ETMC Cancer Institute to close temporarily

Athens facility undergoing three-month, state-of-the-art revamp

Big changes are under way at the ETMC Cancer Institute in Athens. And while those changes are certainly for the best, they will require the facility to be closed temporarily as new equipment is installed.

That means, beginning July 28, patients who would normally receive radiation at the cancer institute in Athens will instead transfer to the Tyler institute. The facility in Athens is scheduled to open again in November. It was purchased by the ETMC Regional Healthcare System this past December, having previously served the community since 1998 as the Athens Cancer Center.

“We’re committed to helping people as much as we can during this three-month period,” said Todd Sigmon, vice president of the ETMC Cancer Institute.  “We’ll be providing our patients with gas cards, and our nurses and social workers will work closely with them and their families to provide any other assistance needed.”

Both Sigmon and ETMC Athens Administrator Pat Wallace recognize that the transition period will be an unfortunate inconvenience for patients of the Athens facility. However, the end results, they say, will benefit future patients.

“There’s no question that this is another significant step forward in medical care delivery for the people of Henderson County and surrounding areas,” said Wallace. “We’ve always been dedicated to quality medical care close to home. So we’re bringing the very best equipment here.”

 The linear accelerator used to deliver radiation at the cancer institute in Athens will be replaced by a state-of-the-art dual energy machine. The dual energy linear accelerator is the most current technology of its kind available and will allow patients to receive even more precise radiation treatments with even fewer side effects.

In addition to switching out the machines, much of the time required by the renovation will involve adding more lead to the vault which will house the more powerful equipment.
During the transition period, Radiation Oncologist Dr. Heidi McKellar will continue to conduct consultations and make treatment assessments in Athens. Dr. McKellar is another example of ETMC’s second-to-none commitment. A former Stanford University professor, Dr. McKellar was trained at MD Anderson, which is widely recognized as the number-one cancer center in the United States.

“This is all part of what we consider phase one of our plan,” explained Sigmon. “We’re looking down the road at adding on to the ETMC Cancer Institute in Athens so that chemotherapy services will be located there as well. Bringing all the services under one roof would be ideal.” Chemotherapy services are currently located nearby on the ETMC Athens campus.

Come mid- to late November, when the ETMC Cancer Institute in Athens has re-opened, radiation patients in and around Henderson County will benefit greatly, said Wallace.
 

“Patients with cancer and blood disorders will be able to get care using the most advanced technology available,” he said, “without having to travel to larger cities.”
Sigmon also points out the benefits of having a nearby facility with state-of-the-art radiation delivery equipment.

“When you’re sick with cancer, the last thing you want is to have to travel long distances over and over again,” he said. “That’s a hardship not only with time and energy but with making transportation arrangements.

“By doing the modifications we’re doing right now, future radiation patients in the area won’t have to travel to larger cities to get the highest level of care. It will be available in Henderson County.”