Best Possible Care for Cancer Patients

“The National Center for Tumor Diseases is exemplary for the care of cancer sufferers at the highest level,” said Germany’s Minister of Health, Dr. Philipp Roesler, on November 2nd, 2010 at the opening celebration for the new building of NCT in Heidelberg. At NCT, interdisciplinary clinical care of cancer patients and innovative cancer research are closely interlocked. Thus, promising research results can swiftly be translated into clinical practice. NCT is a joint project of Heidelberg University Hospitals, Thorax Clinic Heidelberg, the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe). Deutsche Krebshilfe has commissioned NCT’s new building, which is located on the campus of Heidelberg University Hospitals.

“Our aim is to provide cancer patients with interdisciplinary treatment according to the latest medical and scientific findings,” said Hans-Peter Kraemer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Deutsche Krebshilfe. To this end, the organization launched a program for the development of Oncology Centers of Excellence in 2007, which supports ten other centers in Germany. NCT is in accord with this special support program.

“NCT is the entrance portal for all tumor patients in Heidelberg. In its day clinic, chemotherapy is centralized in one place,” explained Professor Dr. J. Rudiger Siewert, Chief Medical Director of Heidelberg University Hospitals. NCT’s Tumor Outpatient Unit offers interdisciplinary consultation services where patients are examined by different specialty doctors. Subsequently, a cross –disciplinary expert board produces a quality-assured treatment plan according to the highest medical and scientific standards and NCT’s clinical pathways.

“NCT’s new building also offers ideal conditions for translating current research results into clinical practice,” said Professor Dr. Otmar Wiestler, DKFZ’s Scientific Director. “Its two strong partners, the German Cancer Research Center and Heidelberg University Hospitals, provide the best basis for this.”

“Patients and staff of NCT are deeply grateful to Deutsche Krebshilfe and the architects that, after five years of intensive development of the Center, it now offers such a patient-friendly, communicative and appealing environment,” said Professor Dr. Christof von Kalle, Coordinator of NCT’s Board of Directors. The new building has 5.565 m2 of floor space. The house designed by Behnisch Architekten is open, friendly and inviting. Instead of the typical hospital atmosphere, it offers pleasant and light-flooded waiting and working areas. The total costs for the new building amount to € 29 million.

In Germany, about 450,000 people are newly diagnosed with cancer each year; 210,000 die from cancer each year. To help people affected by cancer and their family members is the aim of Deutsche Krebshilfe, a citizens’ initiative which has been active in the battle against cancer for more than 36 years. Deutsche Krebshilfe is a charity whose projects are funded exclusively from donations by committed members of the public. The bank account for donations is: 82 82 82 at Kreissparkasse Köln, BCN 370 502 99.