We're Here To Fight

Written by Bakersfield Magazine

It wasn’t very long ago that the term “cancer” was thought of as a dirty word.

The reason so many people refused to talk about cancer was because there was little doctors could do for someone diagnosed. It was better not to acknowledge it.

As research produced cancer-fighting drugs, new technology to detect tumors in earlier stages, and specialists who understood this complex disease, more people were successfully fighting and beating cancer. As a result, survivors, families of survivors, and families of those who’ve lost the battle won’t hesitate to stand up against the disease. They’ll walk, run, donate, and rally in the name of cancer research. Nowhere is that more apparent than here in Bakersfield, where we annually host one of the largest turnouts for Relay for Life in the world. In 2011 alone, Bakersfield Relay for Life raised $2 million! In addition to having a generous community, we also have amazing oncologists, cancer centers, and hospital-based cancer facilities available for those in our area affected by the disease.

The Florence R. Wheeler Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital continues to provide quality care, as does the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center.

The big news for cancer care this year is that San Joaquin Community Hospital (SJCH) will be building a complete cancer care facility on their campus.

“This has been in the works for over two years,” explained Jarrod McNaughton, SJCH’s Vice President of Marketing. “The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is consulting on the project.” That says a lot about how dedicated SJCH is to the facility as for seven of the past nine years, including 2010, MD Anderson has ranked number one in cancer care in the “America’s Best Hospitals” survey published by U.S. News & World Report.

“As with our other programs and facilities,” McNaughton said, “we want to create a very unique patient experience with the highest quality care and service.”

The Cancer Center, as the facility will be known, is going to be a four-story building.

The first floor will be comprised of radiation and oncology services including three vaults to house radiation equipment.

McNaughton is proud to announce that SJCH’s Cancer Center will house a TrueBeam Linear Accelerator (from Varian), the latest and one of the most advanced radiotherapy technologies in the world for treating cancer. It uses both radiotherapy and radiosurgery treatments. “TrueBeam delivers more flexible cancer treatments with pinpoint accuracy and precision, ease, and speed. We will be one of only three other cancer centers in the state that utilizes that technology.”

The second floor, McNaughton explained, will be used for medical oncology and will also house a boutique for cancer patients to shop. There will be hair pieces, prosthetics, and various accessories for people to look good and feel better.

The third floor will be primarily office space and the fourth floor will be for outpatient surgery.

There will be four suites and a total of 17 beds.

“With this building, one of the goals is the design process—for this to be a true patient center,” McNaughton elaborated. “From valet to registration to treatment and clinic visits, we want the Cancer Center to be for the patient; they are at the center of all the care we do. We want it to be efficient and welcoming for them.

“Metropolitan Bakersfield is a large area and when you look at the out-migration for cancer care (one in five patients will leave for treatment), you realize that there is a need.”

The Cancer Center will complement the treatment centers already in Bakersfield. Look for the construction to be completed by October 2012.

One thing is for sure, Bakersfield has a handle on cancer care. Gone are the days of tiptoeing around the word “cancer.” We’re here to fight.

Renderings courtesy San Joaquin Community Hospital

Article appeared in our 28-5 Issue - December 2011