Countywide : Group Plans Cancer Information Push

The American Cancer Society-Orange County region plans to set up new satellite offices countywide in an attempt to reach more people with information about cancer prevention and detection.

“We realized that in our Orange County unit, we were only reaching people within a 12-mile radius of our office in Santa Ana,” said Margaret Edwards, American Cancer Society spokeswoman.

The American Cancer Society plans to set up community information centers and small satellite offices in cities across Orange County in hospitals, business parks, shopping centers, churches and office buildings.

“Our goal is to move our staff out into satellite community centers, so that in all parts of the county we’ll have facilities close to the people who need the services,” said George Hedley, member of the board of directors and vice president of administration. “By each community having their own center, we can focus on their needs and not the whole county’s needs.”

The organization plans to open six satellite offices in north, south, central and west county areas this year, Edwards said. Each office would be self-governed by a board of directors and oversee its own operations.

“Eventually, our goal is to have one in every community,” Hedley said.

Services will include support group meetings, breast and prostate cancer education, stop-smoking classes, patient transportation to medical appointments, early prevention and detection measures, and nutrition information.

Next month, an information center is expected to open at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center. It will complement the hospital’s own cancer services, which include the Orange County Regional Cancer Center, a nonprofit organization established for the purpose of furthering cancer research and education, hospital officials said.

“We’re excited about the cancer society creating a unit here to be associated with our Orange County Regional Cancer Center,” said Dr. Terence O’Heany, who specializes in gynecology and is interim director of the oncology program. “What this means is we can develop a comprehensive program where the patient can have everything done on this campus.”

An information center in a medical building near Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo already provides some informational and referral services, said Gloria Ruston, American Cancer Society district representative for South County.

Ruston said the cancer society is in need of donated space for satellite offices.

While more than 10,000 volunteers currently are involved with the local American Cancer Society, Hedley said more people are needed to carry out the plan to reach the public with its services and programs.

“We need to reach more people with less staff people and more volunteers,” Edwards said. “We’re trying to increase the volunteer base by 15% this year. People can give as little or as much as they want. But whatever they give, it will make a difference. The donation of time is an invaluable resource for us.”

More information is available by calling (714) 751-0441.