Cedar City Cancer Center Marks National Cancer Survivors Month with Hope and Progress

June is National Cancer Survivors Month, and the Intermountain Cedar City Cancer Center is celebrating the strength of its patients and the medical strides that have made survival more likely than ever before. Nurse Manager Tom Giles and Oncology Nurse Coordinator Cheryl Bellomo recently joined the Big Picture Morning Show on KSUB to discuss the significance of this month and how local care is transforming lives across southern Utah.

“There are over 18.6 million cancer survivors in the United States,” said Bellomo. “And when you break it down, it’s 5.5% of the U.S. population. We’re expecting that by 2040, there will be over 26 million individuals who can say they are cancer survivors.”

Bellomo, who has worked at the Cedar City Cancer Center for 18 years, noted that advances in early detection and treatment are key to the rising survival rates. “No longer are we doing drastic surgeries,” she said. “No longer are we having to do the old chemotherapy on every individual. We've had great advancements in radiation therapy, which we're excited about… It's just an exciting time.”

Giles echoed that sentiment, sharing a personal connection to the progress. “My dad's first cancer was when I was five... and he passed at 47. When I started [at the center], I was like, this is so much different than what my family went through,” he said. “Now we see patients that we start, we treat them for a few months, and they’re done with their treatment.”

Early Detection Is Key To Cancer treatment

Early detection has led to more cases being diagnosed, but that’s not necessarily bad news. “We see some rise in certain cancers,” said Bellomo. “But we are catching it early, that’s why.”

For women, breast cancer is the most commonly survived cancer; for men, it’s prostate cancer. “Prostate cancer is a very slow growing type,” said Bellomo. “We monitor that PSA level up to a certain age… then we could say, OK, we don’t need to monitor any further.”

Bellomo also emphasized life after treatment. “Now it’s a chance to take control of your life,” she said. “Diet, exercise, and cancer screenings… those are three big healthy behaviors I always discuss when my patients are transitioning from their treatment into cancer survivorship.”

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Serving nine counties in southern Utah and parts of Nevada, the Cedar City Cancer Center sees thousands of patients annually. “Last year, we had 470 new patient referrals,” said Giles. “We saw over 5,000 individual visits… and did another almost 6,000 infusions independent of oncology.”

Despite spatial challenges, the Cancer Center offers nearly all services locally. “We do your labs, we do your treatments, we do your radiation, you see your oncologist,” said Giles. “We can do 95% of what's done elsewhere right in Cedar City… and we’re even doing some treatments that you can only get here or at IMC in Murray.”

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With expansion plans on the horizon, the center is preparing to meet growing needs while continuing to offer the compassionate, cutting-edge care that has made it a cornerstone of the community—and a source of hope for thousands.

You can listen to our discussion with Bellomo and Giles in the podcast below.