Teton Cancer Institute Expansion

Mountain View Hospital opened their radiation oncology center the second week of May as part of an expansion of the Teton Cancer Institute.

The facility was specifically designed not to feel clinical. The building itself looks more like a lodge than a clinic.

“It’s kind of intimidating what you have to go through as a cancer patient so making it look as homey as possible alleviates a lot of the stress,” said Casey Jackman, director of ancillary services at Mountain View Hospital.

Inside the building wooden ceilings, soft lighting and that homey design create an inviting feel in a place where most people hope to never be.

Radiation oncologist doctor Steven Todd said having a non-stressful environment eases treatment.

“Having something less institutional makes people a lot more comfortable which can associate with less stress and get through treatment much better,” said Todd.

Getting through treatment is now faster and safer with a new machine which produces the radiation to treat tumors and also gives doctors the ability to target the cancer in a unique way.

“It lets me shape the radiation. Essentially I’m delivering more radiation to the cancer that needs and less to the rest of the body parts that don’t,” said Todd.

State of the art equipment at the Teton Cancer Institute now allows patients to get the treatment they need without leaving town.

The center opened Monday and is located on Hoopes Avenue in Idaho Falls.