June E. Nylen Cancer Center Hosts “Rock The Cure” Benefit Concert to Raise Funds for New PET Scanner

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) — The June E. Nylen Cancer Center held its “Rock The Cure” benefit concert Saturday night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to raise money for major new equipment.

Money from the sponsorship and ticket sales went to fund a new PET scanner at the cancer center, to help more patients on their cancer journey.

“The new PET scanner is state of the art, it actually only came to market a few years ago, it’s specific to oncology. So we’re really excited to bring it to the cancer center to position ourselves to care for patients in the future,” said Christie Finnegan, director of marketing and fund development for the June E. Nylen Cancer Center.

The June E. Nylen Cancer Center treated more than 7,600 patients from 15 counties last year.

The PET scan is an important tool for diagnosing and staging cancer, which is crucial in helping patients win the battle.

“The Cancer Center saved my life. I go there every two weeks. I had 77 cancer treatments or chemotherapy treatments. I had 42 radiation treatments. They are like my friends. They know who I am. They know who my children are. They know what I’ve been through,” said Katy Lias, a six-year-old patient at June E. Nylen Cancer Center.

Lias is battling stage 4 colon cancer that has metastasized to her lungs and esophagus. Without the PET scan, she wouldn’t have known her cancer was spreading.

“I mean, without that, I wouldn’t have found many of the cancerous spots that I had because they were diagnosed in one place and then metastasized somewhere else that we wouldn’t have known about,” Lias said.

The community came out to listen to The Spazmatics band for 80s rock music. It was a night to celebrate what is to come at the cancer center.

“It’s no laughing matter. We have to take it seriously for the future. But tonight was a celebration of all the good things to come,” Finnegan said.

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