History and Principal Activities
The Cancer Center of Santa Barbara was established in 1949 to provide the highest quality of cancer treatment and diagnostic services to the Santa Barbara community. Throughout this time, the Cancer Center has remained true to its mission of providing excellent services to all patients who need them, even if they have no insurance and cannot afford to pay for their care. In 2005, more than 5,000 patients were seen.
In 1949, Lillian Taylor Converse was treated for terminal cancer in Santa Barbara. Although she knew there was little chance of her recovery, she wished to help others with the disease. Her physician, Dr. Henry Ullmann, dreamed of having a one million volt x-ray machine to treat cancer patients in Santa Barbara. Elisha Converse made this dream a reality by donating the funds in the memory of his wife, thus firmly establishing the tradition of community support for the Cancer Center. The one million volt x-ray machine, specially converted for medical use, was installed in 1950. This machine would be one of only seven in the United States used to treat cancer at that time.
Today the Cancer Center provides medical care in three departments: Radiation Oncology, Hematology/Medical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine. The Cancer Center is the sole provider of Radiation Therapy in Santa Barbara.
In addition to providing medical care, the Cancer Center employs Patient Care Coordinators, who offer a wide range of support services to our patients and their families, including: counseling, support groups, referrals for transportation or financial assistance and wigs/hats. In 1999, the Center introduced a Wellness Program for patients, staff and the community. The goal of the program is to implement and develop preventative programs, community alliances and educational tools for cancer management, prevention of re-occurrence and risk reduction. To date, these services have included yoga; tai chi chih; art for healing classes; RAYS; smoking/tobacco prevention for youth; and a colon cancer screening program. These ancillary services are provided free of charge and are an important part of caring for the varied needs of cancer patients, their families and the entire community. Although primarily a treatment and diagnostic facility, the Cancer Center also takes an active role in clinical research. Under the auspices of the National Cancer Institute and other research consortia, the Center can provide the latest proven cancer treatments to patients while participating in the progress that is being made worldwide to achieve more effective cancer treatments. Additionally, the Cancer Center is involved in designing its own research studies.
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In 2002, the Cancer Center opened an office in Solvang in order to better serve patients in the northern part of the county. A social worker is available two days per week; wellness programs are offered on a regular basis; and a clinical research coordinator consults with physicians weekly.
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