OSF HealthCare has begun constructing a vault to house a linear accelerator to offer radiation oncology services at OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg. Radiology Supervisory Jennifer Eldridge explains the advantages of the external beam radiation treatments:
“The linear accelerator delivers high energy x-rays or electrons to the region of the patient’s tumors and the treatments can be designed in such a way that they destroy the cancer cells while they spare the surrounding normal tissue. It is less damaging to an overall area and really focuses that high point energy, specifically to the cancer.”
The linear accelerator radiation oncology services at OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center are expected to be available this November.
Construction continues on the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute on the campus of OSF Saint Francis in Peoria, explains Eldridge:
“It is going to be an 180,000 square foot building on the campus of OSF Saint Francis. The OSF Cancer Institute will be a regional destination center offering a full range of cancer related services. It will bring world class medical and research capabilities to downstate Illinois. The institute will open new possibilities to improve and transform the lives of cancer patients.”
The OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute is anticipated to be open in early 2024.
