A generation ago, it was widely accepted that if you had cancer, your best bet was seeking care at a large cancer center that was typically far from home. That center was usually an expansive building, high on a hill, and almost always difficult to access. How times have changed. 

Today, City of Hope Orange County is making advanced cancer care close to home for the people of Orange County. We’re building a network of care and a cancer campus of the future in Irvine that will make advanced treatments more convenient for the 20 percent of patients who still travel out of the area for care – and for every new patient who will need City of Hope’s lifesaving care and pioneering research. This is a bold initiative that makes sense right now. Here’s why:

  • Cancer incidence – With one-in-three Americans receiving a cancer diagnosis, we must make highly specialized care more accessible. Even in Orange County, where we’re known for our healthy lifestyle, we are not immune to this jarring statistic. What’s more, our population is aging, and we’re more at risk for cancer as we age. Also, certain cancers, such as breast cancer, are unfortunately on the rise in our region.
  • We need more clinical trials – Clinical trials offer first-time access to new treatments for cancer, many of which are the most sophisticated and effective available. The challenge is that clinical trial participation often requires frequent visits to the research center – which is difficult if that center is far away. Providing greater access to clinical trials means patients can benefit more immediately from lifesaving research.
  • Personalized therapies make a difference – Each cancer is unique, which is why there is great promise in personalized therapies that target an individual’s specific gene changes or proteins. However, these sophisticated treatments are typically available at a cancer institution offering highly specialized care. Having these capabilities available to more people in our community will help ensure better cancer outcomes.
  • Prevention is a priority – According to the American Cancer Society, about 42% of cancer cases and 45% of cancer deaths in the United States are due to preventable risk factors. New technologies can help predict our cancer risk, and highly specialized experts can assist us in taking effective preventive measures. We need these capabilities closer to home so we can stop cancer from happening in the first place.
  • Mental health matters – Patients who travel greater distances to receive cancer care report emotional and financial stress. Additionally, having care closer means it’s more convenient for patients to have someone by their side during their cancer journeys. Whether you’re going in for chemo or getting a scan, the road to recovery is easier with friends and loved ones nearby to help with some of the physical constraints and, most importantly, provide emotional support.

We must think greener – Living in Southern California, we deal with air quality that is among the nation’s worst, according to The American Lung Association, which gave Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Ventura an “F” for particle and ozone pollution. Although our air quality is better than it was years ago and there are many reasons for this low score, we can’t rule out our car culture as a contributing factor. Minimizing the need for patients to travel out of the county contributes to a healthier landscape.

GIVEAWAY

Tell us why having world-class cancer care close to home is important to you. Share your story and be sure to tag us on Facebook and Instagram to be automatically entered to win. Five lucky winners will be selected by August 31, 2021 to win a $100 wellness gift card.
How to enter:
Make sure you like the City of Hope Orange County pages
Facebook and Instagram. Like this post. Giveaway will run from 7/22/21 – 8/31/21. Winner will be chosen and contacted by 9/3/21. Winner will be given 24 hours to respond before moving on to the next winner. Thanks for participating!