SHANDS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA CANCER HOSPITAL

The Raising Hope Cancer Campaign is a $55 million philanthropic campaign to support Shands at the University of Florida Cancer Hospital.

The cancer hospital complex is designed to be a welcoming, family friendly place. It will offer a healing garden, the Criser Cancer Resource Center, training rooms, and the Shands at UF Auxiliary Conference Center with public space for community health fairs, screenings and educational workshops on health issues such as cancer prevention and treatment.

The Growing Need for Cancer Care
Shands is building the hospital in response to increased demand for cancer services. One of every seven adult patients hospitalized at Shands at UF comes to us with a cancer-related condition. According to the American Cancer Society, Florida had more than 106,000 new cases of cancer in 2007, making California the only state that had a higher occurrence. And, in North Central Florida alone, there are at least 4,500 new cases of cancer each year among residents.

UF and Shands have a proven track record of bringing scientific discoveries to our patients. We have a long history of pioneering research in cancer treatment, resulting in new technologies, many of which are now industry standard worldwide. Some of our recent achievements include:

Stereotactic Radiosurgery: Neurosurgeon William Friedman, MD, UF College of Medicine professor and chair of neurosurgery, and Radiation Oncologist Frank Bova, PhD, UF College of Medicine professor of neurosurgery, founded one of the first radiosurgical programs in the nation more than 20 years ago. In July 2006, they introduced the Trilogy Tx Stereotactic System, which is the newest technology in the treatment and targeting of brain and spinal tumors, AVMs and other brain disorders. With this system, patients are seen in a shorter amount of time and with a more positive outcome rate than ever before. The $3-million machine is located in the Radiation Oncology Unit of the ground floor at Shands UF.

Proton Therapy: The University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute team treated the new program's first patient in August 2006. The $125-million facility is located on the Shands Jacksonville campus. It is one of only five proton therapy centers in the country and the only one in the Southeast. Unlike traditional radiation, proton therapy is unique because it penetrates the tumor site with little damage to surrounding tissue. The therapy is particularly beneficial in treating children, and for treating prostate, lung and brain cancer. The center will eventually treat up to 200 patients a day.