Investments Bring Cancer Care Closer to Home

In recent years, I have shared highlights of various initiatives underway to expand access to cancer care in TTUHSC’s 121-county service region. Two of those — both major milestones in our fight against cancer — are now a reality.

The UMC TLC² Foundation Cancer Center opened on April 20 in Lubbock, Texas, to bring comprehensive cancer care to our region.

UMC Health System CEO Mark Funderburk and I began with a vision about seven years ago to expand access to quality cancer care for people in the western half of Texas and Eastern New Mexico. The result is a beautiful, high-touch, high-tech center, three times the size of the former facility.

The namesake honors the legacy of Terry Lee Chandler. She was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer, in April 2017 and died three months later. The TLC² Foundation’s persistent message of “cancer, we are coming for you,” is a nod to her enduring spirit and its mission. The foundation supports individuals affected by cancer, strengthens research to advance new treatments and cures and improves access to healthcare across our vast region.

The new John Wayne Cancer Foundation Surgical Oncology Fellowship embodies a similar spirit. “The Duke” beat lung cancer in the early 1960s but died of stomach cancer in 1979. His children honor his legacy through the foundation by supporting opportunities for surgical oncologists to advance their knowledge and drive innovation in cancer care.

TTUHSC partnered with the foundation and private donors, through The Big Cure initiative, to become its second John Wayne Cancer Foundation program. The fellowship, also supported by the TLC² Foundation, will strengthen our oncology workforce and expand cancer expertise in our region.

These stories remind us that some of the most meaningful advances in healthcare are made possible by those who invest in others. Philanthropic and community partners, along with state and federal funding, are creating hope right here at home.

This issue of Pulse highlights our work advancing high-quality cancer care. In the pages ahead, you’ll read more about these two milestones and other efforts shaping cancer prevention, research and treatment. You’ll also learn about the healthcare professionals we have trained who are making an impact on cancer care across Texas and beyond. All this work is invaluable, helping ensure that where you live does not determine your chance of surviving a cancer diagnosis.