[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/when-you-diagnose-or-suspect-cancer-3-reasons-to-refer-your-patients-to-rcca\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/when-you-diagnose-or-suspect-cancer-3-reasons-to-refer-your-patients-to-rcca\/","headline":"When You Diagnose (or Suspect) Cancer: 3 Reasons to Refer Your Patients to RCCA","name":"When You Diagnose (or Suspect) Cancer: 3 Reasons to Refer Your Patients to RCCA","description":"When You Diagnose (or Suspect) Cancer: 3 Reasons to Refer Your Patients to RCCA April 23, 2026 \u201cWhat happens next?\u201d \u201cWhere should I go for treatment?\u201d They are questions physicians often hear after informing a patient that they have identified confirmed or potential cancer.Thousands of primary care physicians, gastroenterologists, dermatologists, Ob\/Gyns, pulmonologists, urologists, and others […]","datePublished":"2026-04-23","dateModified":"2026-04-23","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/author\/seo-user\/#Person","name":"Advance SEO","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/author\/seo-user\/","identifier":7,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/25d521bea98e4070937950c92cd06d2b99615947d3d29e3682593c48f0372431?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/25d521bea98e4070937950c92cd06d2b99615947d3d29e3682593c48f0372431?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Regional Cancer Care Associates","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/logo.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/logo.svg","width":506,"height":228}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Doctor-holding-a-patients-hand.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Doctor-holding-a-patients-hand.jpg","height":836,"width":1254},"url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/when-you-diagnose-or-suspect-cancer-3-reasons-to-refer-your-patients-to-rcca\/","about":["All Cancers"],"wordCount":1466,"articleBody":"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen You Diagnose (or Suspect) Cancer: 3 Reasons to Refer Your Patients to RCCA\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tApril 23, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cWhat happens next?\u201d \u201cWhere should I go for treatment?\u201d They are questions physicians often hear after informing a patient that they have identified confirmed or potential cancer.Thousands of primary care physicians, gastroenterologists, dermatologists, Ob\/Gyns, pulmonologists, urologists, and others have answered those vital questions by referring their patients to the medical oncologists and hematologists of Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA) \u2013 one of the nation\u2019s largest networks of cancer specialists. Here are three reasons why.1. Convenient access to the latest therapies, clinical trialsDenis Fitzgerald, MD, says one of the main reasons physicians refer their patients to RCCA is that the network\u2019s 21 community-based offices offer both convenience and access to cutting-edge care.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDenis Fitzgerald, a board-certified hematology, internal medicine, and medical oncologist at RCCA\u2019s Little Silver, New Jersey location.\u201cTwenty-five years ago, patients often had to go to a major medical center in New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, or Washington, DC, to receive the latest therapies or participate in a clinical study. The burden, in terms of getting into the city, dealing with the traffic and parking, navigating a large hospital, and then traveling back home \u2013 often after having received chemotherapy or radiation and not feeling well \u2013 could be overwhelming. Today, people with cancer can go to an RCCA office that may be just 10 or 20 minutes from their home, receive the same therapies and diagnostics offered at academic medical centers, receive care based on the same evidence-based protocols followed nationwide, and be back home in 10 or 20 minutes. Further, RCCA centers participate in more than 300 clinical trials, giving patients access to a wide range of studies evaluating emerging therapies for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.\u201dDr. Fitzgerald, a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist who practices at RCCA\u2019s Little Silver, NJ office, adds, \u201cQuality of life is a key consideration for people with cancer and their families, and I am proud that RCCA\u2019s community-based centers are able to provide both the full range of therapies \u2013 including immunotherapies and targeted therapies \u2013 and the ability to receive great care close to home.\u201dThis proximity to their care center can be particularly beneficial if a patient experiences a side effect following treatment, Dr. Fitzgerald notes. \u201cLet\u2019s say someone is having significant vomiting or diarrhea and becomes dehydrated following chemotherapy. If they are being treated at an academic medical center in Manhattan or Philadelphia, their options are to travel back into the city in that condition or to go to their local hospital\u2019s Emergency Department, where the physicians may not have access to the patient\u2019s full medical records and may have trouble contacting the person\u2019s oncologist.\u201d By contrast, he says, \u201cIf the patient is receiving treatment from a nearby RCCA office, he or she can quickly and easily return to the office for assessment and care, such as receiving fluids intravenously. And if care in the local hospital\u2019s ED is required, the RCCA oncologist likely will be on staff at that hospital, with both the oncologist and the patient\u2019s records readily available to emergency medicine physicians.\u201dJoel Silver, a board-certified hematology, internal medicine, and medical oncologist at RCCA\u2019s West Hartford, Connecticut location.2. Familiarity breeds content \u2013 and good communicationJoel Silver, MD, agrees with Dr. Fitzgerald that there are several advantages to referring a patient to an oncologist who practices in the same hospital or area that you do.\u201cAs community-based oncologists, we tend to know our patients\u2019 primary care physicians, cardiologists, urologists, Ob\/Gyns, and other clinicians. We see those colleagues when we\u2019re making rounds at the hospital or attending meetings. In many cases, we have one another\u2019s cell phone numbers. That all goes a long way toward ensuring effective communication. Additionally, I\u2019ve found that patients often are reassured to learn that their doctors know each another and can be in touch easily,\u201d says Dr. Silver, a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist who practices at RCCA\u2019s office in West Hartford, CT.\u00a0 In many cases, he adds, RCCA oncologists and referring physicians will use the same electronic medical records (EMR) platform, which can be of great help in reviewing lab results, medication history, and other data critical to decision-making.3.\u00a0 A commitment to collaborationDr. Silver says that beyond being close to referring physicians in a strictly geographic sense, RCCA\u2019s cancer specialists stay close to their patients\u2019 other clinicians in terms of providing coordinated care.\u201cI can\u2019t recall the last time I saw a patient who didn\u2019t have at least one comorbidity,\u201d says Dr. Silver. \u201cWhile my focus is on the patient\u2019s cancer, I am acutely aware of how my treatment plan may affect that person\u2019s other conditions, or cause drug-drug interactions. At RCCA, we do not take on management of non-oncologic diagnoses or change medication regimens that another physician has prescribed for a patient\u2019s chronic conditions. Rather, we get in touch with the other doctor, explain our treatment plan and its implications, and reach agreement on the best way to proceed.\u201dThe medical oncologist adds that this commitment to collaboration extends to serving as a resource for patients\u2019 ongoing care. \u201cThanks to the dramatic advances in treatment we have seen in recent years, there are almost 20 million cancer survivors in the United States. This is a wonderful situation, but it means that primary care clinicians, cardiologists, and others need to be aware of and manage the potential long-term effects of cancer and its treatment. At RCCA, we always are available to talk with other physicians about topics such as risk factors for various sequelae of treatment, surveillance strategies, and approaches to risk mitigation. Similarly, we are happy to provide a second opinion if a patient contacts them because he or she is uncertain about a treatment plan that another cancer center may have recommended.\u201dDr. Fitzgerald adds, \u201cA final point I would note is that I believe all physicians, whatever their specialty, do their best to treat their patients the way that they would want to be treated, the way they would want their loved ones treated. At RCCA, each patient is well known to everyone from the receptionist they see when they walk through the door to the lab technicians, medical assistants, nurses, and doctors they see subsequently. We recognize and honor each person\u2019s individuality, just as we tailor our treatment plans to each person\u2019s specific medical needs. I firmly believe that this is the best way to provide care to someone dealing with cancer and the best way to achieve the best outcomes possible for that person. It also may be the best reason to refer a patient to RCCA.\u201d***************Dr. Fitzgerald and Dr. Silver are among 90+ medical oncologists and hematologists who practice with Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), one of the nation\u2019s largest networks of oncology specialists. RCCA has more than 20 locations across New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, DC area. RCCA\u2019s cancer specialists see more than 30,000 new patients each year and provide care to more than 265,000 established patients, collaborating closely with those patients\u2019 other physicians. RCCA physicians offer patients innovative therapies, including immunotherapies and targeted therapy, as well as access to approximately 300\u00a0clinical trials. In addition to serving patients who have solid tumors, blood-based cancers, and benign blood disorders, RCCA care centers also provide\u00a0infusion services to people with a number of non-oncologic conditions\u2014including\u00a0multiple sclerosis,\u00a0Crohn\u2019s disease,\u00a0asthma, iron-deficiency anemia, and\u00a0rheumatoid arthritis\u2014who take intravenously-administered medications.To learn more about RCCA, call 844-346-7222 or visit\u00a0RCCA.com.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twe are here for you\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFor more information or to schedule an appointment, call 844-346-7222. You can also schedule an appointment by calling the\u00a0RCCA location\u00a0nearest you.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\trequest an appointment\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRELATED ARTICLES\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDeciding Where to Receive Cancer Care: RCCA Oncologists Outline Key 5 Considerations\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cMy uncle\u2019s neighbor was diagnosed with the exact same cancer, I think, last year and his specialist has been wonderful. I\u2019m going to get you\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Blood Work\u2019 and Cancer Detection: 2 RCCA Oncologists Explain What Doctors Look for in Your CBC\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cYou\u2019re going to feel a little pinch.\u201d Each year, tens of millions of Americans hear that phrase, or words to the same effect, just before\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCutting Your Cancer Risk: RCCA Oncologists Discuss 4 Lesser-Known Steps\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYou don\u2019t smoke. You drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. You avoid processed meats and you dab on the sunscreen before you hit the\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRegional Cancer Care Associates is one of fewer than 200 medical practices in the country selected to participate in the Oncology Care Model (OCM); a recent Medicare initiative aimed at improving care coordination and access to and quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries undergoing chemotherapy treatment.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"When You Diagnose (or Suspect) Cancer: 3 Reasons to Refer Your Patients to RCCA","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/when-you-diagnose-or-suspect-cancer-3-reasons-to-refer-your-patients-to-rcca\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]