Cancer Center receives regional accolade

The Cancer Center at Ball Memorial Hospital is the latest recipient of an American Cancer Society (ACS) effort to recognize hospitals in the ongoing fight against cancer.

The Five Star Community Investor Award is presented to hospitals who participate in a variety of American Cancer Society programs. Several criteria are designed to recognize facilities utilizing ACS programs and services to promote community awareness and early detection methods to support the fight against cancer.

“The requirements for Five Star recognition are meeting five of 11 criteria, and I believe that we fulfilled almost all eleven of them!,” said Terry Pence, senior administrative director, of The Cancer Center at Ball Memorial Hospital.

More than 25 hospitals from the Great Lakes division, comprising Indiana and Michigan have received the Five Star Community Investor recognition in 2006.

As a Five Star Community Investor, the Cancer Center was specifically recognized by the ACS for the following criteria:

• Cancer committee: The ACS provides resources and community outreach as a member of the Cancer Center at Ball Memorial Hospital’s cancer committee.

• Web site link: The CHS Web site, www.accesschs.org, features a direct
  link to the ACS national Web site, www.cancer.org, offering a reliable source of cancer information to all Web users.

• Reach to Recovery: Peer support is offered by ACS-trained breast cancer survivors to women diagnosed with breast cancer. The Cancer Center provides referral information to newly diagnosed patients who may benefit from this program.

• Cancer screenings: The Cancer Center offers screenings and educational materials at little or no cost to the East Central Indiana community.

• Tobacco prevention and cessation: Because one third of all cancers are tobacco-related, the Cancer Center actively participates in cessation efforts and tobacco education within the community.

• Quality of life: Look Good … Feel Better is a monthly event where volunteer cosmetologists teach women how to deal with appearance-related side effects from treatment. This program, dedicated to improving quality of life for cancer patients and their families, is in partnership with the ACS and the Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association Foundation. Participants receive a free cosmetic kit valued at $250.

Pence and Dr. William Fisher, Oncologist, were presented with a plaque that will be displayed in the Cancer Center to commemorate the honor.

“We really enjoy working with the ACS and appreciate their acknowledgement of how we work with our community, because that is what it is truly about,” said Pence. “Without our community support, we would not have this Cancer Center here today.”

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