Cancer has touched many of us, either personally, or someone we know and love. It is relentless, non-selective and occurs at a higher rate than the state average in the place we call home – the Golden Valley.
At Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, we have significantly invested in bringing cancer treatment options to our patients. In 2019, we opened our state-of-the-art Cancer Center to provide patients with expert care, close to home. However, cancer is and will continue to be, a major health problem in our communities.
Every year, we diagnose nearly 300 new patients with cancer. That is almost one person per day. Beyond those diagnosed here, many others are diagnosed at other healthcare facilities in our region. We feel strongly that all of those individuals deserve the opportunity to be cared for by providers they know and trust, at a state-of-the-art facility, without the burden of traveling far from home.
As the need for comprehensive cancer services continues to grow, we recognize that a very important aspect of cancer care is missing from our services. We do not provide radiation oncology services. This means patients needing this treatment have to drive long distances to receive care.
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high doses of targeted radiation to kill cancer cells and stop their spread. More than half of people with cancer will need radiation therapy and often this is the only treatment needed.
Our radiation oncology facility will feature a linear accelerator, one of the most sophisticated radiation technologies available. It uses enhanced speed and accuracy with precise targeting to treat tumors.
This is why we have decided it is time to make radiation oncology available here for those we know and love.
Building a radiation oncology facility in Clinton will allow patients to get expert care, see familiar specialists and staff and help relieve the anxiety and physical challenge of traveling miles away to receive treatment.
The facility will be built with an emphasis on comfort, quality, convenience, innovation and the latest technology. It will have a look and feel that is consistent with the standard set by the other GVMH buildings and based on nationally recognized best practices for cancer care.
With your help, we can bring this vital service, and hope, to our communities. Our goal is to raise the necessary funds to begin construction before the end of 2022. We would appreciate your consideration in helping us with this project. Every donation, no matter how big or small, makes a difference.
For more information on how you can assist with the radiation oncology facility, please contact Sarah Duncan, Foundation Director at 660.890.7108.
