WVU Cancer Institute expansion gives patients more time to heal

FAIRMONT, W.Va. – A few months after the WVU Cancer Institute at WVU Medicine Fairmont Medical Center officially opened its doors last fall, Penny Blackshire transferred her cancer care to the new facility.

A resident of Barrackville, Blackshire, 58, had been traveling weekly for nearly six years to the WVU Cancer Institute Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center in Morgantown for treatment of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. However, once she learned  about the WVU Cancer Institute’s expansion to Fairmont, she jumped at the opportunity to be closer to home. 

“It took a 40-minute commute down to a five-minute commute,” Blackshire said. 

Marion County residents can find a full range of cancer care at Fairmont Medical Center, including Medical Oncology, Infusion Services, and Radiation Oncology. Patients have access to nurse navigation, a telephone triage system for symptom management and prescription refills, cancer registry services, tumor boards, and telemedicine appointments.  

The facility features eight private infusion bays equipped with heated massage chairs and a station reserved for faster services like injections. One flex room serves as either an exam room or an infusion room, depending on daily needs.  

Blackshire explained that her weekly routine, treatment plan, and high-quality care in Fairmont are nearly identical to what she experienced in Morgantown, but without the long commute. She has eliminated the stress of navigating a busy highway and arranging for a ride when she doesn't feel well. Instead, being closer to home gives her valuable time to rest before picking up her granddaughter from school.  

“It is incredibly rewarding to see the difference this center is making in our patients’ lives every day,” Brooke Davis, B.S.N., R.N., O.C.N., nursing manager at the WVU Cancer Institute at Fairmont Medical Center, said.  

“Our patients tell us all the time how grateful they are to receive their treatment close to home. Not having to travel long distances or spend extra time away from their families helps ease some of the stress that comes with a cancer diagnosis,” Davis said. “Knowing we can provide exceptional care in our own community and make that journey a little easier for our patients is what makes this work so meaningful.” 

“Access to care – in the communities where our patients live and work – is deeply rooted in our mission,” Hannah Hazard-Jenkins, M.D., F.A.C.S., executive chair and director of the WVU Cancer Institute, said.  

“By offering cancer care at our regional hospitals, we are reducing some of the barriers to care, including time spent traveling. This is another wonderful example of how our regional expansion is closing the gap to cancer care by offering treatment options for patients and their families.” 

While Blackshire said it was bittersweet leaving behind the staff she got to know so well in Morgantown, she noted that the staff at the WVU Cancer Institute at Fairmont Medical Center takes great care of her.  

Even when Blackshire experienced an issue with her implanted port, the oncologist on-site saw her immediately to ensure it was in good working order before proceeding with her treatment.    

“They handle things so quickly there because they can,” Blackshire said. 

Beyond its main Morgantown campus, the WVU Cancer Institute extends specialized cancer care through a growing network of regional clinics.  

For more information about cancer care at WVU Medicine Fairmont Medical Center, visit WVUCancer.org/Fairmont.