Cancer center reveals expansion plans - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Cancer center reveals expansion plans

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By Sarah Baldwin - bio | email

August 29, 2008

THOMASVILLE, GA (WALB) - In this day and age, we all know someone who's been affected by cancer.  "I have a rare disorder called pseudomyxoma peritonei and they found it during a surgery. And we had to follow it up with chemo," says Shirley Waters.  Treatment can be the hardest part of the process. Waters say, "It's difficult, but when you have good family and good caretakers, it makes it a lot easier."

For the last 20 years, that's been the goal of the physicians, nurses and staff at the Lewis Hall Singletary Oncology Center.  "Twenty years ago in the month of June this center first opened to treat the first cancer patients in the Thomasville area," says Holly Young, the Director of Oncology.

 Archbold Medical Center President Perry Mustian adds, "Prior to the development of the Lewis Hall Singletary Oncology Center, people had to travel outside this area for comprehensive cancer care services. Typically to Atlanta or some other destination that was inconvenient, both for the patient, as well as their family members."

But since the Thomasville center opened, its technology's been on par with those other centers.   "As a matter of fact, when I met with my doctor in Atlanta, sometimes they would mention a test, and they would want me to drive to Atlanta to do it, I would say ' We have that at home. I can do that test there',"  says Waters.

The need is so great now for cancer services, they'll soon build their new center. Expanding from 10 to 19 exam rooms, it will be triple the size.  "This will be able to enhance our services. We'll be able to offer more definitive integrated medicine type services for our patients," explains Young.

Waters says, "I know that cancer treatment might be in my future, and if it is, I know there are going to be spaces for my family to come and stay with me during treatment, and that makes a difference for you too."  And though cancer treatment may never be easy, the dedicated staff here do everything they can to make it more comfortable.

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