By By Lisa Tindell – news writer
Getting the news that you have cancer is bad enough. Then you realize that treatment for your condition may require traveling to a large city where advanced technology is available. People in Brewton and the surrounding area who have been diagnosed with cancer can eliminate a part of the bad news.
During an open house event Tuesday, Gulf Coast Cancer Centers in Brewton demonstrated their ability to help take away some of the anxiety patients may feel about treatment. The facility has recently added the latest cancer-fighting technology to its on-site equipment used to help treat cancers.
Hixson said that providing treatment for patients and potential patients is an important aspect of the Brewton Center.
Using state-of-the-art imaging and radiotherapy techniques, IGRT improves the precision and effectiveness of cancer treatments by giving doctors the ability to accurately track and adjust for tumor movements due to normal organ function at the moment of treatment.
Cindy Edmonds, supervisor of treatment staff at the center, said precise treatment is important for any patient.
Hixson said treatment session usually take approximately 10 minutes, leaving the patient plenty of time for other activities.
Other employees and staff members at Gulf Coast Cancer Centers are Michelle Smith, dosimetrist (treatment planner), Liz Knowles, Deborah King, Mike Williams and Kim Flurry. The Center has locations in Brewton as well as Foley, Gulf Shores and Monroeville and offers the latest technology in cancer care. Offered are stereotactic radiosurgery, PET/CT scanning with respiratory gating and brachytherapy for prostate cancer as well as the new image-guided radiation therapy.