Your generosity keeps cancer care local for patients like Catherine

For years Catherine suffered in silence. Chronic and debilitating pain ruled her life with long stints spent in the hospital managing mystery symptoms without many answers. Finally a diagnosis of ulcerated colitis and a bi-monthly infusion treatment at MultiCare Cancer Center - North Star Lodge brought remission to her disease and a new lease on life.

She found herself back at North Star Lodge for a new diagnosis where the treatment protocol called for High Dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDR), a stand-alone radiation therapy that provides localized radiation directly in the tumor. HDR reduces the number of radiation treatments needed from an average of 20 to 40 to just 3 to 5 and targets cancer cells while reducing the side-effects to the non-cancerous areas.

“I really feel like I’m one of the lucky ones,” says Catherine. “I couldn’t live the life I have without the help and support I’ve received locally from the entire team at North Star Lodge.”

North Star Lodge is embarking on replacing the HDR unit with expected costs greater than $350,000. The current equipment has become outdated with the manufacturer no longer making or servicing the unit. Upgrading becomes crucial in guaranteeing a continuity of care for 150 community members who depend on HDR for local treatment each year.

“The unit we have now was the gold standard in radiation therapy, but with no way to maintain or fix the equipment, we must upgrade to ensure there’s no lapse in care for our patients,” explains Branden Johnson, Radiation Oncology Manager at North Star Lodge. “We don’t want to send someone out of town for their treatment if we can provide it here.”

Your generosity keeps cancer care local. Your support eases the burden of traveling for treatment and revolutionizes local access for thousands of community members like Catherine each year – thank you.

Give today at https://memfound.org/ways-to-give/donate.