Cancer center opens at St. Anne |
 |
 |
|
Written by SALLY OBERSKI, Diocesan Director of Communications
|
|
Friday, 01 August 2008 01:00 |
TOLEDO—With state-of-the-art technology and a commitment to a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to successfully fight cancer, the 25,000-square-foot Mercy Cancer Center at St. Anne opened its doors to patients June 16.
Brad Johnson, oncology service line administor for Mercy Cancer Centers, spoke to community leaders June 13 prior to tours of the new facility.
“The Mercy Cancer Center at St. Anne is unique because it meets a wide spectrum of needs with a homelike setting with healing in one location,” he said. “You don’t have to go far for treatment because Mercy is stepping up on its continuum of care from early on in the diagnosis to what happens after treatment.”
Mr. Johnson described seamless, streamlined care without the unnecessary duplication of services.
“There is emotional and spiritual support from diagnosis to post-treatment,” he explained. “We offer patient navigators who guide the patient and family with where to go and what to do next.”
The cancer center offers a resource library for families, consultation space with audio and video capabilities for doctors and nurses to meet with patients and families to discuss treatment options.
Integrated among the medical areas are rooms for massage and art therapy and areas for cancer support groups to meet with patients.
The outpatient medical oncology infusion center, with approximately 15 stations to treat several patients at once, offers private space or open areas for conversation. A large silent waterfall creates a calming atmosphere in the infusion center.
The Mercy Cancer Center at St. Anne was first announced in August 2006 as part of a $14.4 million project establishing the Mercy Cancers Centers, which includes expanded cancer services at St. Charles Mercy Hospital, St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Hospital of Tiffin. Through the Mercy Cancer Centers, patients and their families will have access to coordinated care close to home, on both the east and west sides of Toledo.
According to Mr. Johnson, 60,000 people are diagnosed yearly with cancer and 3,500 new cancer cases are in Lucas County, which is said to have a high rate of late stage diagnosis.
“With rapid advances in minimally invasive technology there is aggressive treatment of advanced diseases,” he said.
Some of the latest technology in the St. Anne two-story facility includes interventional radiology, image-guided Radiotherapy and TomoTherapy, which integrates 3-D images to deliver precise radiation therapy from all angles around the patient. This can maximize the dose of radiation while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue.
In the area of breast health, Mammosite Targeted Radiation Therapy provides the most precise radiation possible for lumpectomy patients and stereotactic breast biopsy is available.
“Our vision is to help relieve the burden and the fear of the cancer diagnosis,” Mr. Johnson said. “We are empowering people to believe they can win the fight with Catholic-based faith, hope and love.”
|
|
Last Updated on Friday, 07 November 2008 09:04 |
