Did you know that colon cancer can be prevented through screening or caught early, when treatment is most effective? Unfortunately, about one third of Americans 50 years and older are not getting the recommended testing, and there has also been a concerning increase in the number of people under age 50 being diagnosed with colon cancer.

More than 3,800 people in Oregon will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, according to the American Cancer Society. The majority will be identified through mammograms.

A cancer patient will typically see many specialists, from diagnosis through treatment and recovery. The Oregon Cancer Alliance (OCA) streamlines the medical process for patients by bringing together a team of multidisciplinary specialists in the Eugene-Springfield community. Their goal is to see patients quickly, help them manage their appointments and collaborate to create the best treatment plan.

Before COVID-19 led to a stay-at-home order and social distancing, Willamette Valley Cancer institute and Research Center was already preparing for the impact of a potential health crisis. To protect high-risk patients from illness, the cancer center made significant changes to its day-to-day operations and increased protection of clinic staff by creating an innovative process to sterilize and reuse N-95 respirators.