The Nebraska Medical Center and UNMC Physicians have opened a premier Cancer Center in west Omaha offering cancer patients quality and comprehensive care in one accessible and convenient location.

Located near 180th Street and West Dodge Road (just south of the Village Pointe shopping area), the Cancer Center will offer cancer patients a great variety of outpatient treatment options and services. These include medical therapies, radiology and laboratory support as well as radiation treatments.

“The Cancer Center was designed to address all the needs of the patient and family,” said Theresa Franco, Cancer Service Line Executive Director at The Nebraska Medical Center. “Easy access, comfort and convenience are critical issues for cancer patients who may need multiple treatments and careful monitoring of their condition and this new site will fulfill those needs. The Cancer Center also provides the same high standard of care as that provided at our midtown campus with a full continuum of cancer care services from radiation and chemotherapy treatment to survivorship.”

“The new site allows patients who live in west Omaha and in communities west of the city to receive most of the same cancer treatments and services as those offered at The Nebraska Medical Center midtown campus without traveling the extra distance,” said Julie Vose, M.D., Chief of Oncology/Hematology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

The Nebraska Medical Center is recognized nationally and internationally for its cancer services and providing cutting edge-cancer treatments. The new Cancer Center will further the goal of delivering world-class, patient-centered care.

“The Nebraska Medical Center is a leader in our community for providing new, state-of-the-art radiation oncology technologies and treatment options for patients,” said Charles Enke, M.D., Chairman of Radiation Oncology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “The new center offers a full genre of cutting-edge radiation oncology technology to provide patients with the highest level of cancer care treatments available in the region.”

The Nebraska Medical Center and UNMC Physicians surveyed cancer patients and their families before designing the new Cancer Center.

“The voice of the patient is evident in every aspect of the building from the beautifully landscaped healing gardens to the private infusion (chemotherapy) rooms,” said Ann Yager, Director of the Cancer Center. “At many outpatient chemotherapy centers, patients will sit in a common open area to receive their treatments. The 16 private infusion rooms at the Cancer Center will provide patients with a more comfortable and restful place to receive treatments.”

Patients have access to a full team of experienced and internationally renowned cancer specialists including medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurse practitioners, case managers, nutritionists and social service workers to provide patients a full-service, multidisciplinary approach to their care.

“The multidisciplinary approach is a huge benefit for our patients,” said Dr. Enke. “During the emotional and anxious time after the diagnosis of cancer, patients will be able to hear from multiple specialists who will make a group recommendation for a treatment plan. Without this approach, a patient would need to make several different appointments with individual cancer specialists and possibly receive conflicting opinions. Not only does this approach mean more comfort for the patient, but it will also speed up the patient’s plan of cancer care.”

As the primary teaching hospital for the University of Nebraska Medical Center, patients at The Nebraska Medical Center and at the Cancer Center benefit tremendously from research, clinical trials and innovative discoveries. Clinical trials allow patients to be some of the first to receive the safest, most up-to-date and sometimes revolutionary treatments.

“Clinical research gives us access to new medications that are being tested to improve disease control or other toxicities derived from treatment that otherwise would not be available to our patients,” notes Dr. Vose. “At an academic medical center, patients can receive new therapies learned in research, sometimes years earlier, than at a center where only standard therapies are available.”

The Cancer Center will also offer a survivorship program that has been developed to help cancer survivors deal with the emotional and physical challenges cancer can leave with its victims. These challenges include fear of recurrence, physical and medical long-term side effects and learning how to return to a normal life again. For example as part of the survivorship program, a physical therapist may work with a breast cancer patient to teach arm mobility.

“Patients want and are seeking out this service,” said Franco. “We realize this program is an important component in supporting a patient’s full healing and long term recovery process.”

The Nebraska Medical Center will open the Cancer Center on Monday, November 17 to the public.

Media news conference and tours will be held on Tuesday, November 11 at 10 a.m.