Radiation Oncology Services Move to BMC Cancer Center

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems' Radiation Oncology services has opened in its new location at the BMC Cancer Center.

The move brings both Radiation Oncology and Hematology Oncology into a single location at the Hillcrest Campus of Berkshire Medical Center and completes a nearly $6 million investment by BHS in Radiation Oncology. The BMC Cancer Center is located at 165 Tor Court in Pittsfield.

The new Radiation Oncology clinic at BMC Cancer Center has state-of-the- art technology, featuring two new linear accelerators. Both units, a Varian IX, and a Tomotherapy HD, are designed to provide highly precise treatment and targeting of the radiation therapy, and significantly reduce any impact on surrounding healthy tissue. The accelerators can obtain either CT or X-ray images to increase the precision and accuracy of the radiation beams. Utilizing a computerized treatment planning system to calculate treatment dose and coordinate targeting, beams can rotate around the body entering from numerous directions. BMC has also installed a new CT Simulator for Radiation Oncology, which provides advanced treatment planning for each patient prior to receiving radiation therapy.

“Berkshire Health Systems has a long-standing commitment to providing the most advanced Radiation Oncology treatment therapies,” said Dr. Wade Gebara, medical director of Radiation Oncology services at BMC. “This significant investment by the health system is designed to focus on our current needs and also the needs of the foreseen future for our community.”

Radiation Oncology services at BMC sees nearly 440 patients a year. A course of individual treatment is made up of between one to 44 treatments, all customized for the individual patient’s illness.

The location of Radiation Oncology services at the BMC Cancer Center is another phase in the completion of the Center, which opened in the fall of 2013. The Cancer Center provides comprehensive cancer care services, including Hematology Oncology, Infusion Therapy, Radiation Oncology and a range of Integrative Care services, all under one roof, and set in a scenic location surrounded by the Berkshire hills and near Onota Lake.

PCTV Pizza Fundraiser Successful in Second Year

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:40PM / Saturday, May 25, 2024

KJ Nosh won Judge's Choice for best overall pizza. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — More than 170 people gathered for the love of pizza and community television on Thursday.

Pittsfield Community Television's second Eatza Pizza fundraiser was held at Berkshire Hills Country Club, featuring pies from seven local eateries. Hungry attendees sampled pizzas ranging from classic cheese to veggie, meat, and even hot honey topped.

The event raised about $4,300 — topping last year's total of about $3,500.

"PCTV and WTBR are nonprofit organizations. A lot of people don't realize that because they think of other types of organizations as nonprofits. We're in that same vein where we need to raise money," Executive Director Shawn Serre explained.

"And we do have some regular sources of funding but a lot of those are tied to cable revenues and cable revenues, as everyone knows, are going down so that means that we have to work even harder at events like this to make make up the difference."

PortaVia, located in Dalton, took home the People's Choice title for the second year in a row, being coined the "reigning defending undisputed" champion. In addition to a few classics, it offered best sellers such as black garlic pizza and the "Not Your Granny's Pie!" with grilled chicken, granny smith apples, and bacon.

"It's a great honor. Our team really needed a win like this right now," owner James Boland said. "We're happy to be a part of it. I think it's a well-done event, and we're honored to be a part of it."

Manager Mattie George felt the win was "magical."