GETTYSBURG, Pa. (WHTM) -
Dora Townsend knows how it feels to hear the words "you have cancer."
She was diagnosed with breast cancer 25 years ago and is a proud survivor. She also wants to help other women understand the importance of getting mammograms, doing self exams, and being aware of their health.
"I'm a great example, I'm alive and I might not have been had I not been vigilant," she said.
Townsend is involved with the Adams Cancer Center by serving on the advisory board. She said care has greatly improved for patients in Adams County since she was diagnosed and had to travel for treatments.
She says perhaps most impressive is the nurse navigator, Michelle Shriner, who helps patients through every step of the emotional and physical process.
Shriner said her role is a big part of what sets the care at the Adams Cancer Center apart from other centers. She said the doctors and nurses work together as a team, and she acts as a liaison between the patient and that team.
"I do everything from hold hands, to take notes, to be the voice on the other end of the phone," she said.
It's a big part of the team effort that has recently gotten the center recognized as a Center for the Care of Breast Disease by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, a program administered by the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Robert Rice said the accreditation is more than just a title.
"We meet national guidelines and also this accreditation is important because part of the guidelines is we need to show quality improvement every year, we need to show we are getting bigger and better, and every year we are looking at ways to make our care better," he said.
For more information on Adams Cancer Center, visit wellspan.org.
