The Cancer Center of Excellence is a new oncology treatment facility in Searcy.
The center had an open house Sunday, Oct. 9, to celebrate its debut and has already begun treating patients. Through a partnership between White County Medical Center, Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute, White County Oncology and Radiology Associates , PA (RAPA), the center was formed.
Located at 415 Rodgers Drive, the goal of creating the cancer center was to combine multiple treatment options at one facility to provide better, more convenient care for patients, allowing them to have one destination for a variety of treatments as opposed to driving to different facilities that may be far apart.
“[These facilities] used to be in four different locations,” said Cassandra Feltrop, White County Medical Foundation executive director. “If you come in for a diagnostic mammogram, and are diagnosed, you have one destination for treatment. It’s much more convenient for the patient and the caregivers, if they only have to go to one location.”
The facility boasts a variety of treatment centers under one roof, including radiation therapy and a chemotherapy treatment center. The facility also holds a café, a conference/education room, a chapel and a counseling center.
The Searcy Breast Center, a diagnostic center with PET, or Positron Emission Tomography, scanner for digital mammogramy, is another feature of the center.
The appearance center will be a special area in the front of the building with a boutique-type atmosphere that provides supplies such as special caps and turbans, wigs, wig fittings, journals, special makeup and a variety of different products that make people dealing with cancer more comfortable. Feltrop said that the staff of the center hope to offer supplies in the future for mastectomy fittings.
“The appearance center will provide different products that are vital to battling the disease itself as well as providing comfort for the patient,” Feltrop said. “This just helps give back to them.”
The staff will consist of three medical oncologists and one radiation oncologist. Moreover, the center will offer advanced machines, such as a digital linear accelerator that will be one of about six in the country and a PET scanner at the facility full time; these machines are some of the latest technology available.
“The cancer center is such a blessing to Searcy because we are a growing area and this just helps us show our community that we are bringing in the highest quality technology and technicians,” Feltrop said. “Partnering with the other partners has been an amazing experience. We can keep all the patients and support centers in town so they don’t have to leave town and drive an hour to get treatment.”
