All of us have been touched by cancer. We realize the impact that a cancer diagnosis has on the patients, their family members and friends.  Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Langlade County. Because of the advancements in diagnostic capabilities, cancer is often diagnosed sooner than in the past and, consequently, cancer survival rates have steadily improved.  It is also true however, that the incidence of some cancers is increasing and more people are affected.  We expect these trends to continue so the early detection and treatment of cancer is vital to the quality of life for those living in the Antigo area.  The development of comprehensive cancer services locally is of great importance to the people we serve. It has become essential as advances are made in the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. 

Langlade Memorial Hospital is a non-profit organization and currently operates a cancer center in the St. Joseph’s Outpatient Center adjacent to the hospital.  The Langlade Memorial Hospital Cancer Center provides a variety of cancer treatment services to patients of all ages under the medical direction of Dr. Umang Gautam and Dr. Christopher Peterson who are Aspirus Wausau physicians and members of the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center oncology faculty.  The staff includes registered oncology nurses who treat their patients as if they were family members.

Chemotherapy and diagnostic services are provided at the Hospital on a full time basis – a convenience to patients and their families and friends.  There were more than 3,200 patient visits to the Langlade Memorial Hospital Cancer Center in 2006.

Chemotherapy and diagnostics services are only part of the story.  Approximately 50% of persons diagnosed with cancer will have radiation prescribed as part of their treatment. Radiation therapy treatments require that our patients travel to outpatient therapy care sites outside Antigo with a 45-minute or longer drive several times a week for the duration of the therapy. This is a significant challenge for local cancer patients who may require up to eight weeks of continuing radiation therapy. In addition, some cutting edge clinical trials for breast cancer recommend that patients receive two doses of radiation in a single day with six hours between treatments. Patients must spend the entire day away from home.  This is a considerable hardship for cancer patients and whoever is providing their transportation.  Some patients have declined radiation therapy because the required travel posed a substantial burden for them - a heartbreaking occurrence.

“I just finished chemo and radiation. I had to drive to Wausau 5 days a week, one hour there, one hour back, for a 20 minute appointment. I never even had to wait in the waiting room.  By the 3rd day, you’ve usually had it.  But I was very fortunate to have good weather – that is not always the case.  My husband or my daughter drove me and it was hard on their schedules.  I never missed an appointment but it would have been so much easier if I hadn’t had that long drive.”

~ Jeannie Bonnell ~

At Langlade Memorial Hospital, we believe that the convenience of local cancer services will aid efforts to promote the early detection and treatment of cancer.  With the availability of both chemotherapy and radiation therapy locally, most cancer patients will be able to receive their treatment closer to home.  Current thinking in cancer care indicates that a comprehensive treatment center is a significant factor in a patient’s sense of well-being and to his/her chances of survival. 

“The addition of radiation oncology in Antigo will allow state of the art care close to home.  It will save patients countless hours of travel time over the course of their treatments certainly filling a void in northeastern Wisconsin.”

~ Christopher Peterson, MD ~

Radiation therapy closer to home will help our patients overcome one of the many barriers they face in dealing with cancer.  The time saved in transportation and the related inconveniences will be a gift to our patients and their families – the gift of time to do what is important to them.

“My radiation therapy schedule is five days a week for seven weeks.  The treatment itself is brief but the trip to and from Wausau takes two to three additional hours, interrupting not only my day but that of my caregiver who drives me.  The trip also increases my fatigue.  The idea of having this treatment right here in my own hometown would make my battle with cancer so much easier. ”

 ~ Helen Winski ~

To view the campaign video click here.