The Coastal Cancer Care and Diagnostic Center - the first of its kind on the Central Coast - will open its doors to the community today.

The Pismo Beach-based facility, a longtime dream of local physicians like Dr. David Palchak and Edwin Hayashi, who both treat cancer patients, became a reality through generous community donations.

In December, three local families donated $250,000 each to the center's capital campaign and the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Foundation raised the additional $750,000 needed to open the doors of the facility.

Arroyo Grande Hospital, which expects to treat at least 1,500 new cancer patients this year, will own and operate the new, state-of-the-art center.

The center will foster a multidisciplinary team approach to cancer care, featuring the latest in diagnostic technology, including digital mammography with stereotactic biospy, MRI and PET/CT scanning.

Promoting a multidisciplinary approach to cancer care allows physicians to coordinate a patient's treatment plan, resulting in better patient outcomes and a more comprehensive healing experience, said hospital administrators.

“The value of the cancer center is that we're all required to work very closely together,” Palchak said. “It's also improving cancer care.”

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Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States.

Patients also will have access to ancillary services at the cancer center, including nutritional education, spiritual counseling and other social support services, according to hospital administrators.

The Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Coastal Cancer Care and Diagnostic Center is at 921 Oak Park Boulevard in the Pismo Beach Medical Plaza, adjacent to the Coastal Surgical Institute.

The grand opening featuring tours of the new center will he held from 5 to

7 p.m.

April Charlton can be reached at 489-4206, Ext. 5016, or acharlton@santamariatimes.com.

June 26, 2008