The Doctor José Molina Orosa University Hospital received representatives from patient associations this Tuesday on a visit to the Radiation Oncology Unit that will begin operating this Wednesday, December 13.
The visit, together with the manager of the Lanzarote Health Services, Pablo Eguia, the director of the Lanzarote Health Area, Esther Machín, and the head of the Radiation Oncology Unit, Marta Lloret, gave the participants the opportunity to learn about the new facilities and the technological equipment of the linear accelerator that from now on makes it possible for cancer patients in Lanzarote to receive their radiation therapy treatment on the island and not have to travel to Gran Canaria.
One day before the Radiation Oncology Unit begins its activity at Molina Orosa, the president of AFOL (Association of Oncohematological Families of Lanzarote), Carmen Arrocha; the president of the Spanish Association against Cancer of Las Palmas, Fernando Fraile; and from Lanzarote, Lola Lasso; accompanied by members of the associations, have toured the different spaces of the unit and have learned firsthand about the latest generation equipment that will be used in the treatment of patients.
The manager, Pablo Eguia, pointed out that this is a significant milestone for the island and for the Hospital itself, in its commitment to high-quality cancer care and responds, on the other hand, to a historical demand of the population of Lanzarote. "We set ourselves the challenge of having the Unit start operating before Christmas and avoid patient travel on these dates, and it has been achieved thanks to many people and teams of professionals led by Dr. Marta Lloret, who have been working every day for months, including holidays, to launch the linear accelerator."
Dr. Marta Lloret, head of the Radiation Oncology Unit, shared with the patients the possibilities and services offered by the new facility, and stressed that the patient gains in comfort because it avoids transfers to Gran Canaria. This new unit, she assured, brings treatment closer to patients and allows them to continue with comprehensive care by the specialists who have been consulting at Molina Orosa since June. In this time, more than 700 patients have been assessed.
During the meeting, the representatives of the associations were accompanied by the team of professionals from the new unit and the medical personnel who treat cancer patients. The team of specialists agrees that the new Unit represents an important step to provide comprehensive care, in a close and patient-centered manner, for those facing cancer.
For their part, the representatives of the associations welcome this new unit that culminates a demand from the society of Lanzarote, its implementation, they assure, represents a qualitative leap in the assistance to cancer patients and improves their quality of life while encouraging health officials to continue advancing in the continuous improvement of cancer care.
