Being diagnosed with cancer is a life-changing experience.
Forrest Health provides a continuum of compassionate, high quality cancer services for detection, prevention and treatment at Forrest General Cancer Center in Hattiesburg. Here, a well-trained, multidisciplinary team maintains a personalized focus on the needs of each individual patient.
Our team of oncologists and clinical staff strive to improve the quality and length of life for our patients and continues to further research the cause, prevention, treatment and cure of cancer.
We are Here to Help
Forrest General Cancer Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi ranks among the largest and most sophisticated regional cancer treatment centers in South Mississippi. We offer a place where patients can receive advanced care in a beautiful, compassionate environment.
Forrest General Hospital operates the only comprehensive community cancer center in the 19-county service area and is accredited by the College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.
We also have a
Cancer Registry
to guarantee accurate and timely collection of diagnosed and/or treated cancer patient data. The registry's focus is to exceed the expectations of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer standards and fulfill the Cancer Committee's vision. The Cancer Registry gives our team the ability to evaluate patient outcomes and identify opportunities for improvement over time.
Extend Your Arm, Protect Your Future
A single, quick blood test — the PSA test — can be the difference between catching prostate cancer early or too late. All it takes is extending your arm.
At Forrest Health, we’re here to help men take simple, proactive steps toward their future health.
Watch this playlist to learn how the PSA test can support early detection.
Clinical Services
Our comprehensive cancer program is here to support you. From detection and diagnosis to education, rehabilitation and treatment, our physicians and staff are here to offer you the best in cancer care and help support you and keep you informed with managing your treatment.
The center features the services of a multidisciplinary team led by medical oncologists/hematologists and radiation oncologists, who provide high quality medical care in a continuum of settings. In addition to medical and radiation oncologists, a complete range of physician specialists provide expertise in diagnoses, surgical removal, disease management and reconstructive procedures.
Inpatient Oncology Unit
The Inpatient Oncology Unit is located on the sixth floor of the hospital and is staffed by nurses who are specially-trained to meet the unique needs of the cancer patient when inpatient care is required.
Outpatient Clinical Solutions
Outpatient Clinical Solutions, housed at the Forrest General Cancer Center and staffed with an on-site pharmacist and specially-trained nurses, is an outpatient infusion and chemotherapy unit providing chemotherapy, infusion therapy, blood transfusion, vascular access device management, ambulatory pump home infusions, team consults, and lab monitoring.
Radiation Planning and Treatment
Radiation Planning and Treatment and follow-up monitoring are provided at the Forrest General Cancer Center to both hospital inpatients and outpatients by a highly-trained radiation therapy team. The Forrest General Cancer Center's Radiation Oncology Department has received a three-year accreditation from the American College of Radiology.
Radiosurgery Institute
The Radiosurgery Institute at Forrest General Cancer Center focuses on the use of stereotactic radiosurgery.
In spite of its name, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a radiation treatment, not a surgical procedure. Stereotactic radiosurgery works by using four dimensional imaging to target abnormalities and treat them with high doses of radiation. SRS treatment plans minimize damage to nearby healthy tissue with their image-guided targeting.
Forrest General Cancer Center is the first in the state to provide VarianHyperArc tm high-definition radiotherapy treatment for patients with brain tumors. A component of the Forrest General Cancer Center's Varian Edge Linear Accelerator, this latest advanced treatment option combines technology with medicine to provide quality patient care, while simplifying the process of planning and delivering precise and efficient cranial radiosurgery. Patients are constantly monitored during the treatment, but because there is no manual intervention, the treatment is faster, more accurate and a safer plan which makes for a better patient experience. Not all patients are candidates for the HyperArc treatment, as physicians use selective criteria in choosing the appropriate patients. Consult with your physician for details.
Forrest General Cancer Center has the ability to treat a number of different types of cancers using SRS including brain, lung, spine, liver and prostate as well as other neurological problems. This state-of-the-art treatment can save patients time and money by offering similar results to traditional radiation therapy with fewer sessions.
Home Care and Hospice
Forrest General Home Care and Hospice
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Cancer Clinical Trials
We're always looking for new ways to improve treatments and the quality of life for people suffering with cancer. In partnership with Hattiesburg Clinic Hematology/Oncology, Forrest General Cancer Center has developed an extensive clinical trial program, which has become one of the largest in the state of Mississippi.
Clinical trials are research studies that allow the medical community to find new treatment options, and in many cases, allow for patients to receive treatments that are not yet commercially available.
At the Cancer Center, there are multiple ongoing clinical trials available to patients that include the newest immunotherapies, targeted therapies, as well as newer chemotherapies. Many of these trials are not available elsewhere in the state of Mississippi.
This allows patients to receive state-of-the-art treatment without the need to travel outside of the Pine Belt, and our program has a full-time dedicated research staff to assist with patient care during the clinical trial.
There are also trials open for multiple tumor types, including:
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Colon cancer
- leukemias
- Lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
Forrest General completed an agreement with Ochsner Medical Center that will allow the Cancer Center to offer additional clinical trials sponsored by groups such as the National Cancer Institute. To find out if you are a candidate, contact the Clinical Trials Coordinator, Chris Sentell, at 601-261-1700.
Managing Your Treatment
Preparing Your Treatment Schedule
After you and your doctor have determined your treatment plan, you will need to work with your healthcare team to figure out the dates and times of your treatment and to determine whether the schedule is flexible or must be adhered to very closely.
The effectiveness of some treatment plans may depend on how well you follow the scheduled time frames of your treatment. Good communication with your healthcare team is essential as you plan your treatment schedule. Your healthcare team can answer questions about what you should expect during and after your treatment.
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Scheduling Your Treatment:
- Are there certain days of the week and times that work best for my schedule?
- Who is going to accompany me to the treatment, and what will be the best days/time for them?
- Are there any important holidays, work or social activities that I would prefer not to miss?
Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Team:
- What specific treatments will I receive, and who will give me the treatment?
- Will I need a ride home after the treatment?
- Can a family member or friend accompany me or stay with me during treatment?
- Do I need to stay in the hospital after treatment?
- Can you walk me through the treatment? What will happen during it? How will it feel?
- Will there be immediate or long-term side effects?
- What things can I do to help myself? Will diet and exercise help?
- What resources are available to me if I need them?
Fuel to Fight
About Us
The Fuel to Fight Cancer Fund was established to support the travel needs of cancer patients as they travel to and from the Forrest General Cancer Center for treatments. The frequent trips required for treatment can often create both a financial and logistical burden for the patients and their families. Donations to support the fund can be made below or you can mail a check addressed to Forrest General Healthcare Foundation with "Fuel to Fight Fund" as the note. The mailing address is PO Box 19010, Hattiesburg, MS 39404.
Donations
To make a donation, visit
Forrest General Healthcare Foundation
and select Fuel to Fight in the drop down.
Fuel to Fight 5K
The Fuel to Fight Cancer 5K was established in 2022 to increase awareness and raise funds to support transportation assistance for patients to get to and from scheduled appointments and treatments.
All proceeds will be used to provide transportation assistance for cancer patients in need.
Sponsorship Form
To become a sponsor, fill out our
sponsorship form.
Money will be donated to the Cancer Center via the Forrest General Healthcare Foundation Inc., 501(c)(3), and distributed to eligible patients following a screening process by the Pinebelt Foundation.
