MCU

As brief as my journey has been so far (my chemo began in the Fall of 2017 - immediately after diagnosis), in that short amount of time the patient population at the Liquid (bloodborne) cancer infusion clinic that I go to has already outgrown the available space.  When I started, the "new" clinic was only about six months old.  As of this June, an entire new multi-floor major cancer center has been constructed and my treatments are now moving to that nearby location.

Here's a little tale of the tape:

- The Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey's new facility, the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center (MCC), is part of a larger, $1.5 billion investment in cancer services across the state by RWJ Barnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute

- It includes: 88 infusion bays, 80 exam rooms for both adult and pediatric outpatient care, a dedicated floor for surgical procedures, a pediatric clinical space with a Jersey Shore theme, advanced radiation oncology and diagnostics, an on-site pharmacy, and state-of-the-art laboratories for near-instantaneous blood work results as well as ongoing oncology research

- It also houses: 96 inpatient beds, operating rooms, and other amenities designed to provide comprehensive and patient-centered care (I've already sampled the pretty decent concierge food service; try the grilled chicken breast sandwich !)

- It is considered the first and only freestanding cancer hospital in New Jersey

In combination with The Helix * - this is now becoming one of the major centers for cancer research and treatment - in our area and in the nation (in our "universe").

* Rutgers' new Health + Life Science Exchange (Helix) in New Brunswick (within walking distance of the aforementioned MCC; literally across the street from the train station), is a significant development in supporting cancer care.  It will become home to: the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the New Jersey Innovation Hub, and Nokia Bell Labs global HQ - all intended to foster and facilitate collaboration with academia, industry, and healthcare institutions to advance research and innovation.

071425 = CAR-T@Day 0 : IYKYK