New cancer center at MMH brings treatments closer to home

Cancer patients are now traveling a few blocks instead of a few hours to receive chemotheraphy treatments.

The Londa Wernet Bradford Cancer Center at Melissa Memorial Hospital in Holyoke saw its first patient Wednesday, March 11.

The cancer center is a welcome addition for patients who would otherwise have to travel out of town for chemotherapy treatments.

“What everyone wants is to be close to home,” said Cindy Lock, a registered nurse certified in biotherapy and chemotherapy administration. “Even just an hour ride to Sterling is hard on people.”

She said they can see there’s a real need for a cancer center in Holyoke, too. When she was involved in administering treatments at MMH several years ago, there were possibly one or two patients a month. Now, the new cancer center is seeing one or two patients every week.

Lock said they’ve received orders from three or four providers, and she hopes to get the word out to even more so that they know patients from northeast Colorado now have this option in Holyoke.

Some patients who were in the middle of treatments were able to be transferred to the Londa Wernet Bradford Cancer Center, which allowed them to be closer to home. Lock said the patient has to be the one to initiate that transfer and their oncologist is still the one to oversee them.

Since the cancer center first began treatments during the global COVID-19 outbreak, extra precautions have been taken. Generally, patients are asked to go to treatments alone. They also enter the hospital through a back door so they are kept secluded from everyone else, and that’s something that Lock thinks could continue even after the pandemic. Blood draws, transfusions and more are all done at the cancer center.

Overall, Lock said things have been going well. “Some of our patients are our biggest cheerleaders,” she said.

One such patient is Bert Edmonds. “How couldn’t you like it?!” he asked ethusiastically.

Edmonds is one of the lucky ones who got to start his initial chemotheraphy treatments at the Londa Wernet Bradford Cancer Center last month. He is being treated for multiple myeloma, a rare cancer in the blood.

Edmonds is enjoying the convenience of having a cancer center in his hometown, especially since he can’t drive due to medications that he’s on. He’s had people take him to MMH for treatments. “When you’re driving a few blocks instead of a few hours, it makes a difference,” he said.

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