President’s Report

A letter from our President…

Dr. Mark Myron looks at where we’ve been … and where we’re going.

During the past three decades, Kansas City Cancer Center has played a pivotal role in the evolution of cancer care in the Kansas City area. No other local medical facility has focused all its resources, all its intellect and all its energies solely on helping cancer and hematology patients. As President of KCCC, I’m not only proud of the consistently remarkable service we’ve provided for our patients, but also the national recognition we’ve achieved for our contributions to the healthcare industry along the way.

KCCC — Inventing a new organizational model for cancer care

Before 1980, cancer treatment in Kansas City was limited to a few independent offices within our local general hospitals. Many cancer patients journeyed to distant clinics or academic centers in search of expertise. Then, Dr. Mark Davidner, the first board-certified oncologist in our community, recognized the growing need for specialized cancer care right here in the Midwest. He opened a small oncology practice with one nurse, one receptionist and one lab employee. Within just five years, his unique cancer-focused concept had expanded to include three strategically located clinics. With each passing year, the number of locations multiplied and by 2001, this collection of interconnected cancer clinics had acquired a brand new name: Kansas City Cancer Center.

Today, we have proof that our revolutionary approach to cancer care really works. The KCCC network of clinics now encircles the entire Kansas City metropolitan area with 10 easy-to-reach locations. Each freestanding clinic provides the outpatient services our cancer patients and their families require, from diagnosis, through treatment and into survivorship. Every day, our medical teams demonstrate that world-class cancer care can be convenient – under one roof, on one floor and close to patients’ homes.

KCCC — Leading the way with scientific achievements

Over the past ten years, cancer care in America has changed dramatically. We no longer rely on broad-based chemotherapy and radiation treatments that damage the tumor and everything near it. Today, we have access to image-guided therapies and molecular agents that target cancer cells and spare surrounding tissue. Modern cancer care is rapidly evolving into a high-tech branch of medicine with treatments tailored for each type of cancer and each unique patient. Here are just a few of our scientific achievements:

  • KCCC was one of the nation’s first cancer clinics to establish high-quality, evidence-based guidelines for treating the most common cancers. Our Pathways model has been adopted by hundreds of physicians who are members of the US Oncology network.
  • KCCC operates the only freestanding Interventional Oncology suite in the Kansas City area. Our IO program leads the way with innovative, image-guided treatments for cancer patients.
  • KCCC is one of the only practices in Kansas City to provide TomoTherapy® technology combining the accuracy of a CT scan with a targeted radiation delivery system.
  • KCCC offers a clinical trials team staffed with 18 full-time members. Each year, more than 300 patients participate in our clinical oncology trials.
  • KCCC takes a proactive approach to cancer with GREAT – Genetic Risk Evaluation and Testing. This nationally recognized program seeks to identify cancer risk in families and prevent it from ever occurring. Our program is one of the few to be operated by medical oncologists.
  • KCCC operates a Pathology Lab with hematopathology capabilities. Our Hematology Team includes seven physicians who possess specialized expertise.

KCCC — Taking care of the whole person

One of the most important lessons we’ve learned during our 30 years on the journey with cancer is that we need to treat more than just the disease itself. We need to treat the whole person. At KCCC, we strive to create unique services and programs that help our patients and their families cope – even thrive – as they face cancer.

  • KCCC introduced a groundbreaking Survivorship Program that assists patients with the often-difficult transition from end-of-treatment to survivorship. It has been recognized as one of four model programs in the U.S. by the Institute of Medicine.
  • KCCC partners with Dr. Jeremy Geffen to offer a seven-week program called The Seven Levels of Healing®. It’s free for patients, family, friends or anyone in our community who has been touched by cancer.
  • KCCC offers a 3-point Wellness Program designed to help our patients, survivors and their families stay energized for the difficult journey ahead.
  • KCCC is one of the few area medical practices to address Advance Care Planning by offering an advisor who helps patients make choices about their future healthcare.
  • KCCC also provides Insurance and Financial Counseling. Our staff searches diligently to find co-pay assistance, drug discounts or foundations that may be willing to help cover the cost of treatment for patients who cannot afford to pay.

As you can see, it has taken dedicated management, experienced scientists and an enthusiastic support staff to make Kansas City Cancer Center flourish. Each team member and each facility has played a significant role in our overall success.

Now our journey continues. We recently joined forces with another local trailblazer in the field of oncology and hematology – The University of Kansas Cancer Center. This partnership will further enhance our customized, patient-centered approach by providing our patients more cancer and hematology specialists, innovative technologies, new treatment options and more clinical trials. This new collaboration – known collectively as The University of Kansas Cancer Center –offers patients access to more than 50 hematologists and oncologists at locations throughout the Kansas City area.

While some changes may be on the horizon, I want to reassure our patients that the most important aspects of KCCC will not change – our physicians, care teams, locations and patient     focus will remain the same. We’ve spent the past 30 years transforming cancer care in ways that have benefited thousands of people. We will never walk away from our history; instead, we hope to build on our success and help even more cancer patients on the journey ahead.

The Journey Continues,
Mark C. Myron, MD

Click here to download a complete copy of our 30th Anniversary Cancer Report.