SEMC Ottawa Fox River Cancer Center

Fox River Cancer Center at OSF Saint Elizabeth

A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming for patients and their families. At the Fox River Cancer Center on the campus of OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa, Illinois, you won't face this journey alone.

Fox River Cancer Center is easily accessible, so you don’t have to travel long distances to receive treatment. This is especially important if you require frequent visits to the cancer center for treatment or follow-up appointments.

Treatment Options

Fox River Cancer Center offers comprehensive cancer care services, including access to clinical trials, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgical oncology.

Advanced treatment options include:

  • 4D CT simulation
  • External beam radiation therapy
  • Image-guided radiation therapy
  • Intensity-modulated radiation therapy
  • Stereotactic body radiation therapy
  • Stereotactic radiation therapy
  • Optical surface monitoring system

Diagnostics and Imaging

OSF Saint Elizabeth offers a complete range of medical imaging and diagnostic services for detecting and treating cancer. The Fox River Cancer Center has a dedicated PET scanner. This allows full-body imaging for the detection of cancer at its earliest stages.

Cancer diagnostics provided:

  • 3D digital mammography
  • Biopsy and image-guided biopsy
  • Bronchoscopy
  • CAT scan – 64 slice, low-dosage
  • Colonoscopy
  • Upper endoscopy 
  • Fluoroscopy
  • Laryngoscopy
  • MRI
  • PET scan
  • Ultrasound
  • X-rays

Support Services

Experts from several specialties, such as patient and financial navigators, clergy, researchers, dietitians and counselors, work together to ensure you are cared for in body, mind and spirit. These support services include:

  • Behavioral health and counseling support
  • Breast health clinic
  • Financial navigator
  • Cancer 101 – education program
  • Genetic counseling
  • Nurse navigator
  • Nutrition counseling
  • Pastoral care
  • Rehabilitation
  • Social work
  • Support groups

Preparing for Your First Visit

Our providers at Fox River Cancer Center offer compassionate care combined with superior medical and technical services. These services are designed to help you face the physical and emotional demands of meeting this disease head-on.

When you arrive, please check in at the front desk. You will need to bring your identification, insurance cards and a list of any medications or supplements you are currently taking.

Typically, your first visit will take longer. You will meet your doctor and nurses, who will explain your medications, treatments and lifestyle changes. You will learn nutrition and side effect coping skills.

Where you go for your first treatment will depend on the type of treatment.

  • Chemotherapy treatments are performed by Illinois CancerCare near OSF Saint Elizabeth. Some medical oncology treatments can take several hours. In addition, your team will do pre-testing, and your treatment may be administered slowly to monitor for reactions. We supply reading material, snacks, drinks, warm blankets and pillows but feel free to bring your own.
  • Radiation treatments are performed at Fox River Cancer Center. Radiation treatments typically do not take as long as chemotherapy treatments, but all treatments vary depending on type, stage and location.

We make every effort to make your treatment as comfortable as possible.

Working side by side with Illinois CancerCare

As the exclusive provider of medical oncology services at OSF Saint Elizabeth and Fox River Cancer Center, Illinois CancerCare specialists work side by side with our care teams to help you throughout your cancer journey.

They are robust participants in clinical research trials, providing our patients with access to leading-edge cancer care.

Accreditations and Certifications

OSF Saint Elizabeth has been recognized for providing exceptional patient care. We are accredited by the American College of Radiology Accreditations in:

  • Computed tomography
  • Mammography
  • MRI
  • Nuclear medicine

We're Here for You

To contact the Fox River Cancer Center, call (815) 434-9999.

Get Directions

To contact Illinois CancerCare during business hours, call (815) 431-9270.  If you need to contact Illinois CancerCare after hours, call (866) 662-6564.