GREENVILLE — The Lou and Jack Finney Cancer Center at Hunt Regional Medical Center, operated by Texas Oncology, provides those in the Hunt County region immediate access to advanced cancer treatments.

According to  Dr. Meera Shreedhara Vasudha, the center is a full cancer facility offering all services beginning with the detection of breast cancer via CT scans and digital mammography.

In addition, the fully staffed medical oncology center has full chemotherapy and radiation centers and has access to virtually any drug or infusion required for the treatment of breast cancer.

“Radiation therapy is usually an every-day deal and it makes a huge difference to have it locally here; that way they don’t have to drive an hour to get treatment,” said  Shreedhara Vasudha .

The center also offers genetic counseling, which has the ability through genetic testing to identify whether an individual has an increased risk for certain types of cancers.

“I think that’s a wonderful thing we offer here,” said  Shreedhara Vasudha. “You usually associate genetic counseling with bigger centers, and is not something you’d expect to see in a community hospital, but we have it and it’s a great advantage. We also have access to pretty much any clinical trial in terms of research options for our patients if they qualify. Since we’re part of the US Oncology network, we have the ability to plug in our patients for clinical trials if they are eligible, though they might not be on site.”

Though it’s not breast cancer specific, Hunt Regional Medical Center has recently started a program called FitSTEPS for Life, which is a free program to all patients and their caregivers.

“It’s a dedicated exercise program,” said Shreedhara Vasudha. “It’s something we recommend for all our patients, not just breast cancer, because it reduces the risk of recurrence.”

Carol Keller, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer at Texas Oncology, is one of several individuals partaking in the FitSTEPS program.

“It was difficult at first because I ached all over from not using the muscles, but the program is so gentle that before long I could do it without pain,” said Keller. “The trainers are very upbeat in their personalities and their attitude is contagious, making the exercise, the whole experience, fun.

“It got me up, out of bed and living again. I really enjoyed the camaraderie of the other people in the program. When I went back for another mammogram the doctor said he could really see a difference in the scar tissue as a result of the FitSTEPS program. I always walked out of there feeling so much better than when I came.”

It was more than just FitSTEPS that got Keller out of her depression and interacting with others.

“They have such a compassionate, caring relationship with every one of their patients,” she said. “They make you feel like you’re the most important person in the world and that’s what you need when you’re in a place like that. I really commend them.”

According to  Shreedhara Vasudha, the center has everything a women needs after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis.

“When a patient walks through the door we want them to feel like they’re with family,”she said. “We know that when a person has been diagnosed with cancer their lives have been shattered ... and we’re here to heal.”

Melody Pierce, director of the Journey Into Life Cancer Survivor Support Group which meets once a month at the cancer center, is a breast cancer survivor herself and knows of the importance of atmosphere when going through treatment. She believes the Cancer Center is really going above and beyond as far as quality care and caring personalities.

“This hospital is setting records for quality healthcare,” said Pierce. “The Texas Oncology staff is truly amazing.”