At St. Thomas and St. Croix Cancer Specialists, we’re here to make treatment for sickle cell disease as compassionate as possible. Sickle cell disease is difficult to face — when we work together, though, we can make everything easier and more comfortable — all without having to leave the island.

Your needs are important. Our treatment takes them all into account while keeping your loved ones involved in the healing process so that everyone can find relief, now and into the future.

Sickle Cell Support

Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition where red blood cells — which normally look like discs — become shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These sickle-shaped cells can block blood flow in small blood vessels, which in turn leads to pain, organ damage and increased infection risk.

At St. Croix and St. Thomas Cancer Specialists, we aim to prevent hospital stays with our specialist outpatient support, alleviating strain on the island’s limited medical resources and easing ER congestion. This approach ensures swift, effective care that keeps patients comfortably at home instead of waiting in long lines at the ER, reducing wait times and supporting the community's — as well as your — well-being.

• Outpatient IV hydration treatment for sickle cell disease involves administering maintenance fluids directly into the bloodstream to help prevent dehydration, reduce the risk of crisis and improve blood flow to patients in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This treatment helps manage pain by keeping blood vessels open and reducing complications.

• Pain management for sickle cell disease will depend on you or your loved ones’ unique needs but typically involves opioid and non-opioid analgesics to alleviate pain during crises and improve quality of life. 

Whatever you need to feel better and stay comfortably in the Caribbean is what we’re here to provide. The easiest way to determine the right treatment plan is by calling either our St. Croix or St. Thomas clinic and getting in touch with our team to schedule an appointment.

Immunotherapy for Sickle Cell Disease

Immunotherapy is a relatively new treatment for sickle cell disease — in our state-of-the-art U.S. Virgin Islands clinic, however, we’re dedicated to providing the widest range of support possible. 

We offer options like Crizanlizumab (Adakveo), a form of immunotherapy used in sickle cell disease treatment to reduce the frequency of painful vaso-occlusive crises by blocking P-selectin, a molecule that promotes blood vessel blockages. By preventing the adhesion of blood cells to vessel walls, it helps improve blood flow and reduce inflammation.

Your unique path to comfort is your own and the specialists at both of our Caribbean clinics are here to work with you to find the right combination of treatments to prevent hospital stays and successfully manage sickle cell pain.

Meet Our Team

When we talk to people living with sickle cell disease who visit our Caribbean clinics, we’ve found what they most commonly want is effective pain relief, long-term health management and improved quality of life through advanced, accessible treatment.

Our providers - Dr. Elizabeth DelGiacco, DO, Dr. Judson Smith, DNP, Kelsey Hines MS, PA-C and Heather Strop NP have years of experience. Our team is here to attend to you and keep you comfortable throughout the process.

We’re here for you

Comfortable, reliable pain management treatment for Sickle Cell disease — immunotherapy, maintenance fluids for crisis situations and beyond — available from specialists in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Because healing’s easier on the island.

St. Thomas Clinic

(340) 776-1551

Hours

Monday – Friday
8am to 4pm

Location

9150 Estate Thomas, Suite 203
Virgin Islands Medical Foundation Building
St. Thomas, VI 00802