Bonney Bence - "State-Of-The-Art-People"

Bonney Bence - Volunteering in the Resource Center at TCCC

On Valentine’s Day I was asked to talk about my journey with the Tri-CitiesCancer Center, which I felt was ironic since it is a subject that is very near and dear to my heart.

My journey began in 2005 when my I brought my mother-in-law, who was in her 90s, to the Cancer Center for radiation treatment. Breast cancer that had been diagnosed and treated 21-years earlier had metastasized to her skeletal system. We will always be grateful for the tender and compassionate way she was cared for by everyone at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center. During that time I became a member of the TCCC Guild, a selfless organization whose only focus is the comfort and well being of the patients. This led me to become a volunteer in the Resource Center and the radiation waiting room, helping patients any way possible. Then (surprise, surprise) in the spring of 2009 I became a patient fighting cancer myself. The diagnosis of cancer is not only a physical diagnosis, but carries an emotional impact that can be overpowering to those experiencing the disease as well as their families and support groups. At the Tri-Cities Cancer Center I was not only treated for the cancer within but very importantly for my emotional well being. I knew about the state-of-the-art equipment being used in my treatment. It didn’t take me long to realize what amazing “state-of-the-art people” were planning, overseeing and administering that treatment. While volunteering, the patients I have the privilege of meeting frequently share with me how thankful they are to be in a facility where they are treated in a very special way, not just as a patient but as a person with individual needs.

Thank you Tri-Cities Cancer Center for being here, giving treatment beyond compare, physically and emotionally, to all of us who have faced and those who are now facing a most devastating diagnosis.

Bonney Bence

Crazy good things!

Michael with Executive Director, Tom Cothran.

We have some crazy good things happening down here at your Tri-Cities Cancer Center. In talking with several different patients and their families this week I was confronted with a recurring theme: having cutting-edge cancer treatment options available locally is a real benefit to the community. Several individuals shared that being treated at the Cancer Center, rather than having to drive to a larger metropolitan area, made the difference in their health/recovery/comfort as well as providing benefit to their family members.

One gentleman I spoke with just lost his brother to cancer. He stated that the difference between the care he received at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center and the care his brother received at a cancer treatment facility on the east coast was night and day. His comment to me was, “If you have to have cancer, this is the best place to be.” Another couple stated, “We are fortunate to live in the Tri-Cities were treatment [options are] all right here. If you’re going to get cancer, get it here in the Tri-Cities.” Several others made similar comments regarding their ability to be treated locally with quality care and compassion.

Quality communication was also a topic that came up regularly. Patients and families members felt they had a voice with their physician here at the Cancer Center. It was also mentioned that staff plays a key role in explaining treatment particulars and other services provided.

Thank you to each and every patient, caregiver and physician who feels strongly in the quality of care provided at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, trusting us with their lives, the lives of their loved ones and/or the lives of those whose care they are responsible for. We are also so very grateful for continued community support. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do on a daily basis if it wasn’t for the trust of the Tri-Cities Community. Thank you!

Michael Novakovich
Director of Business Development
Tri-Cities Cancer Center

A note from our Executive Director

Tom at our annual "Let's Make Pink Just Another Color" event.

As I reflect back over the last seven and a half years that I have been fortunate enough to have been the Executive Director of the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, I find great satisfaction in knowing that I have been a part of such a wonderful organization.  The Cancer Center is truly a special place and a jewel in our community. We are capable of providing services equal to those found in major cities throughout the region. Our radiation therapy equipment is state-of-the-art and our services are beyond those found elsewhere. Those aspects, however, are only a small part of what makes the Tri-Cities Cancer Center a special place to work or to be cared for when one is diagnosed with cancer.

Our amazing staff works as a team to make the patient experience at the Cancer Center second to none. Our patients visit the Radiation Therapy Department for daily treatment Monday through Friday for many weeks. We get to know them and they us very well during this time.  Our staff treats each patient and their family members with compassion, respect and in a friendly manner. Our patient satisfaction surveys clearly indicate that the patients enjoy the interaction with the staff in addition to the exceptional care they receive. Our goal is to treat everyone like we would want our loved ones to be treated. It obviously works because our satisfaction scores are 98%.

This is accomplished by treating everyone with a personalized touch to make them feel special.  Our staff works as a team to accomplish this. Every patient meets the Nurse Navigation staff, the Chaplains, and the Financial Counselor as well as the treatment team. This team assesses their concerns and provides resources to address their needs. They are provided with a contact in the Navigation team to ask questions regarding their care. They are monitored by the treatment team on a regular basis to ensure they are tolerating their treatments.

One of the other ways patients are made to feel special is through monthly patient favors.  These are small gifts provided by the Cancer Center Guild. These range from hand knitted water bottle holders, to watermelons and even Christmas stockings. Additionally, our volunteers are present in the clinic area to interact with the patients on a daily basis helping to further create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

The Cancer Center is truly a special place where technology, skill and hope intertwine to provide exceptional care for our patients. I am proud to have been a part of this great organization.

Tom Cothran, FACHE
Executive Director
Tri-Cities Cancer Center

It Must be so Hard to Work There

When I tell people that I’m a nurse at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center the response is usually a heartrending face and the statement “Oh… it must be so hard to work there.” In actuality, it’s exactly the opposite.  There are lots of smiles and laughter in our building. I am happy to see my patients and their families. I am an integral part of their cancer fighting team and I get to be there to cheer them on, to celebrate victories or provide support when the news isn’t what we hoped for. I’ve been working at TCCC for over 12 years as a radiation oncology nurse. Over those years I’ve learned that fighting cancer takes strength and I don’t mean muscle…I mean grit. It’s a privilege to work here and have an opportunity to get to know some of the bravest people on earth. I also get to work with a team of compassionate professionals like myself. Oncology isn’t a profession someone falls into. We have all chosen to be here for one reason or another. My reason doesn’t stem from a personal story. I am here to help my patients take on, and triumph, as best we can the fight of their life. 

Rebecca Grimes, RN
Tri-Cities Cancer Center