“We have incredible talent, we have incredible dedication, but our patient population is sicker than most, so we lose more lung cancer patients than any other state, we lose more colon cancer patients than any other state. “As we go to build this, we are the worst place in the country to receive cancer care,” Flora said. The statistics provide the best evidence of just how badly comprehensive cancer care is needed in the region. This is going to be a home for tens of thousands of patients, long after we are gone, long after we retire or move away, or are no longer able to practice medicine and it’s a great honor to be part of this process.” E) first started, they were carrying chemo around in the trunks of their car and now we are talking about a $140 million center. “I’m pushing us to be something greater than I think any of us had previously dreamed to be and sometimes that’s hard,” Flora said. Elizabeth and said he couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the future. He envisions the groundbreaking as the first of many big wins for St. Flora said it is those personal stories that have driven him to develop a comprehensive cancer center in Northern Kentucky. Elizabeth at the groundbreaking ceremony.ĭr. Flora was named Executive Medical Director of Oncology Services for St. Doug Flora became emotional when talking about how cancer has impacted his life and the lives of his patients. You’ll be able to avail yourself of the latest and newest drugs on the market, clinical trials, with expertise that outweighs anyone else in the region.”ĭr. “You, like me thought it would never happen…and when it does, the cancer center will be right here in our community to provide the integrated care that I’ve just described. “It’s a peace and contentment that I want for every person in this crowd that has yet to be diagnosed with cancer,” Nelson said. She was strengthened by the recognition that there were three things in her life that she could control – her faith, her attitude and her medical care, and a sense of contentment came over her. Nelson admits it was a tremendous hardship being away from her family during the holidays, having an eye removed and being subjected to an extensive treatment regimen, but knows now it was the right choice. “They all got around a table and planned my care,” Nelson said. The Institute handles about 50 of the 400 cases of mucosal melanoma diagnosed each year.Ī team of specialists worked together to determine a treatment strategy. She was amazed at the resources dedicated to cancer care, including one entire floor of the building dedicated to melanoma. Seeking a second opinion, Nelson went to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. “I saw about eight different specialists here in Northern Kentucky and unfortunately, I didn’t find an integrated care team that could take care of my issue,” Nelson said.īishop Roger Foys of the Diocese of Covington offered the blessing at the groundbreaking. She was devastated at the thought of leaving her husband and daughter to go on without her if she passed away. She had to sit on the floor to have the security that she had a strong base of support under her. Nelson was so overwhelmed by the diagnosis, she couldn’t even sit in a chair. I’m probably one of the most positive people you will ever meet, but in those 24 to 48 hours, everything went dark.” “Removing my eye was like a no-brainer…but even if we do that, I was certain I was going to die. “I still remember that October 30 when the phone rang and on the other end it was the doctor telling me I had a malignant tumor encroaching on my brain, wedged in the orbit of my eye and ever so close to the lining of my brain,” Nelson said. Nelson, co-chair of the funding campaign for the Cancer Center, was diagnosed with mucosal melanoma, a rare form of cancer of which there are only about 400 cases diagnosed in the United States each year. None, however, was perhaps more compelling than the story shared by Kristi Nelson, senior vice president at Pomeroy. Elizabeth, shared personal stories of how cancer has impacted their lives. Doug Flora, who was named Executive Medical Director of Oncology Services for St. Elizabeth Cancer Center, shared her personal struggle with the disease at last week’s groundbreaking (photos by Mark Hansel). Kristi Nelson, co-chair of the funding campaign for the St.
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