| Radiation therapy available for first time in Greer |
Elizabeth Williamson |
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Tuesday,
August 11, 2009 - Cancer Centers of the Carolinas is pleased to announce the opening of its radiation cancer center in Greer. The opening of this facility marks the first time radiation therapy has been available in Greer.
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Bringing radiation oncology to this location gives cancer patients the opportunity to receive a wide range of oncology treatment options without leaving the Greer area. Cancer Centers of the Carolinas also offers medical oncology, gynecologic oncology, chemotherapy infusion, clinical research, bone and marrow transplantation and support services to patients in Greer.
Radiation therapy involves the bombardment of tumors with radiation beams. These beams are delivered by a piece of medical equipment called a linear accelerator and are effective at halting the growth of tumors or forcing them into remission. A team of specialists, including a radiation oncologist, medical physicist and radiation dosimetrist studies each patient’s case and completes treatment planning to determine the most effective way to radiate each particular tumor, including angle, amount of radiation and frequency. Once a treatment plan has been set, therapists use the linear accelerator to generate, shape and and focus radiation beams directly into a patient's tumor.
“Having this capability in the Greer area makes it much more convenient for many of our patients to receive their treatments,” said Michael Zurenko, M.D., radiation oncologist at Cancer Centers of the Carolinas. “We strive to provide Upstate residents with quality cancer care close to home. By doing this, we eliminate the stress of traveling and afford our patients the opportunity to maintain a sense of normalcy by remaining close to their families and support systems here at home.”
Remaining close to home is particularly important for patients who undergo radiation therapy, as these patients typically receive treatment several days per week for more than a month at a time.
Cancer Centers of the Carolinas’ new radiation center occupies the entirety of a free-standing building located on the campus of Greer Memorial Hospital at 340 Medical Parkway, Greer.
Two Cancer Centers of the Carolinas radiation oncologists – Zurenko and Dale Duncan, M.D. will begin seeing patients at the new Greer radiation facility. A third radiation oncologist will join Cancer Centers of the Carolinas this month and begin practicing at the Greer location in September. Cancer Centers of the Carolinas also offers radiation therapy at three of their locations in Greenville and their Seneca location.
About Cancer Centers of the Carolinas
Serving Upstate communities for more than three decades, Cancer Centers of the Carolinas (CCC) is a community-based, physician-owned practice with 25 board-certified oncologists practicing in nine locations in the Upstate of South Carolina. CCC is the Upstate's largest cancer care group treating over 6,000 new patients annually. CCC specializes in medical oncology, radiation oncology, gynecologic oncology, hematology, blood and marrow transplantation and clinical research. CCC is a National Cancer Institute grant recipient and is home to South Carolina's first FACT accredited Stem Cell Transplant Program. For more information on Cancer Centers of the Carolinas, visit www.cancercarolinas.com.
United in Healing with US Oncology
Cancer Centers of the Carolinas is United in Healing with US Oncology, which supports the nation’s foremost cancer treatment and research network advancing the quality of cancer care in America. With more than 1,211 physicians at 456 locations in 39 states, the US Oncology network and Cancer Centers of the Carolinas provide cancer patients with access to the latest developments in therapies, technology and clinical research, as well as best-in-class practices to improve the patient experience. For more information, visit www.unitedinhealing.com, or visit the company’s Web site, www.usoncology.com.
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