Image courtesy of Siteman Cancer Center
Undergoing chemotherapy is a trying process for cancer patients and their families, so the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center is making it a bit easier by providing treatment closer to home. Next year, the center will expand to include a third satellite beyond Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. The center, located near Interstate 55 and Butler Hill Road in South County, is set to be completed in fall 2012.
“It’s a challenging time in the life of a cancer victim and their family,” says Dr. James Crane, associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs at Washington University School of Medicine, who is overseeing the plans for the new facility. “Being able to make care more accessible clearly helps.”
Siteman Cancer Center—the only facility within a 240-mile radius of St. Louis with the National Cancer Institute’s “Comprehensive Cancer Center” designation—currently treats about 4,500 patients each year. Some receive weekly chemotherapy or radiation, while others need treatments every day. Patients who once drove more than 30 minutes to appointments in the Central West End will soon be able to significantly cut their travel time.
Siteman’s new 40,000-square-foot building will reside on a 16-acre site, with plenty of room for expansion. The center will offer the same advanced treatments as Siteman’s other satellites and main campus, including oncologists, 250-plus clinical trials, and access to innovative therapy that’s not available anywhere else in the area, says Crane. Beyond that, plans include walking paths and peaceful meditation gardens with natural light. After building other satellite centers, Siteman’s directors know exactly what they want in
this facility.
“We’ve learned what patients like and what works best,” says Dr. Timothy Eberlein, Siteman Cancer Center’s director. “We’ve tried to create a very patient-friendly, patient-supportive environment that is going to help each and every one of our patients have a supportive environment. It’s not simply about medical intervention.”
