Rock the Cure Rocked & Raised Funds For New PET Scanner at JENCC

Thank you for "Rocking the Cure" with us on Saturday, April 9! The event was “totally awesome” and we raised over $80,000 in net proceeds to help our Cancer Center purchase a new PET scanner.

Rock the Cure was presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Klinger Companies and featured The Spazmatics, the ultimate 80’s theme band. Complete with skinny ties, Brill Creamed hair, and horn-rimmed glasses, The Spazmatics recaptured all the best sounds, styles, and dance moves from the 1980’s decade.

The June E. Nylen Cancer is committed to providing the most advanced cancer treatment in the region and that requires state-of-the-art technology. Positron emission tomography (PET) is an important tool in the diagnosis and staging of cancer, including re-staging throughout treatment. The current PET scanner at our Cancer Center is 11 years old and is being replaced, a $2.4 million investment into cancer care in Siouxland. We have the only permanent PET scanner in the 75-mile area.

“While our current PET scanner is a good machine a more advanced oncology-based PET scanner became available in the last year or two,” says Krista McCullough, Executive Director at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. “We have raised about half of the funds towards the cost of the new PET and decided to purchase this to continue to provide the best cancer care to Siouxland. We want this upgraded PET scanner to make sure our patients continue to have the best options for cancer diagnosis and treatment.”

While the June E. Nylen Cancer Center cared for 7,671 patients from the 15-county area last year, cancer diagnoses are expected to increase, thus making the PET scanner a critical tool now and in the future. According to a 2020 Siemens Healthineers Market Assessment, the aging population in this service area is increasing, with age 65+ growing at a rate 5 times the general population (13.8% growth). The cancer incidence for this same service area is expected to grow 3% in the next few years and outpatient PET procedure national volume is to rise 8.5% in the next 5-10 years.

The new PET scanner, expected to be installed at the end of this year, will have enhanced image quality over our current scanner, increased speed meaning less radiation, as well as improved patient comfort. The new scanner will also integrate with all the other state-of-the-art technology at our Cancer Center including our treatment planning software and radiation treatment machines that were upgraded two years ago.

“We are very thankful for the numerous donors who have supported us by giving towards the new PET scanner,” says McCullough. “And many other generous businesses and individuals have stepped up to sponsor and attend Rock the Cure which will also go towards funding the new scanner. With their help, we can continue to provide advanced, comprehensive cancer care close to home for thousands of Siouxlanders.”