West Volusia patients gain more cancer care options close to home

ORANGE CITY, Fla. - When Kerri Lightfoot received a phone call in 2016 telling her she had breast cancer, she immediately thought about her two daughters.

One was a senior in high school, and the other was in college.

Lightfoot worried about the milestones she might miss and what her daughters would face if she was no longer there.

Throughout her treatment, her family remained at the center of her life.

With AdventHealth Fish Memorial less than 10 minutes from her DeBary home, Lightfoot was able to move from diagnosis into treatment for an aggressive form of breast cancer without traveling far for surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

"The idea that I could continue to show up to my daughter's events during treatment was such a blessing; there wasn't a single one I missed," said Lightfoot, who was 48 at the time of her diagnosis. "I was able to keep a positive attitude, and I always believed there was going to be a tomorrow."

A decade later, AdventHealth Fish Memorial is expanding cancer services as West Volusia grows and more residents are expected to need cancer care.

Lightfoot received several surgeries, radiation and support services at AdventHealth Fish Memorial in 2016.

In 2022, some outpatient cancer services were moved to AdventHealth DeLand, also in West Volusia.

Medical oncology, which includes chemotherapy and other cancer medications, returned to AdventHealth Fish Memorial in 2025.

Now, radiation treatment is available again, supported by new technology and additional services for patients and families.

The expansion includes a new Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator.

The technology uses imaging to help clinicians direct radiation at tumors while limiting exposure to nearby healthy tissue.

It can also account for breathing and tumor movement during treatment and allows clinicians to treat certain tumors more precisely and, for some patients, reduce the number of treatments needed.

Patients at AdventHealth Fish Memorial also have access to nurse navigators, an oncology social worker, genetic counseling services and an oncology-certified dietitian.

Those team members can help patients and families manage practical, emotional and nutritional needs during treatment.

"When a family is facing cancer, the care they receive becomes part of a chapter they will remember for the rest of their lives," said Khelsea Bauer, CEO of AdventHealth Fish Memorial. "We want that experience to be as supported and accessible as possible. Expanding cancer care here helps patients remain connected to their families, their communities and the people caring for them."

The expansion comes as Volusia County continues to grow.

The University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research estimates the county had 604,533 residents in 2025 and projects its population will reach 643,200 by 2030. Adults 65 and older make up 25.4% of the county's population, according to AdventHealth Fish Memorial's most recent Community Health Needs Assessment.

That growth is helping drive the need for additional cancer services in West Volusia, said Joseph Rodriguez, director of oncology services for AdventHealth's operations in West Volusia.

The data at the time of consolidation validated that decision, he said. But as the community has grown, so has the demand.

"It was definitely a multi-year plan," Rodriguez said. "As our communities continue to grow, we know there will unfortunately be more families who need cancer care. Our goal is to make that care easier to access while helping patients stay connected to the people and routines that support them."

For Lightfoot, treatment a decade ago was demanding.

She received three rounds of chemotherapy followed by 36 rounds of radiation. She also experienced an infection after a lumpectomy and received home health support during her recovery.

Rodriguez added the radiation technology available today at AdventHealth Fish Memorial might have reduced the number of treatments Lightfoot needed at the time.

Still, she continued attending her younger daughter's color guard events, marching band activities and senior night at University High School in Orange City.

During senior night, Lightfoot walked her daughter onto the football field without knowing whether she would be there to see her graduate.

"I went from not knowing if I would have another day to meeting the goal of seeing both of my daughters graduate," she said. "It was a big accomplishment."

Lightfoot is now a 10-year breast cancer survivor.

Since completing treatment, she has watched both daughters reach other milestones, including college graduation and, more recently, a wedding.

As a faith-based, not-for-profit health system, AdventHealth reinvests resources in patient care, facilities, equipment and technology.

For Lightfoot, the expansion of cancer care at AdventHealth Fish Memorial is one examples of what that investment can mean for patients and families.

"I'm incredibly grateful for what AdventHealth was able to do for me and my family," she said.