News From SIH

February is American Heart Month, bringing awareness to the many cardiac conditions affecting people across the United States. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America and affects one out of three women. Geanita Pryor discovered that the hard way.

DIBH is so precise that different planning scans are needed. Radiation therapists give the cancerous cells coordinates within the patient’s body, and those coordinates are tracked by multiple cameras during the free breathing and breath holds.

The expansion, completed on Dec. 31, 2022, occurred just seven years after the SIH Cancer Institute opened its doors; a testament to the substantial need for coordinated cancer care close to home. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the southernmost 11 counties.

November marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), smoking cigarettes contributes to 80%-90% of all lung cancer deaths. The lung cancer mortality rate in Southern Illinois (66.4 people per 100,000) is almost twice the national mortality rate of 39.1 people. One guaranteed way to help prevent lung cancer is by taking the crucial step of quitting.

The radiation oncology department at the SIH Cancer Institute is among only 250 programs nationally to receive Apex Accreditation Program for Excellence ©, a gold standard in patient safety, from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). The achievement followed a rigorous internal process.

"I feel like within this community, we're here to support each other no matter what you believe, no matter what you follow, no matter your religious beliefs, we're here to support you."

Hispanic Heritage Month serves as a reminder to all people in all countries through the Americas about not only the history, but also the current challenges and conditions Indigenous people face to this day.