OGDEN — Gaylene Greener clearly remembers when she found out she had stage four colon cancer.
“I was diagnosed in September of 2014,” she said. “It had metastasized to my liver. (The doctor) told me I was in peril, that my life was in peril and that I needed to get on chemo as soon as possible.”
Greener, from Corinne, started weekly treatment at a small clinic. But a few years in, she started hearing whispers.
“We would hear, ‘They’re going to build a new space for all you cancer patients. And they’re going to do all these wonderful things.’ And I just kept thinking, ‘Well, that’s really cool. And it might be in a couple of years. I’ll probably never live long enough,'” she said.
Fast forward to March, and Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital officially opened its new, state-of-the-art cancer center.
“I was really happy when I came in and saw how much thought had been put into that,” Greener said. “As a patient, I live it, and I know the people who planned this probably weren’t patients, so I’m glad they put so much thought into helping us be comfortable.”
The new space is located on the first floor of the hospital. The center includes comfortable seating for patients who are there for hours at a time, colorful artwork, and several windows to bring in natural light. It also increased infusion bays from eight to 12 and chemotherapy infusion bays from 16 to 24.
A team of nurses, oncologists, pharmacists, social workers, and dietitians collaborate together for each individual.
“The people here make you feel like every time you walk through the door, you are a VIP,” Greener said.
“Our team is amazing,” said Jennifer Lucas, a nurse and the infusion manager for Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital’s Cancer Center.
“They hold the patients’ hands; they help calm them. They educate them to what’s going to happen. That’s one of the biggest keys to our care here is the relationship building,” said Lucas.
It’s that personalized care that has made all the difference for patients like Greener.
“When I thought I was going to die within weeks, I have survived for ten years,” Greener said. “This has been a miracle place for me. Nobody wants to have cancer. But if you have to have cancer, this is the place you want to be.”
Intermountain Health said the new cancer center was funded by generations of donations. For more information on the center, you can visit the hospital’s website.
Dr. Debi Johnson is a medical expert and health journalist dedicated to promoting well-being. With a background in medicine, she offers evidence-based insights into health trends and wellness practices. Beyond her reporting, Dr. Debi enjoys hiking, yoga, and empowering others to lead healthier lives.
