Welcome to Florida Hospital
Memorial Medical Center
Cancer Institute’s Web site.
My name is Debra Trovato,
cancer services director,
and I invite you to visit often
to see the progress being
made on your new cancer
institute.
We recently broke ground on a new 30,000-
square-foot facility on the main hospital
campus’ northwest corner. Slated to open this
fall, the cancer institute will bring together
many areas of expertise — expert medical
care, research, advanced technology,
enhanced treatments and outstanding patient
care — so you and your loved ones will have
peace of mind knowing everything you need to
fight cancer is in one convenient location.
Features of the new facility include an
appearance center complete with wigs,
scarves, prosthetics and specialized clothing;
an American Cancer Society resource library;
café; chapel; and treatment areas overlooking
nature gardens.
At the heart of our program is our
commitment to making a difference in the
life of each patient we serve. In addition
to focusing on the disease itself, our team
provides comprehensive educational,
emotional and spiritual support to you as
well as your family and friends.
Our cancer institute is accredited as a
Comprehensive Cancer Center by the
American College of Surgeons Commission
on Cancer. We maintain research affiliations
with some of the leading cancer research
centers in the world, including the Duke
Comprehensive Cancer Center and UCLA’s
prestigious Jonsson Comprehensive
Cancer Center.
Again, thank you for visiting your new cancer institute. I invite you to come back often to learn more about the great things happening right here in our community.
Sincerely, Debra Trovato
A 57-year-old Port Orange man, who was recently diagnosed with appendiceal cancer, was the first patient in Central Florida to undergo a new treatment for abdominal cancers. Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy, also called HIPEC (high peck), was performed by Christopher Windham, a surgical oncologist with Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach.
“By treating complex abdominal cancers with HIPEC, we’re able to offer our patients a better opportunity for a positive outcome that improves their prognosis and quality of life,” said Windham.
Frequently heralded as a breakthrough in cancer treatment, the innovative procedure provides a “one-two punch” to slow or prevent the recurrence of certain types of cancers. Immediately after the removal of malignant abdominal tumors, a heated chemotherapy solution circulates through a patient’s abdomen to penetrate tissue and kill any microscopic cancerous cells that may lurk behind. After 90 minutes, the solution is removed and the incision is closed.
Bathing the abdomen with heated chemotherapy immediately following surgery allows for higher doses of chemotherapy than would normally be tolerated by a patient if given intravenously, which is the traditional way chemotherapy is administered.
Heated chemotherapy provides
three advantages:
heated to 42 degrees Celsius, sterile chemotherapy kills cancerous cells but does not affect normal cells;
heat makes the killing effect of chemotherapy more powerful;
heat softens tumor nodules so the chemotherapy’s penetration is enhanced.
HIPEC also improves drug absorption with minimal exposure to the rest of the body, avoiding the normal side effects of chemotherapy. The procedure is most effective with cancers that have spread to the surface of the abdominal cavity lining, such as colorectal cancer, appendiceal cancer, stomach cancer, or cancers from mesothelioma and pseudomyxoma peritonei.
Clinical studies show HIPEC is significantly more effective than surgery alone and offers patients an improved prognosis and quality of life. Five-year data has shown that patients who undergo HIPEC live longer and have a better quality of life. The HIPEC technology is produced by ThermaSolutions.
We are pleased to announce that T. Christopher Windham, M.D., F.A.C.S., has accepted the medical directorship of Florida Hospital Memorial Center Cancer Institute effective June 1.
Dr. Windham will work closely with Debra Trovato, Cancer Institute director, and with Ron Jimenez, MD, Chief Medical Officer, who will provide oversight of his duties as Medical Director.
Prior to joining Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center Cancer Institute, Dr. Windham was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at Florida State University College of Medicine; Program Director for the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program; and Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of South Florida College of Medicine at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center.
He completed a basic science oncology research fellowship at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas and a clinical surgical oncology fellowship at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.
In his role as Cancer Institute Medical Director Dr. Windham will chair the Cancer Physician Leadership Council and oversee, participate in, and provide guidance for programmatic development, quality clinical care excellence, and marketing strategies.
Much visible progress has been made on the site of our new 30,000-square-foot comprehensive freestanding Cancer Institute. Read More »
Local Cancer statistics
Approximately 11 million Americans are currently living with cancer
The American Cancer Society (ACS) predicted that more than 1.4 million new cancer cases were expected to be diagnosed in 2009.
In Florida, an estimated 102,210 new cancer cases were reported in 2009.
Approximately 41,000 Floridians died from colon & rectum, breast, pancreas and prostrate cancers along with other select cancers last year.
An estimated 1,617 Florida residents from Volusia and Flagler counties died from cancer in 2005.
Approximately 280 Floridians will be diagnosed with cancer every day in 2010.
In the U.S., men have slightly less than a 1 in 2 lifetime risk of developing cancer; for women, the risk is a little more than 1 in 3.
The ACS estimates that more than 12,000 Florida women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. Of those, more than 2,500 died.
Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center—a leader in cancer care
Florida Hospital’s Cancer Institute (FHCI) is accredited as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.
In 2009, 1,040 patients were treated at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center’s Cancer Institute.
In 2006, FHCI was one of 12 community oncology programs in the country to receive honors from the American Society of Clinical Oncology – recognizing our commitment to improve care for cancer patients through increased participation in clinical trials.
Economic benefits to the community
Up to 37 new, permanent full-time Cancer Institute jobs. Currently the institute employees 30 and has more than 30 volunteers.
High efficiency fluorescent and LED lighting
High efficiency HVAC equipment controlled by variable speed drives
Site sedimentation and erosion control to prevent construction impact on overall site
Recycled finish materials including carpet, tile and acoustical ceiling tiles
No CFC in refrigerants – using eco friendly, non-ozone depleting HFC refrigerant
Energy efficient concrete tilt up panels
Cancer Institute facts
Robins & Morton – General Contractor
HuntonBrady Architects – Architect
KlimaWeeks – Civil Engineer
BBM Inc – Structural Engineer
TLC (Jacksonville) – MEP Engineer
HHI Design – Landscape Architect
1 -story building, 31,652 sq. ft., at cost of approximately $15 million for the first phase
Teleconferencing capability between other Florida Hospital campuses and nationwide to link physician specialists
On-site services include CT scanner and laboratory, radiation oncology and infusion
The current site is located at 873 Sterthaus Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32174.
A powerful new technology coming to Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center’s Cancer Institute will give more hope to those who have cancerous and non-cancerous conditions of the entire body.Read More »
Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center Cancer Institute 301 Memorial Parkway, Daytona Beach, FL 32117
We are pleased to announce that T. Christopher Windham, M.D., F.A.C.S., has accepted the medical directorship of Florida Hospital Memorial Center Cancer Institute effective June 1. 
