The Neely Cancer Fund

The Neely Cancer Fund was created to continue the mission of The Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care - to help cancer patients and their families during and after treatments. It is increasingly necessary to expedite initiatives so they are more available to patients. Neely Cancer Fund projects assure tangible results and immediate impact to benefit cancer patients and their families. Support of The Neely Cancer Fund will assure that patients with a cancer diagnosis will have access to all of the care they need.

The Neely Cancer Fund is dedicated to finding new ways to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families as they undergo treatment.

Neely Cancer Fund Initiatives

The Neely Cancer Fund initiatives have been supported to date by the generosity of donors since its inception. A custom designed glass wall at the entrance of the Cell Therapy and Collection Center features the names of many of those who helped make it a reality.

Neely Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Unit
Bone marrow transplantation is one of the most intense and potentially risky medical procedures that a child with cancer will experience. For a young patient undergoing a bone marrow transplant, it is likely to be his or her final chance for a cure. Adding to the intensity of the procedure itself is the fact that a bone marrow transplant can be for the child a very lonely and physically and emotionally painful experience. Due to the suppression of his or her immune system, the patient needs to be isolated from the germs that others, including caregivers and family members, may bring into the transplant unit. In traditional bone marrow transplant units, a patient’s contact with others must be kept to a minimum; even a parent must put on protective clothing before seeing his or her child.

The Neely Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center is the first pediatric bone marrow transplant unit in Boston that breaks down these barriers to human contact, contact that all children, and most especially children undergoing a bone marrow transplant, so desperately need. The Floating Hospital's Cancer Center sees thousands of children with cancer each year, many of whom require a bone marrow transplant as their life-saving therapy.

Through the design of an environment that is germ-free (through a complex air filtration system), the new unit allows young patients and their families to live together during transplant in a setting that is both home-like and medically state-of-the-art. This transplant “home-away-from-home” includes, right within the unit, a family house (modeled after the Neely House at Tufts Medical Center) where parents can live throughout the entire transplant experience in private apartments with kitchens and laundry facilities. If a parent needs to sleep right in the room with the child, there will be a comfortable pull down bed next to the child’s bed.

Minimally Invasive Operating Suite
Though the $5 million fundraising campaign to establish The Michael Neely Center for Brain Tumor Care and Research is still underway, The Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care is making significant contributions to Tufts Medical Center's Neurosurgery Department with funds already raised. With Foundation's help, the hospital opened a dedicated Minimally Invasive Neurosurgical Operating Room, located within the Medical Center's main operating room. This state-of-the-art operating room contains leading-edge neurosurgical operating equipment and technologies, including top resolution monitors suspended from ceiling tracks that adjust to the perfect placement for neurosurgeons working on highly exacting surgeries. The monitors show large images of the brain structure and the tumor or other injury, as well as MRI surgical mapping to ensure accurate incisions and minimal operating disturbance. The suspension systems will also allow sufficient operating room space for high intensity microscopes to be brought into the room during surgery, maximizing surgical resources and patient outcomes.

For brain tumor patients, as for other neurosurgical patients, minimally invasive techniques can dramatically minimize the effects of surgery. Benefits include a smaller incision - in brain tumors, for example, a small incision is made right at the site of the tumor - less anesthesia, a significant decrease in pain, and a shortened length of recovery.

The Neely Cell Therapy and Collection Center
Located in the South Building of Tufts Medical Center, this all-new, completely renovated, 4000-square foot space is designed to provide necessary stem cell collection services to outpatients in a warm and comfortable setting. With specially-chosen furnishings, warm color palette, hardwood floors, state-of-the-art flat screen monitors for television and DVDs, this space has been planned to provide the utmost comfort to patients and families undergoing their treatments.

The process of collecting donor stem cells to give to another person or to oneself has been performed in various locations throughout Tufts Medical Center over the years. Cancer and leukemia patients or related or unrelated transplant donors often spend several hours in one sitting having their stem cells extracted in order for laboratory technicians to process them for infusion back into the patient. In keeping with the Foundation's mission of providing comfort to cancer patients and their families, improving the physical environment for these patients or their donors was a priority as stem cell transplantation affects so many patients seen at Tufts Medical Center's Cancer Center.

The newly-renovated space also features large windows on the north, south and east sides. The entire layout of the top floor of this key Tufts Medical Center building is designed to improve the patients' experience as they spend the time needed to prepare for their stem cell transplant.

"A facility with the capabilities of The Neely Cell Therapy and Collection Center will dramatically improve the quality of the life for a patient preparing for complex treatments such as stem cell transplantation" said John K. Erban, MD, Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology at Tufts Medical Center. "By supporting Tufts Medical Center with over $2 million to complete this advanced center, The Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care has again provided the medical center and the City of Boston with a unique resource designed to help cancer patients deal much more effectively and comfortably with their illnesses. We are deeply indebted to their vision and determination to see this and other projects succeed," says Erban.

The Neely Center for Clinical Cancer Research
Completely designed and renovated in Summer 2003, The Neely Center for Clinical Cancer Research provides cancer patients and their families the opportunity to have more rapid access to important, new cancer studies and treatments. This administrative section of Tufts Medical Center's renowned Cancer Center features a crisp, state-of-the-art environment where patients can meet with an organized, effective team of administrators and clinicians to develop, coordinate and oversee their cancer therapy. These advanced studies can provide successful alternative treatments to patients without long and stressful waiting periods.

Next Project Underway:

The Michael Neely Center for Brain Tumor Care and Research
In October 2005, The Neely Foundation announced its commitment to raise $5 million for the establishment of The Michael Neely Center for Brain Tumor Care and Research, in memory of Michael Neely, father of Cam and Scott and their sisters Shaun and Christine. Michael Neely valiantly lost his battle with brain cancer in November 1993.

Expanding upon the Foundation's mission to provide comfort, support and hope to cancer patients and their families, The Michael Neely Center for Brain Tumor Care and Research will serve as a world-class resource for patients and families experiencing the devastating effects of both cancerous and non-cancerous brain tumors. Upon completion, all services pertaining to brain tumor care - imaging, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and clinical trails - will be coordinated from its single location. The update will allow medical personnel to diagnose patients as a collaborative team featuring the most current diagnostic and treatment technology.

Over $3.5 million has been raised to date. Initial funding has made a tremendous impact on two of the most critical areas in the start-up of the Center - the development of outpatient clinical space and offices and the acquisition of state-of-the-art neurosurgical technology. The improved clinic and office space fosters tremendous positive energy with patients and families. The hospital's expanded staff is better positioned to serve families with dignity and confidentiality in the new configuration. Equally important, the new technology allows surgeons to provide patients with the least invasive procedures possible, often improving patient outcomes and almost always reducing recovery times and risk of complication. Through the Foundation's support, the Neurosurgery Department has obtained some of the most leading-edge neurosurgical technology available today and on an expedited timeline that has permitted the hospital to begin immediately to utilize this highly-sophisticated equipment to the benefit of patients.

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