Overview

Overview

Learning that you or someone you love has cancer can be one of the most difficult things you'll ever go through. Seeking out a hospital with caring, compassionate cancer specialists doesn't need to be another challenge. The experts at Cleveland Clinic Akron General's McDowell Cancer Center understand the concerns and needs of patients and their families.

Because no two people are the same, our highly trained specialists work with you to discuss options and treatments that provide the best results for you – from diagnosis to survivorship – and every step in between.

The experienced team of oncology and hematology cancer specialists work together with a multi-disciplinary team to take cancer treatment to the next level – they treat the patient, not the disease – with both inpatient and outpatient care.

Should your treatment include surgery, Cleveland Clinic Akron General cancer surgeons offer the newest and most innovative procedures to provide the best options for nearly all types of cancers. You don’t need to travel far for expert cancer surgical care.  

Why Choose Akron General

Why Choose Akron General

Why choose Cleveland Clinic Akron General's McDowell Cancer Center?

Expert Care Team

The search for a doctor or surgeon for cancer care can be overwhelming, but Akron General is home to the McDowell Cancer Center. Our physicians, surgeons and staff are here to help deliver exceptional care with some of the latest cancer treatments available.

Patients are usually referred to cancer doctors or surgeons by their primary care physician. If you or a loved one has a diagnosis of cancer, talk to your doctor about treatment options and about a referral to the Akron General McDowell Cancer Center. Located in downtown Akron, our Cancer Center is a convenient facility for residents of Summit, Medina or Portage County and surrounding areas. Our comprehensive team of physicians, specialists, nurses, social workers and counselors are the best in their fields, and they're here to help you through cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

Access to Clinical Trials

Akron General participates in National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored clinical trials, as well as pharmaceutical industry sponsored trials. Participation in NCI groups provides our patients with access to a wide menu of clinical trials.

Quality & Accreditation 

The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC), the accrediting body for cancer centers nationwide recommends an 8 percent accrual rate for commendation status. We have annually met or exceeded that benchmark. The McDowell Cancer Center is proud to be a member of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) - the leading national multidisciplinary organization which defines quality cancer care.

Dedication to Prevention and Cancer Education

The McDowell Cancer Center's mission is to not only treat cancer, but to also provide community prevention, education and screening for the residents of Northeast Ohio. We participate in surveys designed to assess the health needs of our community with the goal of improving overall health. Since cancer is always a top concern, our prevention, early detection and screening programs are tailored to meet these needs. Our community outreach activities are evaluated, documented and reported to the Commission on Cancer annually.

Treatments & Services

Treatments & Services

What We Treat

Types of cancer treated at Akron General includes, but is not limited to:

Cancer Services and Treatments

We offer some of the newest radiation therapies, such as:

  • Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), used to treat tumors in higher doses with less risk of damage to normal tissue.
  • Short-course partial breast irradiation, MammoSite Radiation Therapy System (MammoSite RTS), is also available for selected patients with early stage breast cancer.
  • Stereotactic body radiation therapy and other stereotactic radiation therapies.
  • Innovative surgical interventions should treatment require surgery.
Our Team

Our Team

Appointments

Appointments

Patients are usually referred to cancer or surgical specialists by their doctors. If you or a loved one have a diagnosis of cancer, talk to your doctor about treatment options and about seeing the cancer care team at Akron General's McDowell Cancer Center.

For questions, call 330.344.6453.

Outpatient Cancer Treatment Center & Infusion Services

Akron General Physician Office Building
224 West Exchange Street
Akron, OH 44302
330.344.6453

Health & Wellness Center, Green
1946 Town Park Boulevard
Uniontown, OH 44685
330.896.6815

Health & Wellness Center, Stow 
4302 Allen Road, Ste. 220
Stow, OH 44224
330.945.3140

Health & Wellness Center, Bath
4125 Medina Road, Ste. 200C
Akron, OH 44333
330.665.8020

Radiation Oncology
Akron General
1 Akron General Avenue
Akron, OH 44307
330.344.6448

Reflections Breast Health Center
Ambulatory Care Center
Akron General
1 Akron General Avenue
Building 301
Akron, OH 44307
330.344.2778

Patient Resources

Patient Resources

Treating the Person, Not the Cancer

A cancer diagnosis affects more than just your health. At Akron General’s McDowell Cancer Center, we understand what our patients and their families are facing following their diagnosis. We extend a helping hand to each and every one of our cancer patients through our multi-disciplinary team, which includes nurses, a caring and trained resource counselor, a reimbursement specialist and a survivorship nurse. Our team is always happy to answer questions and help patients navigate the treatment process. To talk to a team member, please call 330.344.4673 (HOPE).

Here for our Patients through the Cancer Journey

Together with the medical and support staff, our resource counselors are there for patients from the very beginning. We meet with newly-diagnosed patients to help them begin the process.

During the initial meeting, a resource counselor provides patients with helpful information. We encourage patients to complete an evaluation screening, which helps both the patient and the resource counselor identify potential areas of concern. Based on the screening or at the patient’s request, the resource counselor can provide assistance across multiple areas including:

  • Review of patient and family support system
  • Providing information about the psychosocial impact of cancer
  • Providing or referring counseling to individuals and families
  • Providing assistance with insurance or coordination of benefits questions
  • A reimbursement specialist assists with evaluating insurance benefits, coverage and out-of-pocket expenses to identify opportunities for assistance
  • Providing information about disability or work-related concerns, such as FMLA or Social Security
  • Providing crisis intervention when needed
  • Assist with completing Advanced Directives
  • Assisting with difficult-to-solve practical problems
  • Providing information and education about the health care system
  • Identifying appropriate resources and linkages within the community

Throughout the treatment process, our resource counselors assists patients and their families with any questions regarding emotional, spiritual, financial, practical or other supportive needs. Overall, resource counselors aim to remove as much stress or uncertainty as possible from the treatment process, which allows the patient to focus on getting well.

Wig Boutique

To help our cancer patients feel more comfortable and confident as they undergo treatment, Akron General's McDowell Cancer Center now offers a Wig Boutique. There are a variety of wigs to accommodate different hair textures, cuts and colors. Caregivers are available to assist the patient in the selection and styling of a wig.

The boutique is located on the first-floor lobby of the McDowell Cancer Center.

To schedule an appointment or get more information, call Dena at 330.344.6922 or Rebecca at 330.344.3465.

The boutique was made possible through a generous donation from the Stephen A. Comunale Jr. Family Cancer Foundation.

Affiliation with National and Local Support Resources

Akron General offers resources to help patients and their families through the cancer journey. By working with these organizations, we can help extend our resources:

Continued Support through Survivorship, after Cancer

Once a patient’s treatment is finished, making the transition from cancer patient back to a normal routine can be tough. That’s why the support doesn’t end with a patient’s final appointment. A trained survivorship nurse works closely with the physician, patients and their families following their final treatment to develop an individualized care plan. The plan also details each patient's treatment for future reference and offers post-treatment recommendations.

If you have questions or would like to discuss any concerns, please call 330.344.4673 (HOPE) to talk to a team member.

Cancer Care Fund

Cancer Care Fund

Cleveland Clinic Akron General’s Cancer Care Fund provides free mammogram screenings for those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Who qualifies for a free mammogram?
There is no age limit, however, a person must meet the following guidelines to qualify for one free screening mammogram yearly through the Cancer Care Fund:

How do I receive a free mammogram?
Call 330.344.2778 to schedule an appointment. If you meet the qualifications, your mammogram will be scheduled at one of these Akron General facilities:

AKRON
Cleveland Clinic Akron General
Ambulatory Care Center, Building #301
1 Akron General Ave.

BATH
Health & Wellness Center, Bath
4125 Medina Road, Suite 100

GREEN
Health & Wellness Center, Green
1946 Town Park Blvd.

LODI
Lodi Hospital
225 W. Elyria St.

STOW
Health & Wellness Center, Stow
4300 Allen Road

TALLMADGE
Medical Office Building, Tallmadge
33 North Ave., Suite 202

The results of your mammogram will be sent to your primary care physician. 

What if my mammogram results are abnormal?
If your mammogram results are abnormal, your physician may refer you to Akron General's Reflection Breast Health Center on the Akron General downtown campus for guidance on your next steps. A cancer center coordinator will guide you every step of the way. 

Another community program that is available includes: Summit County Public Health - Breast & Cervical Cancer Project (BCCP). For more information, call 330.926.5750.

Community support
The Akron General Cancer Care Fund is made possible by many individual participants and sponsors. If you or someone you know would like to contribute, please contact the Akron General Foundation at 330.344.6888.

Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials

Akron General's McDowell Cancer Center provides patients with access to care quickly. We also offer the newest therapies, diagnostics and surgical techniques to help minimize side effects and improve outcomes. As a research site with national clinical trials, we offer treatment options that may help extend and improve lives.

The McDowell Cancer Center is a main member of NRG Oncology. It is a non-profit research organization formed to conduct oncologic clinical research and is funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The McDowell Cancer Center also has access to the Cancer Trials Support Unit (CTSU) menu of clinical trials. CTSU is also a service of the NCI designed to facilitate access to NCI-funded clinical trials. We also participate in pharmaceutical and in-house investigator-initiated studies.

Read more from Akron General

For more information about options available, please contact the McDowell Cancer Center Research Department at 330.344.6348.

Additional Resources for Cancer Clinical Trials

Outcomes

Outcomes

Cleveland Clinic Akron General McDowell Cancer Center Public Reporting of Outcomes

Each year, the McDowell Cancer Center distributes an outcomes report for the public related to patients or programs. The content is required to be related to one or more of the following areas: cancer prevention, screening events, accountability measures, quality improvement or monitoring compliance with evidence-based guidelines. The intent of this report is to demonstrate results of what we do each year.

Download a PDF version of our outcomes for any of the following years: