Cancer Care Clinic

The Cancer Care Clinic is a world-renowned clinic serving the urgent needs of patients with a cancer diagnosis. The clinic’s goal is to provide care for patients at times that are convenient for them.

The clinic serves Siteman Cancer Center patients who have problems or symptoms from their cancer or cancer treatment.

Your doctor or nurse coordinator will schedule your appointment at the Cancer Care Clinic. Please note the clinic is not a walk-in facility or an emergency room.

Nurses triage each patient according to the level of care needed. Patients may be held and evaluated to see if they need to be admitted to the hospital.

Cancer Care Clinic health care professionals perform evaluations of oncology patients, provide infusions and injections and perform the care necessary for Siteman clinical studies.

Where should I park?

Euclid Garage offers convenient parking. The address is 224 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. Patients will receive a voucher for parking each visit. Valet parking is available for a fee Monday-Friday from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. at the main entrance of the Center for Advanced Medicine (CAM).

Get directions

What should I bring to my visit?

You can bring books, a laptop, knitting supplies or other items to pass the time. Free Wi-Fi is available (network name: Guest). No password is needed.

Headphone adapters are available for our televisions, or you may bring your own.

Please bring any medications you might need. This may include prescriptions for pain management, high blood pressure or insulin.

Managing your pain is important to us. As a reminder, your pain medication prescriptions cannot be refilled at the Cancer Care Clinic. Please talk to your doctor if you require a refill.

If you choose to apply your prescribed lidocaine cream to your port site before it is accessed, please do this 30-45 minutes before your appointment time. The lidocaine cream will not work effectively if it is applied too late.

What happens once I get to the Cancer Care Clinic?

Please request a mask if you did not wear one in, and let us know immediately if you are experiencing symptoms such as a sore throat, chills, cough, fever or body aches.

The receptionist will check you in when you arrive. Please bring a photo ID and insurance card(s) so we can verify that our records are correct.

After check-in, we will record your vital signs and weight, then escort you to the treatment area. Each patient is allowed one visitor age 16 or older.

When will my medications and/or blood products be ready?

The pharmacy delivers medication as soon as possible while ensuring accuracy. Blood work may be necessary before your medication is prepared. A nurse will communicate any delays. For your safety, two pharmacists check each chemotherapy prescription.

Blood products might not be ready when you arrive. Before your transfusion, the clinic might perform lab work to confirm your blood type.

What is offered at the Cancer Care Clinic?

  • Light snacks, coffee, tea, clear soda, milk, water and ice are available for free in the treatment area. Please ask a staff member if you would like a snack.
  • Vending machines and visitor bathrooms are located near the Schoenberg Pavilion elevators on the 4th floor.
  • The patient bathroom is in the treatment area.
  • A cafeteria is located on Parkview Tower’s main floor. Cafeteria hours are 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

What is the goal of the Cancer Care Clinic?

Our medical and other staff members are focused on treating patients in a timely manner while providing safe, excellent care. We promise to:

  • Respect you and your family
  • Care for you as an individual
  • Listen to and understand your needs
  • Ensure the best care
  • Be sensitive to your cultural or other needs
  • Our staff will accomplish this by:
  • Introducing ourselves to you and your family
  • Answering questions related to your cancer or treatment plan
  • Explaining your treatment so it is easy to understand
  • Listening to your comments and concerns
  • Updating you about any treatment delays

What about safety?

Safety is our highest priority. Having a cancer diagnosis and/or receiving chemotherapy increases a person’s risk of falling. This is due to increased fatigue, dizziness or other possible side effects of chemotherapy, such as decreased feeling in your hands or feet. To avoid falls, we provide a call light for you to use to request assistance. Please do so before standing up.

We also follow strict chemotherapy precautions. Our nurses wear specially approved gowns and gloves to hang and remove chemotherapy bags. Our staff members verify your armband information with your chemotherapy label before administering any medication. Everyone who has contact with you must wash his or her hands with soap and water or alcohol foam. This is the best way to prevent the spread of infection.

If you see anything that concerns you, please tell your nurse, or ask for the charge nurse or manager.

How do you address my needs?

We do our best to take excellent care of our patients, their families and all visitors. Please notify us immediately if we are not meeting your expectations. This helps us to improve your care and our practice. If you are concerned about your care, talk with your nurse, or ask to speak with the manager. We also appreciate positive feedback. Please contact management if you have any questions, comments or concerns by calling 314-747-0770.

What can I expect if I need a nurse practitioner evaluation at the Cancer Care Clinic?

The nurse practitioners at the Cancer Care Clinic are board-certified. If you come to the Cancer Care Clinic for evaluation, you can expect the following:

  • The nurse practitioner will review your current illness and history.
  • He or she will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms.
  • Blood work, X-rays or other tests may be ordered to help confirm your acute diagnosis and treatment plan.
  • The nurse practitioner will determine a plan of care unique to you with the guidance from the on-call physician.

* Important to note: If symptoms are too complex to be evaluated at the Cancer Care Clinic, the nurse practitioner may send you to the Emergency Department for further evaluation and testing.