Cancer Center Opens in Santa Maria - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

SANTA MARIA, CA – (April 18, 2012) – One in every three Americans will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime, but now there is a new local oncology center of the future providing hope for Central Coast cancer patients and their families.

Central Coast Medical Oncology in collaboration with Marian Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce the official Grand Opening Celebration for the newly opened Mission Hope Cancer Center. Mission Hope Cancer Center's Grand Opening Celebration is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, beginning at 3 p.m. in front of the new facility located at 1325 East Church Street, Santa Maria. The event's program will begin at 3 p.m. with a reception to follow between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. featuring an open house and tours of the state-of-the-art facility.

Located on the Marian Regional Medical Center campus, Mission Hope Cancer Center is an integrated oncology facility designed to enhance patient comfort, convenience, safety and service. Home to Central Coast Medical Oncology, Coastal Radiation Oncology, Marian Cancer Care, Marian PET/CT Center, Marian Breast Imaging Center, Marian Lab Services, surgical specialists and radiology specialists, the three-story, 44,000-square-foot cancer center unites Santa Maria oncology services all at one location.

 "As a Medical Oncologist, I have witnessed the physical and psychological hardships of cancer patients, their loved ones and caregivers as they traveled from office to office for multiple oncology treatments and services within a region," explains Robert Dichmann, M.D., Central Coast Medical Oncology Corp. and Mission Hope Cancer Center Founder. "Mission Hope Cancer Center was built during one of the greatest economic downturns of the century and the funding and completion of Mission Hope was nothing less than a challenge. However, Santa Maria and neighboring Central Coast communities recognized the need for this special building and its mission to advance not only local cancer care, but to ultimately positively impact and save lives of those battling cancer."

Through Mission Hope Cancer Center's affiliation with the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and Marian Regional Medical Center, Mission Hope offers patients a multitude of clinical trial opportunities and expert physicians and health care professionals from the nation's top medical schools and medical centers. Mission Hope also provides advanced treatment options and technology only offered at major teaching centers.

At the Grand Opening Celebration Dennis J. Slamon, M.D., Ph.D, Director of Clinical/Translational Research and the Revlon/UCLA Women's Cancer Research Program at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, will be one of the program's featured speakers. Slamon is credited with conducting the laboratory and clinical research that led to the development of the new breast cancer drug Herceptin, which targets a specific genetic alteration found in about 25 percent of breast cancer patients. To acknowledge Slamon's accomplishments, President Clinton appointed Slamon to the three-member President's Cancer Panel in June 2000.

Reservations to attend the Grand Opening Celebration are necessary. To book a reservation to attend the event, community members are to call (805) 219-HOPE (4673).