Members of the Chadds Ford Business Association got a small preview of what Crozer Medical Center is about to launch at its Brinton Lake facility. The CFBA held its October meeting in Crozer’s current building and had a chance to tour the, as yet, unfinished second building.

Building two is now scheduled to open in November and Crozer will hold an open house on Dec. 3.

One of the new features is a cancer treatment area that includes medical and radiological capabilities.

Radiation oncologist John Lamond said the site would be offering a four-dimensional CAT/PET scan that will enable doctors to pinpoint the exact location of tumors. He said most tumors actually move and using either a Cat or Pet scan can leave some doubts.

“With a 4-D CT PET scan we’re able to pick up only those images at various stages of the breathing cycle, so you’re able to match the CAT scan perfectly with the PET scan,” he said. “So, if you have a perfect match, you’re able to see the cancer better. It’s better for a radiation oncologist, better for the surgeon to target that area, better to remove it with surgery, deal with it with radiation. It gives a better idea of the stage…The better we’re able to see it, the better we’re able to treat it.”

The new technology will enable doctors to do more than just use marks on the skin to target malignant growths. The scans allow for the use of X rays, either regular or a CAT scan, right before each treatment.

Lamond added that all the physicians at Brinton Lake have experience with the Cyber Knife in the Havertown facility and can use that technology for their patients.

The Cyber Knife uses a robot to better focus radiation on very small tumors, Lamond said.

Doctors at Brinton Lake will also be able to use more modern radiation equipment.

“It gives us the ability to check before we treat to make sure we’re hitting the target. We also have the means of doing radiation treatments faster than we currently do,” he said.

Lamond explained the “intensity modulated radiation” technique which allows the radiation to be “painted” inside the body. This, he said, allows for better targeting and minimizes side effects.

Crozer has partnered with Fox Chase Hospital. This gives Crozer access to the most recent clinical trials, said Marie DeStefano, the director of oncology administration.

Come November, there will also be a Fox Chase surgeon working three days per week at Crozer Keystone, she added. There will also be a genetic counselor available by appointment and an aesthetic rehab center with wigs and breast prostheses. DeStefano also said radiation and medical oncologists will see patients within 24-48 hours.

“You won’t have to wait three weeks. Sometimes we can get you in the same day [you call],” she said.

The chemotherapy will have wireless so people can surf the Web and check email while getting their treatment. DeStefano calls it part of a “best patient experience.”