF multi-disciplinary team for further treatment. This includes a surgeon who decides if the lung nodule can be surgically removed and cured. There is also a medical oncologist who can advise if chemotherapy or immunotherapy is needed. Lastly, a radiation oncologist is part of the team. They can provide radiation treatment if necessary. 

Dr. Davis says as the OSF Cancer Institute impact grows across the OSF Ministry, the Ion Robot technology will spread to other markets. According to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, OSF HealthCare ranks in the 99.2 percentile in quality outcomes after lung cancer surgery for all lung surgery programs in the United States.

OSF Cancer Institute offers lung cancer screening events throughout the year. To learn more about lung cancer prevention, and how to get connected with OSF Lung & Pulmonology, visit the OSF HealthCare website.

Video Interview Clips

B-roll

Innovative Technologies at the Forefront

Leading-edge cancer treatments like proton beam therapy, brachytherapy, genetic counseling and dietetics are all offered within the OSF Cancer Institute, providing patients with a one-stop-shop during their cancer journey.  

Proton therapy

Proton therapy was first offered on April 1, 2024.

"Proton therapy lets us offer radiation therapy to patients that maybe wouldn't have been able to tolerate side effects due to tumor location, or factors such as prior radiation treatment to the same area," says Tom Cox, the vice president of operations at OSF Cancer Institute. " This is possible because protons stop after passing through a tumor, eliminating the radiation effects on tissue often treated incidentally to photon (X-ray) therapy. The OSF Cancer Institute is on track to have treated 180 patients by April 1, 2025 – which far exceeded the original first-year target of 130 patients.

Brachytherapy

The brachytherapy suite offers a more patient-friendly way for mostly prostate and gynecological (cervical, endometrial) cancer patients to receive treatment. This option involves placement of applicators or needles directly into tumors so that very controlled, effective radiation can be delivered in discrete volumes. Since the radiation is delivered from within the tumor, there is a dramatic reduction of the dose to normal tissue, even those near the tumor itself. The dose is delivered with high-dose rate techniques so the therapy is delivered in just a few minutes time.

"Being able to bring the introduction of the applicators into the body, the treatment planning CT and the treatment all in one room, has created a much better experience. We're having some really good outcomes there, and we think we can expand what we're able to do there,” Cox says.

Intuitive Ion robot 

The OSF Cancer Institute’s pulmonology team offers state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and treatments, including minimally invasive, robotic surgeries and robotic assistive bronchoscopy. This includes the Intuitive Ion Robot, which allows care teams to get early answers and advance care for lung cancer patients.

"We're going to leverage the ability of an ion robot in the interventional pulmonary lab to really upend how we do the front end of lung cancer care," Cox says. "That robot is going to enable us to biopsy smaller lesions. It has fewer side effects than when you're getting a lung biopsy that's CT-guided. You can also do a staged EBUS (endobronchial ultrasound) exam, so you can diagnosis and stage at the same time."

Rachael Davis, MD, a pulmonologist at OSF Cancer Institute, and her team have been using the ion robot weekly. Dr. Davis and her team are training more providers, and by this summer they’re expecting to quadruple – or more – how often it’s used. 

HIPEC procedures

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) surgeries are now offered at the OSF Cancer Institute. Tamara Floyd, MD, a surgical oncologist with OSF performs the open surgery and removes tumors from the abdomen. In the HIPEC procedure, heated chemotherapy is circulated through the body for a period of time. The first case went extremely well, and Dr. Floyd is planning her second case for mid-March. 

In addition to treatment options, the OSF Cancer Institute is increasing cancer supportive services in the Peoria region as well.

• Cancer navigation - 13% increase (Specially trained OSF Mission Partners walking you through the process of cancer care) 
• Dietetics - 64% increase
• Palliative medicine - 213% increase (Helps control symptoms, augments treatment from physicians) 
• Genetic counseling - 20% increase

Nutrition journey during cancer

Part of the dietary benefits OSF Cancer Institute offers is in the CEFCU Teaching Kitchen. Oncology dietitians work with patients on recipes to cook and are there with them step-by-step during their cancer journeys. Cox says 50% of people who come in for cancer treatment have dietary risks, while 80% of those people suffer malnutrition during treatment. Having a trained, professional dietary team walking alongside you helps fight those negative complications.

OSF Cancer Institute Culture

Cox credits the Institute’s first-year success to the culture of those who work there. The goal, he says, is to offer cancer support services across the entire spectrum of life. 

"The Mission Partners that work in this building have completely bought in to the idea that we all are advocates for cancer patients. We're always asking patients what they need, to see if we can help them," Cox says. "If we hear there's an issue with travel, or they're having trouble keeping food down, or if their children are not coping very well (with a loved one's cancer diagnosis), we know there are resources in the building, and we try very hard to line up those resources. You can feel it when you walk through the building."

Support services after cancer treatment 

"We can get you with a nurse, an exercise specialist and a dietitian to get back to your best life after cancer. Maybe you like to run a lot and ran half marathons, and you think you'll never be able to do it again. We have rehab and exercise specialists here and nutritionists. Who says you can't do that again? We're going to work with you to see you can get to the life after cancer you want to get to,” Cox says.

Services and medical professionals continue to grow

Building off the first year of OSF Cancer Institute, the administrative team continues to hire world-class medical professionals to offer cancer care in Peoria. A breast surgeon was recently brought onto the team, and a colorectal surgeon will be starting soon.

Additionally, the fourth floor of the building will be built out soon. Cox says this will give much-needed space for the surgical oncology and medical research teams. Research-focused medical oncologists are currently being recruited as well.

Leaving OSF Cancer Institute healthier, and more aware

Patients who leave OSF Cancer Institute don't just leave the building as healthier people; their awareness continues and will benefit other people. Cox admits a cancer diagnosis is not an easy thing to go through, and that the support from the OSF care team doesn’t stop when you walk out the door.

Grateful for community support

Cox says he’s been humbled throughout the years of working in oncology by the incredible commitment of the community and region to the OSF Cancer Institute.

"It is overwhelming to me, the philanthropic spirit of our community and extended community," Cox says. "I take that as, they've made a big commitment to us, and we're making a big commitment back. We're going to bring things to central Illinois that have not been here before. We are going to support you and your family members throughout your life and keep you as healthy, relative to cancer, as we possibly can."

Looking to the future

Cox says the OSF Cancer Institute is looking to bring more pediatric cancer support services to the building, the work collaboratively alongside the adult services.

The team is creating both a lung lesion clinic and a lung multidisciplinary clinic, which aims to reduce the time from finding a cancerous lesion to treatment. The lesion clinic is expected to open in late spring.

The OSF Cancer Institute intake team has been created with oncology nurses who will answer patients’ questions on the very same day, to see if services are right for you.

Cox adds that OSF is planning to put together an early detection hotline as a resource for the community to know if or when they should be screened for cancer.

To learn more about the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute, visit its website to view the services offered and find contact information to get connected.

Video Interview Clips

The official blessing of the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute, located on the campus of OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, was conducted by the Most Rev. Louis Tylka, Bishop of the Peoria Diocese on Tuesday, February 13.

The OSF Cancer Institute will be a one-stop destination for a patient’s cancer journey.

"The greatest difference that will happen in this building in comparison to many other centers, is that we've brought everything together. All of the therapies with the clinicians, together with support services and survivorship, together with the kitchen and nutrition," says Robert Sehring, CEO of OSF HealthCare. "It's the ability to bring all of those pieces together and have people collaborate. Whether it's a tumor board, working through a diagnosis or treatment plan. We're doing all of that to meet the needs of the patients that are going to come here.”

One of the new treatments happening inside the OSF Cancer Institute is proton beam therapy. This will be the only center outside of Chicago and St. Louis offering proton therapy in the region. Dr. James McGee, founding director of the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute, says this treatment is less invasive than current treatments being offered.

“It's where a packet of energy with positively charged proton particles is used to go to one spot of the tumor and treat that spot of the tumor,” Dr. McGee says. “We're able to go anywhere in the tumor. Very little dose on the entry side, and no dose on the exit side. Using all of that, we can corral the radiation into the tumor and reduce the dose of radiation to the normal and healthy tissues that we don't want to get incidental radiation, like the lymph nodes and things where the immune response is being mounted to that cancer."

The proton beam therapy is powered by a Varian ProBeam® 360° System cyclotron. Dr. McGee says the ability to rotate the System 360° allows the technology to target cancer from any angle.

 "We know the biological effect of protons is often felt to be at least 10% higher than with X-ray therapy. That gets factored into treatment planning. We also know the ability to give these treatments in a way that doesn't affect the immune system, allows the actual radiation treatment to be more effective,” Dr. McGee says. “We're seeing more and more evidence that there is better tumor control in certain situations. People are not failing that would've failed at those doses with X-ray therapy. Also, we're not generating secondary cancers from the radiation."

The first patients are expected to be seen by the end of the month. It is estimated the OSF Cancer Institute will treat upwards of 3,700 cancer patients annually with an estimated economic impact on the Peoria-area of $1-billion over the next decade.

Other key features for patients include:

- Brachytherapy: Also known as implant radiation, is a treatment that is delivered from inside the tumor and can deliver more intense doses of radiation at the tumor site. Brachytherapy is most commonly used to treat cancers of the female pelvis, prostate, breast, eye and skin. Currently, patients are transported all over the hospital in order to receive these procedures. When the HDR Brachytherapy suite in the OSF Cancer Institute opens, everything will happen here. This state-of-the-art surgical suite is outfitted with a GE C-T on rails, specially designed for this space. This will make for a much better patient experience. 

 

- Teaching Kitchen: The CEFCU Teaching Kitchen will offer a healthy lifestyle educational environment by focusing on prevention and wellness efforts to lower the risk for cancer and cancer recurrence. Patients and families affected by cancer will benefit from classes where they learn how to prepare foods that address specialized needs while going through cancer treatment. Prevention of other diseases and chronic health conditions will also be addressed, with advanced IT technology offering remote access to facilitate live-streamed classes. 

 

- Healing Garden: Located on the east side of the campus, this area has a number of features including statues of the Welcoming Virgin Mary, St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer, and St. Francis of Assisi. There is a water feature along the path, and the space will host the Gilmore Foundation Teaching Garden. The fresh food grown here will be used in the teaching kitchen, which is right next to the healing garden.

 

- Cancer Support Services: The main focus is assisting patients and their families from diagnosis through survivorship, as well as prevention and for those at a higher risk of developing cancer. These services include nurse navigation, dietitians, financial navigation, counseling, cancer specific clinics and survivorship. 

Photos from OSF HealthCare Institute Blessing

Robert Sehring Video Interview Clips

Dr. James McGee Video Interview Clips

OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute B-Roll