Cancer center, surgery center and imaging center come to Santa Clarita Valley.

In order to meet the health care needs of the fast-growing Santa Clarita Valley community, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center will provide full-service outpatient services this summer inside the 80,000 square foot, three-story Santa Clarita Valley Medical Plaza.

Located at the intersection of Valencia Boulevard and McBean Parkway, the medical plaza will be the home of the new $40 million Providence Holy Cross Health Center, which will include an outpatient cancer center, surgery center, state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging services and a laboratory draw station.

The Santa Clarita Valley Medical Plaza is a collaborative project between Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, Facey Medical Group and other community partners. The medical plaza will also include an urgent care center, physical therapy, a pharmacy and several physician offices housing both specialists and primary care doctors.

The Santa Clarita Valley Medical Plaza will complement the many inpatient services now provided to Santa Clarita residents at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, located in Mission Hills just 10 miles from Santa Clarita. In addition to the development of this medical plaza, hospital officials recently announced plans for a $116 million expansion of the hospital that will include a new neonatal intensive care unit that will be the closest such service for Santa Clarita Valley families.

"We have been serving the Santa Clarita Valley for more than 40 years, and with this area's population predicted to grow 28 percent in the next 10 years, we realize the community needs additional health care facilities that are both high-quality and easily accessible," said Kerry Carmody, Administrator of Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. "As a Santa Clarita resident myself, I look forward to the opening of this great new center."

Currently, Santa Clarita Valley residents must drive to the San Fernando Valley for many of their outpatient health care needs.

"The new Providence Holy Cross Health Center is one way Providence Holy Cross Medical Center is fulfilling its mission to provide for the health care needs of Santa Clarita residents right in their own community," Carmody said.

The Providence Holy Cross Health Center in Valencia will include:

* The Providence Holy Cross Cancer Center, featuring the next generation of radiation therapy and chemotherapy treatment services.

* The Providence Holy Cross Surgery Center, providing outpatient surgeries in a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment. Shorter, less complicated surgeries will be performed by some of Southern California's finest orthopedic surgeons, urologists, gastroenterologists, gynecologists, ophthalmologists, podiatrists and general and plastic surgeons.

* The Providence Holy Cross Imaging Center, providing top-of-the-line magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as a combined PET/CT (positron emission tomography/computed tomography) for the clearest, most precise images inside the human body.

Physician offices within the Santa Clarita Valley Medical Plaza will include family practitioners, internists, pediatricians, nephrologists, endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, rheumatologists and other specialists.

Information for this article was provided by the Providence Holy Cross Health Center in Valencia. For more information, call toll free 1-888-HEALING (1-888-432-5464).

RELATED ARTICLE: Six things I have learned from surviving breast cancer.

ANDREA FOX

1. Breast Self Exams are important. Not necessarily for early detection, but mainly to know your body, know what is normal for you, be familiar with any changes that occur with your cycle. It helps to eliminate any concerns when you feel something but know it happens every month.

2. There are more options regarding reconstruction than most people realize. It is important to talk with a Plastic Surgeon and learn all those options. The choice is yours not the doctor's.

3. Being bald can be very liberating! Our hair is the source of great anguish and hardship. We spend a lot of time and money on it, and when it doesn't turn out right, it can send us into a deep depression. Have fun with your baldness--embrace it--enjoy the freedom!

4. Saying NO becomes very easy. Do what is right for you--over scheduling and taking on more usually isn't, so allow yourself to say no.

5. Friends and family make a huge difference. Let them help you!

6. The sixth, but perhaps most important thing is to know that you will come through this. You will have discovered things about yourself you didn't know--mainly how strong you are. That strength will continue for the rest of your life!

Andrea Fox is a breast cancer survivor who spends much of her time working with and educating other women regarding their options. Since beating cancer, she has climbed mountains, traveled to Africa and--most recently--completed a triathlon. She is also a product manager for Mentor Corporation, over- seeing breast reconstruction-related projects, products and events.

For more information and links to resources, visit the "Women's Health" section of MentorCorp.com.