Region’s premier cancer center blends a 40-year tradition of excellence with world-class treatments
Fairfax, Va. (July 22, 2014) — The month of July marks a very important milestone for Virginia Cancer Specialists (VCS), a long-standing member of the medical community and the region’s leading cancer care provider. The practice is celebrating its 40th anniversary of service to patients battling cancer and blood diseases. Over the past four decades, VCS has provided patients access to the very latest advancements in comprehensive cancer care, diagnostics and prevention, providing hope and healing to thousands of patients and their families throughout Northern Virginia.
“When we started the practice, our mission was to offer quality, state-of-the-art comprehensive cancer care close to home,” said Arthur Kales, M.D., president and founder, Virginia Cancer Specialists. “Today, we have gone far beyond our original vision, providing world-class treatments, cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative supportive care programs that offer patients the very best chance to beat their disease, all delivered in a convenient community setting. But the best is yet to come. We look to the future with great anticipation, knowing the coming years will see exciting new advancements in cancer care that we can bring to our community.”
During the past 40 years that VCS has provided care to Northern Virginia cancer patients, tremendous strides have been made in the war against cancer. In 1974, when the practice was founded, the 5-year survival rate for adults with all cancers was only 50%, according to the American Cancer Society. Today it is close to 70%, and many cancers are considered curable or manageable. The improvement in survival reflects both progress in diagnosing certain cancers earlier, as well as dramatic improvements in cancer treatment.
“As we celebrate the progress made over the past 40 years, both in our practice and in advances in cancer care, it is humbling to realize we have played a role in developing some of the most promising cancer treatments in use today,” said Dr. Kales. “Through our association with US Oncology Research, we have participated in novel clinical trials that have transformed laboratory discoveries into treatments that are extending and enhancing the lives of cancer patients every day.”
Virginia Cancer Specialists participates in Phase I-III clinical trials, offering its patients some of the very latest in novel cancer treatments. VCS participates in these trials through US Oncology Research, which has played a role in 48 FDA-approved cancer therapies, nearly one-third of all cancer therapies approved by the FDA to date.
Originally called Fairfax Hematology Oncology and then Fairfax Northern Virginia Hematology Oncology, the practice became known as Virginia Cancer Specialists in 2010. With a strong dedication to community-based medicine, Virginia Cancer Specialists provides an integrated approach to cancer care. Highly-skilled multidisciplinary cancer experts work together as a team to develop an individualized treatment program for each patient designed to achieve the best possible outcome with patient comfort and convenience in mind. By offering a suite of cancer care services, including stem cell transplantation, genetic risk assessment and the latest in clinical trials and research, VCS provides advanced, comprehensive cancer care in comfortable, convenient settings, near patients’ homes so that they can remain close to their support system of family and friends throughout their cancer treatment. Physicians and staff are committed to providing patients with hope, knowledge and empowerment to help them successfully complete their healing journey while taking an active role in their care.
Throughout the years, Virginia Cancer Specialists has grown to accommodate the increasing demand for cancer services throughout Northern Virginia. The practice now has 26 physicians serving patients in treatment centers conveniently located throughout Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Gainesville, Leesburg, Reston and Woodbridge. Virginia Cancer Specialists is home to some of the nation’s most knowledgeable and well-trained cancer physicians, many of whom were named 2014 “Top Doctors” or “Best Doctors” by various organizations and regional publications, including Northern Virginia magazine, Virginia Living, the Washingtonian and Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., a highly regarded independent healthcare research company that identifies top doctors in America.
“Our 40th anniversary is a great time to express our gratitude to Northern Virginia’s medical community and referring physicians. Their support has contributed so much to our ongoing success, and our patients and their families have honored us over the years by entrusting us with their care. We’ve become like a family within each of our communities,” said Linda Anderson, executive director, VCS. “Northern Virginians can take comfort in knowing we have the experience and expertise to care for their cancer needs, and we will be here tomorrow, and many years forward, to serve the community with top quality, comprehensive, advanced cancer care — just as we have for the past four decades.”
About Virginia Cancer Specialists
For the past 40 years, Virginia Cancer Specialists (VCS) has contributed to the campaign against cancer and diseases of the blood. With nine state-of-the-art locations throughout Northern Virginia, VCS is on the cutting-edge of providing patients access to the latest technology, physician collaboration, clinical research, and the most advanced cancer treatments. The dedication of VCS physicians, clinicians and staff to advancing cancer care empowers them to provide top-notch hematology and oncology care and has lead to an expansion into service areas such as radiation, genetics, and bone marrow transplantation. The dedicated and highly-skilled physicians and staff at Virginia Cancer Specialists work closely with patients and their families to create personalized treatment plans that provide for physical and emotional health, all in a familiar community setting. To learn more about VCS, visit www.VirginiaCancerSpecialists.com.
Virginia Cancer Specialists is united in healing with The US Oncology Network, one of the nation’s largest networks of integrated community-based oncology practices dedicated to advancing high-quality, evidence-based cancer care. As an affiliate of The US Oncology Network, VCS is united with nearly 1,000 physicians nationwide. Virginia Cancer Specialists participates in clinical trials through US Oncology Research, which has played a role in 48 FDA-approved cancer therapies, nearly one-third of all cancer therapies approved by the FDA to date. For more information, visit www.usoncology.com.