Advanced Cancer Care Is Available Right Here in the Grand Strand
A cancer diagnosis changes everything in an instant. One of the first questions many people ask is: do I have to leave home to get the best treatment? For those living on the Grand Strand, the answer is no.
Coastal Cancer Center has been serving Horry County for more than 40 years. What began as a community oncology practice has grown into one of the most advanced cancer care centers in South Carolina. Today, patients right here in Myrtle Beach have access to therapies and technologies that were once only available at major academic medical centers hours away.
Here is a closer look at some of the innovative treatments now available close to home.
Tumor Treating Fields: A New Way to Fight Cancer
Coastal Cancer Center is the first clinic in South Carolina to offer Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) for pancreatic cancer, which is a significant milestone for patients in this region.
TTFields is an FDA-approved therapy that uses low-intensity electrical fields to interfere with how cancer cells divide. By disrupting the division process at the cellular level, TTFields may help slow or stop tumor growth. Unlike some systemic treatments, TTFields works locally and is designed to minimize effects on healthy tissue throughout the rest of the body.
Patients wear a small, lightweight device throughout their daily routine, whether that is at home, at work, or spending time with family. The therapy runs continuously without requiring frequent clinic visits.
TTFields is currently FDA-approved for:
- Pancreatic cancer
- Glioblastoma (an aggressive form of brain cancer)
- Mesothelioma (a cancer affecting the lining of the lungs)
- Non-small cell lung cancer
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with one of these cancers, it may be worth asking your care team whether TTFields could be part of your treatment plan.
PSMA PET Imaging for Prostate Cancer
For people living with prostate cancer, getting an accurate picture of where cancer may have spread is critical to making the right treatment decisions. Coastal Cancer Center offers PSMA PET imaging, one of the most advanced diagnostic tools available for prostate cancer today.
PSMA PET works by targeting a protein called PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen) that is found on prostate cancer cells. This allows imaging to detect cancer spread earlier and with greater accuracy than standard imaging alone.
With a clearer picture, your care team can make more confident, precise decisions about your treatment. That kind of clarity can make a real difference in what comes next.
Lutathera: Targeted Radioligand Therapy
Coastal Cancer Center is currently the only provider of Lutathera in Horry County. Lutathera is a targeted radioligand therapy approved for people living with a type of tumor called somatostatin receptor-positive neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).
Radioligand therapy works by delivering radiation directly to tumor cells, while working to protect the healthy tissue surrounding them. This level of precision was once available only at large academic hospitals in major cities. Coastal Cancer Center now offers this therapy right here in the community, alongside a broader range of radioligand therapies for eligible patients.
If you have been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor, talk with your oncologist about whether radioligand therapy may be an option for you.
Comprehensive Care Under One Roof
Advanced therapies are only part of the picture. What sets Coastal Cancer Center apart is how all of these services work together.
The practice recently opened a new Radiation Oncology building, expanding its ability to deliver advanced radiation therapy across both its Myrtle Beach and Conway locations. In-house diagnostic imaging, on-site laboratory services, and an in-house pharmacy mean that care moves quickly and communication between your care team happens seamlessly.
You are not navigating a maze of separate facilities. Your care is coordinated, connected, and centered on you.
When to Talk to Your Care Team About These Options
If you or a loved one has been recently diagnosed with cancer, or if your current treatment plan is not producing the results you had hoped for, it may be time to ask about newer options. Specifically, consider asking your oncologist about advanced therapies if:
- You have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, mesothelioma, or non-small cell lung cancer and want to know more about TTFields
- You are managing prostate cancer and want more precise imaging to guide treatment decisions
- You have been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor and want to explore targeted options like Lutathera
Your provider can help determine which therapies may be appropriate based on your specific diagnosis, overall health, and treatment goals.
You Deserve Access to the Best Care, Close to Home
No one should have to choose between receiving the most advanced cancer care and staying close to the people and places that matter most to them. At Coastal Cancer Center, you do not have to make that choice.
For more than four decades, this team has been committed to bringing the very best in oncology care to the Grand Strand community. That commitment continues to grow.