Edgewood, KY – The brave battles fought by each cancer survivor are truly inspirational. On May 31, St. Elizabeth Healthcare recognized National Cancer Survivors Day with a lighthearted event for patients and families. The cow mascot from Chick-fil-A restaurant in Newport, KY, along with the cow’s handler, visited St. Elizabeth in Edgewood to pass out treats and giveaways.

“We wanted to congratulate our patients and families on their success so far. They’re fighting a tough battle,” says Shayna Hamilton, nurse manager for specialty clinics and radiation. “Our support and encouragement give them energy to keep up the fight.”

“We wanted to give them a moment of joy. When you’re in a battle with cancer, it’s so easy to think about the negative,” says Nathan Chick, marketing director for Chick-fil-A. “This is a good way to escape for a minute and be happy.”

Thanks to major advances in cancer prevention, early detection and targeted treatments, many patients are living longer with cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, there are more than 15.5 million cancer survivors in the United States. “There are more survivors now. It’s not always a fatal disease,” says Dwinelva Zackery, director of oncology support services. “And people can be very hopeful that they will survive and live through cancer.”

National Cancer Survivors Day is a day to tell patients and families that we support them – both during and after the battle. “It’s letting cancer survivors know we’re fighting for you, and we’re going to celebrate that you’re winning this battle,” says Ms. Hamilton.

To help more patients win their battles with cancer, St. Elizabeth Healthcare is building an innovative new Cancer Center on the Edgewood campus, projected to open in fall of 2020. “Our new center will be a one-stop destination center. We’ll help you get everything you need to fight cancer,” explains Ms. Zackery. “All services – advanced treatments, testing, and support groups – will be located in one building. We’re very excited.”

The new St. Elizabeth Cancer Center is vital. Kenton, Boone and Campbell counties rank in the top 10 counties in Kentucky for highest rate of annual cancer diagnosis. In addition, Kentucky has the highest incidence and death rate for cancer in the nation.

The new St. Elizabeth Cancer Center will feature:

• A precision medicine program that uses genetic testing and leading edge technology to deliver the right drug, at the right dose, at the right time.
• Multidisciplinary expertise – including medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons, nurse navigators, research nurses, genetic counselors and others – conveniently located in one place.
• Convenient access for patients to more clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, the NCI National Clinical Trials Network, and the UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network.
• Opportunities for second opinions with Mayo Clinic cancer specialists, at no extra cost, through our membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network.
• More education and screening services to identify cancer sooner and save more lives.

The new Cancer Center will also offer individual and group counseling, art and music therapy, yoga, meditation, tai chi, and a new kitchen to demonstrate healthy cooking. For more information on the new Cancer Center, or to watch drone footage of the construction progress, please visit stelizabeth.com/cancercenter.