Manchester, NH – Hundreds of patients each year will now have access to full cancer treatment and oncology services in one convenient location.
On Monday, Dartmouth Cancer Center welcomed the first patients to its new radiation oncology center located at Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester, located at 100 Hitchcock Way in Manchester. The recent addition of a dedicated 6,750-square-foot space in the facility brings the same level of comprehensive care currently available in Lebanon to greater Manchester.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the new Manchester radiation oncology facility with Dartmouth Health CEO and president Joanne M. Conroy, MD, Dartmouth Cancer Center director Steven D. Leach, MD, Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais, and other leaders from the cancer center in attendance.
Patients can now see their oncologists, get test results from the in-house lab, and receive any of the primary cancer treatment modalities—radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery—all in one location.
“Radiation therapy is often needed several days a week, for several weeks,” said Charles R. Thomas Jr., MD, chair of the department of radiation oncology and applied sciences at Dartmouth Cancer Center. “Being able to offer this level of care in southern New Hampshire means hundreds more patients won’t have to drive long distances while managing logistics, finances, fatigue and other side effects. They can stay close to home, stay connected to loved ones, and still receive the same evidence-based treatment protocols you’d find at major academic centers.”
This multi-million-dollar investment by Dartmouth Health will significantly improve access and coordination of care for patients living in southern New Hampshire. Cancer treatment can be a long journey, with care visits happening monthly, weekly or even daily. Having nearby locations for consultations, tests and treatment can make the treatment journey less stressful and more manageable for patients and their loved ones.
“With more than half of all cancer patients receiving radiation therapy as part of their treatment, this new center dramatically expands access to comprehensive cancer care in the greater Manchester region,” said Deborah F. Scribner, vice president of oncology services at Dartmouth Cancer Center. “We’re proud to bring world-class oncology expertise and multiple treatment options under one roof, closer to where people live. It’s part of Dartmouth Health’s commitment to meet patients where they are with the highest standard of care.”
Dartmouth Cancer Center is one of only 57 National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. To learn more, visit cancer.dartmouth.edu/hematology-oncology.