A Local Treasure: Sharp Grossmont’s Center for Cancer Treatment

Although Domenica, my wife of forty-seven years, and I were prepared for the worst, the words “you have cancer” were the last we had hoped to hear.

Because our family physician is affiliated with the Sharp community of health care providers, the colonoscopy that revealed my wife’s cancer was performed on March 7, 2013 at the Sharp Outpatient Pavilion in Kearny Mesa.

To follow was a consult with a Sharp staff surgeon; who, after reviewing all diagnosis related data, referred my wife to Sharp Grossmont’s Center for Cancer Treatment.

Understandably, my wife and I felt a certain level of apprehension and, yes, even fear of what the future was to hold. In retrospect, however, there was nary a need to worry. By the end of the first week’s radiation treatment, it became beyond apparent that my dear beloved Domenica was in excellent, highly professional and caring hands.

The six-week regimen of concurrent radiation and chemotherapy treatments is anything but a walk in the park; as the level of discomfort can be significant. But thanks to a most impressive culture of caring, dedicated service delivered with a warm smile, friendly banter and a kind word, the adverse effects of radiation therapy were felt less than they might have otherwise been.

As of this writing, my wife’s tumor is gone.

Technological advances play a major role in the treatment of cancer. The radiation equipment used to treat my wife is the Tomotherapy Hi Art system. As effective as this 3-D system is, it can be made even better by an upgrade that would convert the Center’s system to the HD version; which allows doctors and radiologists to visualize patients in 4-D as well as providing both helical and stationary treatments.

In order to keep pace with the latest advancements in medical technology, Grossmont’s Center for Cancer Treatment is currently soliciting and accepting donations to help pay for the nearly $400,000 upgrade.

One way people can help is by making a donation on-line at www.sharp.com/grossmont-foundation.  Often, grateful patients will contribute in honor of their caregiver via the Guardian Angel program.  One can make a donation in honor of the Sharp Grossmont or Sharp HospiceCare physician, nurse or other caregiver who made a difference. “Guardian Angels” will receive an acknowledgment letter and a custom-crafted lapel pin to wear proudly throughout the hospital or medical office.

On a more personal note, both my wife and I wish to offer God’s infinite blessings to the entire staff in the radiation therapy section; with special recognition and our most heartfelt thanks to Dr. Barry Uhl and Lead Nurse Connie Kaplan.