Touched by Cancer

Too many of us have been touched by cancer.

That was evident by the immense support of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, where a creative fusion of art, science and patient care come together to fight the deadly disease.

During a May 23 dedication ceremony, patients, donors and local and state dignitaries gathered to celebrate one of the most fully integrated cancer centers in the world.

Even former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who lost a son to cancer and has since committed himself to eradicating the disease, was on hand, calling the cancer center a "remarkable facility."

"I'm not sure I can fulfill what I feel in my heart about the commitment all of you have made to deal with this dreaded disease," Biden said. "I hope many, many patients who get treated here will get well in this place, and I hope other institutions follow your lead."

The dedication celebrated the promise of precision medicine, and thanked generous donors for their help in building the $323 million facility, the largest project ever on the medical center's Omaha campus. The facility was named in recognition of a major gift from Pamela Buffett, through her foundation, the Rebecca Susan Buffett Foundation. Pamela's husband, Fred "Fritz" Buffett, died in 1997 after fighting kidney cancer.

As the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Nebraska, the Buffett Cancer Center offers treatment options and clinical trials not found elsewhere. And, it uniquely features the Chihuly Sanctuary, a meditative space inside the building that is the cornerstone of the medical center’s healing arts program.

During Biden’s tour of the Chihuly Sanctuary, he looked overhead past Dale Chihuly’s glasswork that surrounds a circular skylight and, teary-eyed, recalled one of his son’s last requests to "look up and see the stars."

Web extra

View Former Vice President Joe Biden's keynote speech at the dedication.

View what the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center means to patients

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