Glow-a-thon to raise funds for MMH chemotherapy upgrade

    The people of Holyoke have a long history of supporting individuals who have had cancer, as well as efforts toward cancer research through events such as Relay for Life and organizations like the American Cancer Society.
    In keeping with such priorities, Melissa Memorial Hospital has a goal to make a more direct difference for local people. For those who may find themselves in need of chemotherapy, services are expected to be provided at MMH next year. For anyone wishing to support that effort or honor a loved one who has had cancer, the hospital will be hosting a cancer walk of its own Saturday, Sept. 22.
    The glow-a-thon will be held from 7-10 p.m. at MMH. Interested individuals can call 970-854-2241 or email elizabeth.hutches@bannerhealth.com to register to walk/run in the event. Luminaries can also be purchased in memory of or in honor of someone.
    
Chemotherapy mixing room upgrade planned
    All funds raised at the glow-a-thon will go toward the re-opening of the MMH chemotherapy mixing room. There is money in this year’s budget for the project and MMH does have some grants out now to help with funding, but this event will help offset the costs.
    While the hospital already has a chemotherapy mixing room, as it’s been out of use for a while, there are upgrades needed to get up to compliance. As CEO Trampas Hutches explained, upgrading is a difficult and expensive process. Chemotherapy is highly regulated and there is no room for error, he said.
    At the moment, the hospital is still in the process of obtaining bids for the upgrade, but Hutches said that between architectural designs and the construction itself, the project is expected to cost about $160,000. For a 160-square-foot room, that might seem like a large price tag, but everything from the surfaces to the ventilation must be specially designed to keep employees and patients safe.
    The plan is to have the facility ready for patients by the latter half of 2019. Of course, that depends on construction. In the meantime, nurses will be getting chemotherapy certification. Cindy Lock, former director of David Walsh Cancer Center in Sterling, will be in charge of the program. Lock also does the wound care program at MMH.
    Based on the 2016 community health needs assessment, Holyoke sees 3,400 chemotherapy visits go elsewhere for treatment each year. Hutches acknowledged that MMH won’t be able to accommodate every patient’s chemotherapy needs, but that they’ll do what they can so that locals don’t have to travel for treatment elsewhere. He expects MMH to have 300-400 chemotherapy visits in a year, but that depends on individual needs. A single person might require 30, 40 or even 50 visits, he added.
    For those patients who require chemotherapy that can’t be done at MMH, the hospital intends to continue building relationships with cancer centers, such as the one in Sterling, where patients can be referred.