SSM St. Joseph receives $2,000 from the

Figg Tree Foundation

St. Charles County woman gives back to help others fight cancer

ST. CHARLES COUNTY – On Christmas Eve, SSM St. Joseph received a generous gift from Tammy Figg and Michelle McRoy, both of St. Peters.

The women presented Lisa Drier Jones, president of SSM St. Joseph’s Foundation and vice president of Development, with a $2,000 check to benefit Oncology Services at SSM St. Joseph Health Center, SSM St. Joseph Hospital West and SSM St. Joseph Medical Park.

The money, which was raised through the Figg Tree Foundation, will be used to purchase relaxation items for oncology patients to use during chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatment sessions, such as DVD players and movies and CD players and music.

The Figg Tree Foundation was founded in August 2002 for Tammy and Bryan Figg, of St. Peters. In July 2002, six weeks before their September wedding, Tammy Figg, at the young age of 27, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

“Tammy is a very compassionate woman, who, though her battle with colorectal cancer, has become an advocate for others in her community,” Drier Jones said. “We will graciously use this gift to help others receive therapy more comfortably. We are thankful to Tammy Figg, and the entire community for its support of the Figg Tree Foundation. This is truly an example of neighbors helping neighbors.”

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in America, taking 56,000 lives annually. However, the disease is 90 percent curable if found early enough. Information about colorectal cancer in younger adults is not as readably available due to the disease generally

The Figg Tree Foundation was originally created to support the Tammy and Brian Figg financially as Tammy fought the disease, but since early 2003, it has focused on educating the community about prevention and screening methods. It was the Figg Tree Foundation’s primary mission of 2004 to fund entertainment units in cancer centers in the area. For more information about the Figg Tree Foundation, visit www.figgtree.com.

SSM St. Joseph Health Center, SSM St. Joseph Hospital West and SSM St. Joseph Medical Park serve the St. Charles County region with a full-range of cancer services. Having met the rigorous standards set by the American College of Surgeons, the program has been designated a Comprehensive Community Cancer Center.

A multidisciplinary cancer committee provides leadership and expertise to the program, which includes early detection screenings, state-of-the-art diagnostic services, the latest technology, individualized treatment, compassionate care, community and patient education, home care and support services.

Advanced diagnostic services are an integral part of the oncology program at SSM St. Joseph. The board-certified, nationally recognized oncologists who make up Missouri Cancer Care create individualized patient treatment plans. They work closely with a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including hematologists, oncology nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists and social workers, as well as the outpatient treatment therapy team.

SSM St. Joseph Health Center, SSM St. Joseph Hospital West and SSM St. Joseph Medical Park are the largest providers of health care in the quad-county area, offering the only two state-designated trauma centers in the St. Charles region. SSM St. Joseph Health Center is the first recipient of the MissouriPRO Quality Award. SSM St. Joseph Hospital West twice was named by Solucient as one of the 100 Top Hospitals^TM in the country, for data collected in 2000 and 2003. SSM Health Care is a recipient of the Missouri Quality Award. SSM St. Joseph is a member of SSM Health Care, the first health care winner of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

For more information about SSM St. Joseph Health Center, SSM St. Joseph Hospital West and SSM St. Joseph Medical Park, visit www.ssmstjoseph.com.