Cancer


Spectrum Health to host LGBTQ+ affirming screening event with Betty Ford Breast Care Services Mobile Mammography Unit

Spectrum Health’s Betty Ford Breast Care Services is offering accessible and inclusive early detection screening through the mobile mammography unit at Baxter Community Center on Saturday, June 12. The screening event is in partnership with the Baxter Community Center, Grand Rapids Pride Center, Grand Rapids LGBTQ+ Healthcare Consortium, and the West Michigan Coalition for Breast […]



Spectrum Health Completes 200th Procedure to Diagnose Difficult Lung Conditions, Improves Patient Outcomes

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., – Oct. 12. 2020 – Physicians at Spectrum Health recently completed their 200th procedure using a robotic bronchoscopy platform resulting in the diagnosis of 20% more early-stage lung cancers. This gives patients access to earlier treatment options with higher levels of accuracy. Two years ago, Spectrum Health introduced Auris Health’s Monarch™. More […]



Spectrum Health Mobile Mammography Unit Expands Service

 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., May 27, 2020 –  Spectrum Health is ready to provide mammograms in the era of COVID-19 in the safest way possible. All screening facilities available through Spectrum Health and Betty Ford Breast Care Services are open and are following the CDC guidelines for safe operations. In addition, the Betty Ford Breast Care […]



Szczepanek Receives National ASCO ‘Partners in Progress’ Award

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 8, 2019 – Connie Szczepanek, R.N., B.S.N., C.C.R.P., research director, Spectrum Health, and director of the Cancer Research Consortium of West Michigan (CRCWM), has received American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) Partners in Progress Award. She was presented with the award on June 2 during the Annual ASCO meeting in Chicago. […]



Free Skin Cancer Screenings Available May 7

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 24, 2019 –It’s always nice to get something for “free.” Spectrum Health is offering a “freebie” soon that could actually save lives. On Tuesday, May 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Spectrum Health will offer free skin cancer screenings throughout the community on a walk-in basis (no appointment necessary). Dermatologists […]



Go Away Winter!

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 1, 2019 – Despite the cold, snow, ice and wind that have been a challenging part of this West Michigan winter, the unofficial running season will get underway with the Spectrum Health Irish Jig 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, March 16. The event seeks to raise funds and awareness for colorectal cancer […]



New Study Identifies Specific Obesity-Related Risk Factors for Kidney Cancer

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A new study confirms the long-suspected role of obesity as a risk factor for developing renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a type of kidney cancer, and identifies several specific obesity-related factors. These factors include multiple measures of obesity, diastolic blood pressure and fasting insulin. In contrast, the study found little evidence for […]



Cancer Patients Offered New Therapy at Spectrum Health

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., January 7, 2019 – Spectrum Health Cancer Center is now able to offer a new procedure, and more hope, to cancer patients. This breakthrough in the fight against cancer uses a patient’s own white blood cells to seek out and destroy cancer cells. It is called CAR T-cell therapy, an FDA-approved immunotherapy […]



Spectrum Health Receives Cancer Prevention Grant

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., October 16, 2018 – Spectrum Health’s Betty Ford Breast Care Services has received a $25,000 grant aimed at cancer prevention. Through its community grants program, the Prevent Cancer Foundation® is proud to support 12 projects focused on increasing cancer prevention and early detection in communities across the U.S., from Los Angeles to […]



Spectrum Health Offers Free Skin Cancer Screenings

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., May 3, 2018 – Skin cancer continues to be a concern for Michigan residents as the number of people diagnosed each year continues to be high. The best way to find skin cancer in its earliest and most treatable stage is by self-checking regularly and having a dermatologist perform a focused skin […]