(Chelsea Update would like to thank Laura Blodgett for the information in this story.)
St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea (SJMC) recently announced that radiotherapy services are available at its recently opened cancer center.
SJMC is the only health facility in western Washtenaw County to offer radiotherapy services. This includes the TrueBeam™ linear accelerator, the latest advance in radiotherapy technology delivering powerful cancer treatments with pinpoint accuracy and precision.
“The courage that my cancer patients have inspires me each day,” said Walter M. Sahijdak, MD, medical director of Radiation Oncology, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System. “Being able to provide radiotherapy, along with chemotherapy, close to home is an advantage that cannot be underestimated for cancer patients. Instead of a 40 to 60 minute round-trip drive for daily treatment, patients in Chelsea and the surrounding areas can be treated closer to home without the long commute.”
SJMC is pleased to partner with the Chelsea Wellness Center’s Kids in Motion program to provide child care at no charge to radiation oncology patients on the Chelsea hospital campus. Parents and legal guardians who are receiving radiation therapy will have access to the day care program during radiation sessions.
“This assistance will be vital to families who need it,” said Amy Heydlauff, chief executive of the Chelsea Area Wellness Foundation. “For those families, access to day care is a huge relief in an otherwise overwhelming circumstance.”
Because of Chelsea Wellness Center’s two-hour child care time limit, this service is not available to patients in the infusion center, who have longer appointment times for their treatment.
The cancer center at SJMC provides patients with leading-edge cancer treatments on a 115-acre wooded campus in an intimate and private setting. The cancer center, opened in December 2014, enables local residents to receive a wide range of cancer treatments, from surgery to chemotherapy and radiation, all under one roof and close to home. Each patient meets with a team of experienced cancer specialists who review their case. After a thorough evaluation, a customized treatment plan specific to the patient’s needs is recommended.
As part of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, S JMC is one of Michigan’s most advanced cancer providers. Patients have access to the latest technology including Cyberknife®, DaVinci® robotics procedures and National Cancer Institute-sponsored research trials. In addition, support groups, special events and other specialty services are available.
In addition to the Chelsea location, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System offers cancer services in Ann Arbor, Brighton and Canton.
