Local Access to Radiation Oncology Strengthens Cancer Care in the Quad Cities as Iowa Faces Rising Cancer Rates
Key Insights
Iowa continues to face some of the highest cancer (search) rates in the nation, underscoring the urgent need for accessible radiation oncology services.
UnityPoint Health – Trinity Cancer Center (search) and University of Iowa Health Care now offer advanced radiation therapy (search) locally in the Quad Cities, reducing travel burdens for patients requiring frequent treatments.
Modern radiation oncology has advanced with improvements in imaging, treatment planning, and delivery systems that allow better tumor targeting while minimizing side effects.
DAVENPORT, Iowa — As Iowa continues to face some of the highest cancer (search) rates in the nation, two major health systems in the Quad Cities are emphasizing the critical importance of local access to radiation oncology services. UnityPoint Health – Trinity Cancer Center (search) and University of Iowa Health Care are both expanding and highlighting their radiation therapy (search) capabilities, ensuring patients can receive advanced cancer treatment close to home.
Radiation therapy (search) remains a cornerstone of modern cancer (search) care, using controlled, high-energy radiation such as X-rays or protons to target and destroy cancer cells while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. According to Toni Weeks, Manager of Oncology Services at UnityPoint Health – Trinity, radiation treatments are often delivered several times a week over a period of two to ten weeks, depending on diagnosis and individualized treatment plans.
The Importance of Local Access
The frequency of radiation treatments makes local access especially critical. Receiving care close to home helps reduce stress, improves consistency in treatment schedules, and allows patients to remain connected to their support systems. Long-distance travel for daily or near-daily therapy sessions can impose significant physical, financial, and logistical strain on patients already coping with a cancer (search) diagnosis.
University of Iowa Health Care's Bettendorf-Kimberly Road clinic provides Quad Cities patients with access to Iowa's only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer (search) center. "Staying close to home also helps patients maintain family support throughout treatment," the health system noted.
Technological Advances in Radiation Oncology
The Trinity Cancer (search) Center in Moline offers multiple forms of radiation therapy (search), allowing care teams to tailor treatment to each patient's needs. Weeks highlighted that advancements in technology have improved precision, comfort, and outcomes for patients. Radiation oncology has advanced significantly in recent years, including improvements in imaging, treatment planning, and delivery systems that allow clinicians to better target tumors while minimizing side effects.
Prevention and Early Detection
Modern cancer (search) care is increasingly defined by early detection, which significantly improves survival rates and treatment outcomes. Up to 40 percent of cancer cases are preventable through lifestyle choices such as healthy diet, regular exercise, and avoiding tobacco. Routine screenings can identify pre-cancers before they spread, and paying attention to unusual changes in the body leads to earlier, more effective intervention.
UnityPoint Health – Trinity Cancer Center (search) provides comprehensive cancer (search) services at its Moline location at 500 John Deere Road. University of Iowa Health Care's radiation oncology services are located at 1351 Kimberly Road, Suite 200, in Bettendorf, with appointments available by calling 563-441-1998.