DARTMOUTH CANCER CENTER AT SOUTHWESTERN VERMONT MEDICAL CENTER

 

This is what exceptional looks like.

Ensuring exceptional patient care is at the heart of everything we do at the Dartmouth Cancer Center at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. In fact, it’s part of our mission.

Our multidisciplinary team of oncology doctors, nurses, social workers, and nutritionists work closely with every patient to provide the personalized treatment and support they need. State-of-the-art technology onsite paired with access to clinical trials of new treatments through Dartmouth Cancer Center means patients receive the very best of care close to home.

The Dartmouth Cancer Center at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, a distinction granted to only the top 25 percent of cancer centers nationwide. In addition, 100 percent of its nurses are oncology certified.

The care you receive here is enhanced through an affiliation with the Dartmouth Health, home of one of only three National Cancer Institute-Designated comprehensive cancer centers in New England. This link offers you access to some of the most advanced specialty services available anywhere, like genetic counseling. 

Patient Stories

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When Karen Brescia was referred to SVMC's Cancer Center for radiation treatment, she was blown away by the personal experience and community connection she found, close to home.

When Susan Hunter needed treatment for breast cancer, she and her primary care physician felt confident in the team of the physicians at SVMC’s Cancer Center and their partnership with Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

Sandy Foster looked at a lot of hospitals when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The choice for this school principal was as easy as ABC…or rather SVMC. Hear her talk about the team that helped her beat her cancer, the one she calls “Sandy’s Angels.”

Missy Jutras—a teacher, mom, grandmother, and coach—overcame Stage 2 breast cancer with the help of her family, community and healthcare team, led by Dr. Charlene Ives, at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.

Peter Palmer chose SVMC when he got a diagnosis for prostate cancer. In the process of beating his cancer he also looked at the priorities in his life. Listen to him talk about his treatment, and how he’s found a new perspective.

SVMC has two full-time medical oncologists who specialize in treating cancer with chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy involves using drugs to kill cancer cells, typically by preventing cancer cells from growing and dividing. Most often medications are injected into the bloodstream but in some cases targeted therapies are administered orally.

Your medical oncologist will work with you and your care team to develop the most appropriate treatment plan for you and monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed or desired.

The care team in the radiation oncology department, including a highly skilled care team of radiation therapists, physicists, dosimetrists, nurses, and a board-certified radiation oncologist, is able to provide precisely targeted radiation therapy for a variety of cancer types. Utilizing treatment planning software with PET/CT and MRI fusion capability, the treatment is delivered with a state-of-the-art linear accelerator equipped with on-board imaging and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) capabilities. These technologies enable your care team to safely direct more radiation to cancer cells and less to nearby healthy tissues and in less time than many older technologies. Radiation therapy patients at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center spend just 4 - 5 minutes per day in treatment, compared with as long as 20 minutes at other centers.

Being handed a diagnosis of breast disease can be overwhelming. The number of questions you have is often both frightening and confusing. 

A Breast Health Navigator, a registered nurse, will guide you through the diagnostic process, explain test results, answer questions, and offer support. Click here for more about the Breast Care Program at SVMC. 

Thanks to an agreement with the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center, SVMC patients have the opportunity to participate in groundbreaking cancer research through clinical trials. Trials are available through one of only three National Cancer Institute-Designated comprehensive care centers in New England.

Most clinical trials offered at SVMC are part of larger, nationwide trials organized by a large cooperative of oncology groups. All clinical trials go through extensive and detailed review by the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Institutional Review Board, who ensures the research is medically safe and ethical.

SVMC provides patients with cutting-edge genetic counseling services through a partnership with the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center.

Using telemedicine technology, SVMC patients are able to access genetic counseling from professionals at a National Cancer Institute-accredited institutions without leaving their home area. 

SVMC’s Supportive Care Program is designed to improve the quality of life for patients and ease the side effects of cancer and its treatment.

SVMC has many different ways to get patients the support they need. In addition to the caring and professional doctors on our team, we offer the following support services.

Nutrition and dining services delivers meals to patients receiving treatment during meal times. 

We offer a variety of services designed to assist with physical and emotional challenges, including Reiki and massage, nutritional counseling, psychological support, lymphedema and other symptom management, and transportation.

Assistance is available for patients who need help with financial strain related to treatment. For more information see the practice manager. 

140 Hospital Drive, Bennington, VT 05201
Phone: (802) 447-1836
Medical Oncology Fax: (833) 344-1368
Radiation Oncology Fax: (833) 344-1371
Palliative Care Fax: (833) 344-1369

Hours:
Monday – Friday:  8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Directions:
For directions to the Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, click here. 

Parking:
For appointments at SVRCC, park in parking area P4.

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