KCH Opens Cancer Center

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer-

"This is beyond the dream I once had to serve the needs of cancer patients," said Dr. Neal Van Ness during Center of Hope Cancer Care dedication ceremonies Thursday.

Van Ness is a general surgeon on the Kosciusko Community Hospital's medical staff.

The Center of Hope was unveiled as the hospital's full-service cancer care facility. It is designed to serve the needs of area patients with the latest equipment and experienced oncology specialists. The cancer program consists of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Van Ness talked about the facility's IMRT - or Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy - equipment he called a revolutionary guided computer system.

"It is the ideal cancer treatment plan offering an accuracy never before available," he said. The technology controls doses of radiation to the exact cancerous area in the body. The technology focuses on the cancer tissue without affecting healthy tissue.

Members of the public toured the 11,500-square-foot facility at 1520 Provident Drive. The building features six examination rooms, one private infusion therapy room, six-station infusion therapy suites, a linear accelerator room, Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy, a CT stimulation, 3-dimensional treatment planning, Mobile PET scanning, and on-site resource library, laboratory and pharmacy.

Dr Michael Conjalka is the center's medical oncologist and hematologist. Julie Bowers is director and LuAnn Deafenbaugh is manager.

The medical team consists of full-time oncology staff and partnerships with the area medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, physists, dosimetrists, internal medicine physicians, radiologists, gynecologists, pathologists, general surgeons and family physicians.

Dr. John Davis, chairman of the hospital's board of directors, called the facility a "sparkling and stellar example.

"It is a monument to those who have courageously fought cancer and those who will experience healing and health."

The center provides a bevy of support services, including the circle of Hope Cancer Support Group, Hospice, nutrition counseling, patient education and a cancer registry.

KCH participates in clinical trails and research studies for all types of cancer. [[In-content Ad]]

"This is beyond the dream I once had to serve the needs of cancer patients," said Dr. Neal Van Ness during Center of Hope Cancer Care dedication ceremonies Thursday.

Van Ness is a general surgeon on the Kosciusko Community Hospital's medical staff.

The Center of Hope was unveiled as the hospital's full-service cancer care facility. It is designed to serve the needs of area patients with the latest equipment and experienced oncology specialists. The cancer program consists of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Van Ness talked about the facility's IMRT - or Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy - equipment he called a revolutionary guided computer system.

"It is the ideal cancer treatment plan offering an accuracy never before available," he said. The technology controls doses of radiation to the exact cancerous area in the body. The technology focuses on the cancer tissue without affecting healthy tissue.

Members of the public toured the 11,500-square-foot facility at 1520 Provident Drive. The building features six examination rooms, one private infusion therapy room, six-station infusion therapy suites, a linear accelerator room, Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy, a CT stimulation, 3-dimensional treatment planning, Mobile PET scanning, and on-site resource library, laboratory and pharmacy.

Dr Michael Conjalka is the center's medical oncologist and hematologist. Julie Bowers is director and LuAnn Deafenbaugh is manager.

The medical team consists of full-time oncology staff and partnerships with the area medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, physists, dosimetrists, internal medicine physicians, radiologists, gynecologists, pathologists, general surgeons and family physicians.

Dr. John Davis, chairman of the hospital's board of directors, called the facility a "sparkling and stellar example.

"It is a monument to those who have courageously fought cancer and those who will experience healing and health."

The center provides a bevy of support services, including the circle of Hope Cancer Support Group, Hospice, nutrition counseling, patient education and a cancer registry.

KCH participates in clinical trails and research studies for all types of cancer. [[In-content Ad]]

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