TGMC breaks ground on cancer center

Terrebonne General Medical Center administrators, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center leaders and parish dignitaries shoveled the first patch of dirt last Wednesday to signify the beginning of construction on a 49,000-square-foot cancer center at TGMC.

“This is truly a historical day for TGMC,” said Phyllis Peoples, hospital CEO. “All the needs for surgical cancer care will be held under one roof. For years, people have had to travel abroad for surgical cancer treatments. But, with our partnership with Mary Bird Perkins, our patients won’t have to go anywhere else, any more.”

J. Gerard Jolly, chairman of Mary Bird Perkins board of directors, said 30 to 40 years ago, cancer patients had to travel to Birmingham, Ala., or Houston for surgical cancer treatments.

Mary Bird Perkins’ multidisciplinary cancer program provides the entire spectrum of cancer care, which includes outreach programs, diagnostic capabilities, chemotherapy, clinical research trials, radiation therapy, surgical intervention and an inpatient care unit, Jolly said.

“There’s not one person standing here that has not been touched by cancer,” said Todd Stevens, Mary Bird Perkins CEO. “It’s a personal disease that needs to be beat. And, the Mary Bird Perkins centers are here to help beat cancer. We don’t want people saying that they lost a loved one to cancer.

“Having a center that focuses on treating cancer is having a focus on a better tomorrow,” he added. “We are here to lessen the burden of cancer in the community, and TGMC is the perfect place to do it.”

Cancer care specialist Dr. Jeffrey Long, a radiation oncologist, said his job is to make cancer a less frightening word.

“Patients will see the high-technology side of the center and the human-touch side where skilled physicians and staff give the patients the best cancer services they can,” he said.

Breast cancer survivor Karen Schilling was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. She utilized the high-end services that Mary Bird Perkins provides when TGMC and the cancer center first partnered to offer services in the Bayou Region.

“I would not be here if it were not for TGMC and the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center,” she said. “No one wants to be told they have cancer, but knowing you can participate in a cancer treatment program in your hometown lessens the struggle.”

The groundbreaking was also a personal moment for TGMC Board of Directors Chairman Mike Voison, who lost his father, Ernest Voison, two months ago to pancreatic cancer.

Ernest Voison was the former CEO and board chairman for Motivatit Seafood in Houma.

“He couldn’t say enough about TGMC,” Voison said, his voice cracking with emotion. “The Mary Bird Perkins center has expanded the ability for others to have the same or better experience that my father had with the many physicians that cared for him.”

Peoples said the partnership has invested $5 million in cutting-edge cancer technology. The cancer center is scheduled to be open in early 2011. Until then, services will continue to be available in the TGMC Medical Atrium building.

Cancer center medical director Dr. Raul Doria said services offered by the center include chemotherapy, flow cytometry, digital mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), image guided biopsy, breast biopsy ultrasound, breast specific gamma imaging (BSGI) and several other imaging services.

Cancer Care Specialists, physicians hired to run the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, have access to comprehensive radiation therapy services like image-guided radiation treatments, advanced intensity modulated radiation therapy treatment capability, positron emission tomography and computed tomography capabilities.

“We have enhanced our services to be the top provider of cancer treatment in the area which was our goal with this new cancer center,” Doria said. “The ground-breaking coming to fruition is extremely exciting, and we know our patients will find the new environment pleasing.”