A survey fielded earlier this year shows that 89 percent of Greenwich residents support the creation of a new cancer care center in their community. Among the top two reasons residents cited in their desire for a new cancer care center is the fact that a new center will allow for different types of cancer to be treated and that it will bring the most modern treatment options to the community.
Following a community Town Hall and smaller group meetings with neighbors and community members to preview the broad outlines of a revised plan for a new cancer care center, Greenwich Hospital announced last month that it will move forward with submitting a proposal for the Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center at Greenwich to the Greenwich Architectural Review Committee and the Planning & Zoning Commission.
A new cancer care center will expand offerings for those seeking care in Greenwich and eliminate the need to travel longer distances for treatments that Greenwich Hospital does not currently offer. The proposal comes at a time when Greenwich is experiencing an acute need for cancer care. Data shows that each year, approximately 3,000 people who live in Greenwich and the immediate surrounding area are diagnosed with cancer. In the next 10 years in the Greenwich region, nearly all cancer types show growth rates of between 20 and 26 percent – with breast, gynecological and urologic cancers remaining the most prevalent in the region.
Since the Town Hall, a number of organizations have expressed support for the center and the access to state-of-the-art care that it will enable.
“Access to care is critical, as Connecticut has some of the highest cancer rates in the country, said Erin Nielsen with the American Cancer Society. “For Greenwich residents, the chance to have access to the best care without having to travel far distances eliminates one big patient stressor and improves overall survival outcomes. The ACS fully supports the plan that’s been presented for the new Smilow building to improve the standard of care and believes it will improve overall patient outcomes.”
Residents have echoed similar themes, noting the convenience a new center would bring for those undergoing treatment. Greenwich resident Jackie Salkin, who underwent treatment for breast cancer, expressed, “I had my surgery in New York and I had two small children at the time. It added infinite amounts of stress to my overall situation and now, 15 years later, I still travel to New York for my annual mammograms as that is where my surgeon now practices. How I wish I could have been holistically treated in Greenwich. What a true asset to the community the cancer center could be.”
Additional information about the proposed plan for the Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center can be found at www.smilowcancerhospitalgreenwich.org.
