cancer,” says Jason Jennings, president in College Station who supported need for these advanced services would
of the College Station region for Baylor and helped champion our efforts,” says be great, demand quickly outpaced
expectations. In addition, with the
Scott & White, at the center’s ribbon- Mr. Jennings.
population in the state and specifically
cutting ceremony. “With the opening
in the Brazos valley continuing to
of this cancer center, Baylor Scott & Looking forward
White renews its commitment to the “Recently, we took some of our donors grow at a rapid rate, the number of
communities of the Brazos Valley to on a tour of the radiation oncology cancer diagnoses will likely rise as
bring advances in diagnosis, research, unit, and one of the donors, who well, creating an even greater need for
and treatment of cancer to residents so is a cancer survivor, told us about specialty cancer services.
To meet these growing needs,
that their cancer battle can be fought how he had to travel 90 miles to
efforts are already underway to
close to home.”
raise funds for an additional
The new $6 million,
linear accelerator to be housed
10,000 square-foot radiation
in the second of two vaults
oncology
suite
includes
created when the cancer center
a linear accelerator and CT
originally opened. Under the
(computerized tomography)
leadership of Amber Reed, the
simulator. A linear accelerator
cancer center’s new director,
uses high-energy X-rays to
additional staff is being hired
precisely target tumors and
to accommodate the growing
kill cancer cells. Used with
number of patients who require
the CT simulator—which
advanced cancer care expertise.
helps specialists identify the
Programs, such as yoga classes
exact location and size of the
and transportation services,
tumor that needs treatment—
are also in development to
the linear accelerator delivers
complement the important
powerful radiation therapy
With the addition of a linear accelerator, the cancer
support services the center
with pinpoint accuracy to center now provides comprehensive services,
already provides, including
treat tumors, while sparing complete with radiation oncology.
pain management, palliative
surrounding healthy tissue. The
care, patient navigation,
addition of radiation oncology
services means that 35 treatments can Temple to receive his treatments,” says genetic counseling, and more.
“We’re committed to caring for
be completed in one day, meeting a Kassi Horner, director of philanthropy
considerable need among patients in for Baylor Scott & White - College the needs of all patients in the area,”
the area.
Station. “He’s very excited about the says Mr. Jennings. “We’re serving
“We are so grateful to the many fact that we are now able to offer these an important role, and want patients
to know they can count on us for
clinical and staff members, donors, services in our community.”
and friends of our medical center
While it was anticipated that the whatever they need.” n
sw.org | Spring 17 THE CATALYST
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