Press Releases

US CONGRESSWOMAN CANDICE MILLER TO PRESENT
MERCY HOSPITAL WITH $200,000 GRANT

US Congressional Representative Candice Miller visited Mercy Hospital Monday, March 7, to present its Mercy Regional Cancer Center with a $200,000 federal appropriations grant to begin upgrading its Radiation Therapy Linear Accelerator. Pictured with Candice Miller include representatives from Mercy Hospital. (left to right) Peter Karadjoff, President & CEO; Andrea Eastwood, Cancer Program Coordinator; Brent Gilmore, Manager/Dosimetrist, Radiation Therapy Department; Chuck Smith, Medical Physicist, Radiation Therapy Department; Kanu Dalal, MD, Radiation Oncologist.

Grant money will be used to provide the initial components of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) software. These advancements will ultimately provide greater contouring aspects to Mercy’s state-of-the-art linear accelerator technology. IMRT offers exact point-point accuracy and the ability to contour around the tumor, directly destroying the cancer while greatly minimizing the damage to surrounding healthy cells in the body.

Mercy unveiled its advanced linear accelerator with Smart Beam Technology availability in spring 2002. In June 2004, Miller toured the Mercy facility when the request for a federal grant was made. The Mercy Regional Cancer Center’s radiation therapy services treats approximately 350 patients annually. Cancer treatment has been a hallmark of Mercy Hospital services for more than 30 years.

“Mercy has the only radiation therapy services in the area,” comments Kanu Dalal, MD, Mercy Radiation Oncologist. “This grant will help us expand our highly-advanced linear accelerator capabilities to be utilized to their fullest extent, expanding our treatment capabilities and providing for safer delivery of radiation therapy.”

This federal grant will be coupled with additional funding to finance the nearly $1 million technology enhancement project. “We are extremely pleased that Representative Miller recognizes the importance of Mercy’s commitment to advance the availability of cancer treatment for Blue Water Area residents,” comments Peter Karadjoff, Mercy Hospital President and CEO. “To have available cancer treatment options that are provided at larger university cancer centers is extremely beneficial to area patients.”

Mercy Regional Cancer Center expects the installation of the new computer and software enhancements to be completed this summer, with advanced treatment available early next year. Cancer patients will continue to receive radiation therapy services as enhancements are undertaken.