Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Natchez is Building for the Future

Cancer Center continues to advance mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer

  (Natchez, Miss.) Cancer survivorship continues to improve across the country, but with its exclusive focus on the disease, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center knows there is still much to do. While significant developments have been made and more people are living longer, healthier lives following a diagnosis, fewer resources often exist in many community settings. This is why Mary Bird Perkins is bolstering its efforts to enhance services, programs and the facility at its Natchez community cancer center location. At the recent Rotary Club of Natchez meeting, Ethan Bush, vice president and chief development officer, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, and Gregory W. Cotter, MD, FACRO, radiation oncologist, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Natchez, outlined plans to enhance cancer care in the region. “As a regional cancer care facility, Mary Bird Perkins can bring our supportive patient care programs to Natchez, and we are also able to make these resources and services available to other cancer specialists in the area when needed,” said Bush. “Partnership between the cancer center, local physicians and the community will make even more programs possible and we look forward to engaging Natchez businesses and individuals as we move the mission forward.” Bush said that Mary Bird Perkins in Natchez, previously Caring River Cancer Center, offers state-of-the-art treatment technology and an experienced, dedicated staff. And that in keeping with the organization’s mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer, a number of new initiatives are planned, including:

• Internal and external facility enhancements
• Prevention, education and early detection programs
• Clinical trials
• Additional patient support programs

Dr. Cotter said that the facility’s radiation therapy technology, the Varian iX System, is a powerful tool that allows him and his team to treat complex and simple cases, focusing treatment on tumors while avoiding healthy tissue. “In cancer treatment, our goal is always to eliminate disease while sparing non-cancerous tissue and we have the ability with Varian iX to do this effectively, delivering the most favorable outcomes possible,” said Dr. Cotter. He also explained that the Natchez location also recently converted to the MOSAIQ electronic medical record system, which will connect patient data to other Mary Bird Perkins locations. This will make working with specialists easier when needed. MOSAIQ also integrates data and processes to provide oncologists, medical physicists and others with all the information needed to provide the most personalized treatment plan. “We believe it is important to bring as many resources to the Natchez community as possible,” said Dr. Cotter. “Research clearly shows that patients experience better outcomes when they are treated in their own communities where they have access to family and support systems. The Mary Bird team is looking forward to building out the Natchez cancer program to the highest level possible, collaborating with other local oncologists and physicians and ensuring the most sophisticated cancer care in the region.” For more information on Mary Bird Perkins in Natchez, please visit marybird.org. Photo Caption, l-r, Gregory Cotter, MD, FACRO, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center; Diana Glaze, Natchez Rotary Club; Pam Wood, Natchez Rotary Club; and Ethan Bush, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. About Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a regional cancer care organization that has been fighting cancer for almost 50 years. The cancer care organization provides care at nine centers in Baton Rouge, Covington, Hammond, Houma, Gonzales, Zachary and Natchez, Mississippi, and its service area encompasses southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi regions. For more information, please visit www.marybird.org.