7.8.08

Cancer Institute Opening

A new cancer institute building will soon be open to offer state-of-the art evaluation and treatment facilities to cancer patients in central and southern Illinois.

The SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield is nearing completion and will provide cancer care combined with research studies and collaborations.  The new building will consolidate the various SIU cancer clinics.  Dr. John Godwin, professor and associate director for clinical services at the SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at SIU explains that treatment of this complex disease will emphasize the new multidisciplinary teams.

SOUND BITE:“Teams of different positions, of different specialties, that gather together and work together to discuss the case and then come to a well-thought out, evidence-based plan for treatment.  For our patients who do often travel long distances, they can have an evaluation and treatment plan within the same day.  They will be seen at the same time by all the specialized physicians who would be involved in delivering the care.”

Godwin says SIU’s cancer care teams usually involve a medical oncologist, surgeon, and radiation oncologist as well as other health care specialists.  He says much of the specialized testing also can be done in the building on the same day.  He describes some of the other services for patients.

SOUND BITE: “One new, unique resource will be a psychology support personnel and a whole team of psychologists who specialize in the emotional distress of cancer.  In addition, we have an American Cancer Society representative who serves as a patient navigator, helping our patients get all of the necessary resources available to them . . .”

Dr. Godwin says the SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute also will have more clinical trials available to patients for cancer treatment.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.