News Center

George Emerson looked Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R-Va.) directly in the eye when he shared why he chose to continue his support of VCU Massey Cancer Center after receiving his treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the throat in December 2005.

“We are Virginia's cancer center,” stated Emerson, chair of the Legislative Engagement Task Force for the Massey Advisory Board. “We are a safety net hospital. We serve everyone. I used to drive up to this center with my car, but the man in front of me rode the bus to his appointments every time. We received the same care. We weren’t treated any differently. It made me realize how fortunate this community is to have Massey.”

Earle-Sears visited Massey’s Goodwin Research Laboratory on Sept. 12 to learn more about how the cancer center will use its new comprehensive designation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to have a greater impact on the health of Virginians. In June, Massey announced its reception of the highest level of recognition from the NCI for influencing a new standard of care through research, education and community engagement.

“This designation puts us among the elite cancer centers in the country, and we’re not out of first gear yet,” explained Robert A. Winn, M.D., director and Lipman Chair in Oncology at Massey. “We have had a long tradition of serving everyone, regardless of ability to pay, through state funding, the health system and philanthropy. We now also have two new Massey on the Move mobile vans operated by our Community Outreach and Engagement team to increase access to education and use navigation to get patients through our doors.”

Becky Massey, chair of the Massey Advisory Board and long-time patient advocate, shared with Earle-Sears a recent example of the work done at the center every day since its beginning in 1974. 

“I met a patient who felt a lump in her breast but could not get a mammogram appointment elsewhere until November,” Massey recalled. “She came here, and in one day got her screening. She walked out of the clinic across the street and was so grateful.”

Of the 66 localities Massey serves, seven are ranked nationally in the top 10 with the highest cancer incidence, and three are among the top 10 with the highest cancer mortality in the country.

“I often hear people say how we make progress with cancer,” reflected Katherine Tossas, Ph.D., M.S., director of catchment area data access and alignment and Harrison Scholar at Massey. “One of the goals of the NCI comprehensive designation is to align the cancer centers that have it. We can talk to each other, exchange information and make collective progress.”

Kandace McGuire, M.D., chief of breast surgery at Massey, spoke about the importance of retention and recruitment in advancing the center’s mission during a time when there is a shortage of medical professionals.

“Affordability of health care, the availability of clinical trials and the ability to grow to match demand are just some of our focus areas. We want our patients to see their physicians and providers when they want to,” said McGuire, who is also a professor in the Department of Surgery at the VCU School of Medicine.

Earle-Sears learned about a few of the ways Massey is creating models for other cancer centers to adopt. The Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) program works with schools to create pathways for students who want to pursue careers in science. Facts and Faith Fridays partners with area faith leaders to disseminate accurate health information to their congregations. Massey is also placing more emphasis on life after a cancer diagnosis with a Survivorship Program and research opportunities.

“Now that there are so many more survivors, we are looking into the conditions brought on by cancer treatment, like cardiovascular disease. Massey is one of the leading cancer centers in this area of research. We are working with VCU’s Pauley Heart Center to better understand cardio-oncology and be at the forefront,” said  Arnethea Sutton, Ph.D., a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control research program at Massey and assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences in the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences.

Virginia Lieutenant Governor views slides under a microscope in the laboratory of Dr. Robert A. Winn at Massey.

Earle-Sears toured Winn’s lung cancer lab and viewed slides of cells under a microscope. She left Massey saying she has a better understanding of Massey’s daily work and what the comprehensive designation means for Virginians.

“In addition to bringing prominence to this great commonwealth, certainly it impacts, more importantly, the individual life of the person who has cancer,” said Earle-Sears. “You don't have to be ravaged by the treatment of cancer anymore. You can find out exactly what medicines will work for you, even if your cancer is caught at a later stage.”

Written by: Amy Lacey