At Anderson Regional Cancer Center, we utilize the most innovative therapies available. Our dedicated and expert care professionals are at the forefront of their fields, and they are eager to treat each patient with a personal and compassionate approach.
Our approach for your care is:
Anderson Regional Cancer Center has been granted Accreditation with Commendation by The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS).
The Accreditation Program, a component of the CoC, sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure they conform to those standards. Accreditation by the CoC is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. To maintain accreditation, facilities with CoC-accredited cancer programs must undergo an on-site review every three years.
Receiving care at a CoC-accredited cancer program ensures that a patient will have access to:
And most importantly,
Since my arrival at Anderson Regional Cancer Center in June of 2013, we have seen many changes in the landscape of caring for patients with cancer. In a dream world, we would have no need for cancer centers, providers, or committees. However, in the reality in which we live, cancer care is needed now more than ever. Not only are we seeing an increased incidence of cancer, but we are also seeing it develop at younger ages. We, as cancer care providers, owe it to our patients, their families and friends, and to our community to provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art care to the best of our ability. I am certain that we do this here at Anderson Regional Cancer Center, as well as at the Oncology Unit in the hospital.
Cancer therapy continues to improve at a very rapid rate. New chemotherapy agents and radiation treatments are being approved on a continuous basis throughout the year. The most widely known area of advancement over the last couple of years has been in the field of immunotherapy. We have seen an explosion of new agents approved and numerous new combinations of these agents are coming to the forefront of cancer care. Many research centers across the country and globe try to find the best way to use these new agents, and the providers at Anderson Regional Cancer Center are always staying up-to-date on the latest trends. With the number of advertisements being done for these new immune treatments, we have to educate many patients on the appropriate timing for using immunotherapy. The current trend is to add immunotherapy to our standard chemotherapy, and we are seeing impressive improvements in how these medicines work hand in hand.
We are also seeing a rapid increase in the number of targeted oral chemotherapy medicines. Some of these are dramatic improvements over what we were previously doing, particularly in the area of Stage 4 breast cancer, CLL, and advanced lymphomas. Access to these pills can be quite a challenge given the way they are covered by insurance and their quite enormous costs. Our clinical staff at the cancer center is well equipped to “go to bat” for our patients and to obtain the treatments, regardless of the amount of paperwork and red tape they have to get through.
Radiation Oncology also continues to advance each year with improved ways to deliver the radiation and updated protocols for each cancer type. The ability that Radiation Oncology now has to target tumors individually and precisely, allows for longer survival rates, a decreased need for chemotherapy, and lower radiation-related side effects. We are also seeing improvements in the length of time it takes to complete a full course of radiation. This is very appealing to most patients, particularly those that travel many miles each day for their treatment.
We want all of our patients to know that they can count on Anderson Regional Cancer Center and Anderson Regional Medical Center to provide comprehensive and up-to-date oncology care. There is no need in traveling many miles away, when you can receive such high quality cancer care right here locally. We thank you for allowing us to be your cancer care providers, and we will continue striving to be the best cancer center around.
Matthew W. Cassell, MD
Chairman, Oncology Care Committee
Cancer treatment in East Mississippi began in 1974 and continues to evolve as treatment advancements are discovered.
1974- Dr. John Clay, Medical Oncologist, pioneered the practice of oncology medicine in Meridian, Mississippi.
1992- Dr. Scott Anderson, Radiation Oncologist, began performing radiation therapy at Meridian Radiation Center.
1999- Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center purchased Meridian Radiation Center and began making preparations to construct a new comprehensive cancer center.
1999- Meridian Oncology Associates was formed.
2002- Oncology physicians from Internal Medicine Clinic and Rush Hospital joined forces with Meridian Oncology Associates.
2003- Anderson Regional Cancer Center opened.
2015- The nation’s most advanced radiation therapy treatment (Tomotherapy) became available at Anderson Regional Cancer Center.
2016- Dr. John Clay retired, and the second floor of Anderson Regional Cancer Center was named in his honor: John C. Clay M.D. Medical Oncology Floor.
Handprints of Hope — Each year cancer survivors place their handprint on a canvas as a reminder of their journey and a symbol of encouragement for our patients.
At Anderson Regional Cancer Center, we know and understand the impact that major surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy treatments can have on a cancer patient's physical, emotional, and spiritual strength. That’s why we offer many different resources to our patients.
If you are a cancer patient who has questions about treatment, needs a hat, wig, prosthesis or has other needs, our Resource Center can help. The center is located on the 1st floor of Anderson Regional Cancer Center, and it is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Our Patient Navigator ensures continuity of care for breast cancer patients and is available to answer questions for new and existing patients in radiation and medical oncology. The navigator meets with patients soon after diagnosis and provides streamlined access to a range of local support services to help patients and their families deal with the physical, emotional, financial and logistical impact of a cancer diagnosis. Careful attention to each patient’s personal needs — and those of his or her family — is our patient navigator’s specialty. Patients may contact our Patient Navigator by calling 601.485.5081.
Our Registered Dietitian is available to develop individualized nutrition strategies to make meal time a pleasant, relaxing, and enjoyable time while incorporating high calorie, high protein dietary selections. We strongly encourage family members to participate in the patient's nutrition counseling.
Our master’s level Social Worker provides educational programs, information resources, counseling, and a host of other services that can help cancer patients and their families learn to adapt to the changes in their lives. It is important that our patients be aware of community resources, receive financial counseling when needed, and have access to home care planning. Our social worker deals exclusively with cancer patients and their families to help them find the strength to face the challenges cancer can bring.
Pastoral Care is provided to help individuals strengthen their own spirituality and deepen their faith. The Pastoral Care staff may not cure your illness, but they can help to heal the hurts of your heart. Our pastoral care representative comes as a friend during a difficult time of your life and can contribute to your overall well-being and recovery.
Meetings of Anderson Regional Medical Center’s Oncology Care Committee are held each Wednesday at noon and are open to all medical staff and appropriate ancillary personnel. These meetings are comprised of a multidisciplinary group of people and are an important information-sharing platform that provides a forum for oncologists to discuss diagnoses and/or treatment options for individuals with cancer. Each meeting includes clinical findings, presentations by both the Pathology and Radiology Departments and general case discussions. Anderson Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Mississippi State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians and one AMA PRA Category 1 Credit is awarded to physicians who attend the Oncology Board meetings.
At Anderson Regional Cancer Center, we make every effort to help you each step of the way during your treatment and beyond.
As a new patient, you will be asked to bring the following items on your initial visit:
After you have completed your paperwork, you will be issued your own personal ID card. This card allows you to easily check-in when you return for your radiation therapy treatments. Simply scanning the card at our convenient check-in station alerts our staff that you are on the premises and ready for your appointment.
Because cancer has such a profound effect on our society, an information collection system known as the Oncology Registry was devised to identify the characteristics of cancer patients. A Cancer Registrar at Anderson follows each patient’s progress during and after treatment, although you may never meet them. The registrars are specially trained in current cancer care trends, data collection and evaluation, and basic statistics.
Accreditation with the CoC ensures that the patients at the Anderson Regional Cancer Center receive quality care close to home. Our team of specialists provide comprehensive care using a multi-specialty team approach to coordinate the best treatment options for you.
Anderson Regional Health System offers a wide range of medical services, including cancer, cardiac, pediatric, surgical, and trauma care. Our healthcare professionals are committed to improving the lives of those we serve.
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