The former Davidson County Cancer Services changed its name to Carolina Cancer Services in February.

The original name — which the organization has had since its beginning in 1996 — limited the center’s services to patients in Davidson County. And while Carolina Cancer Services will continue to serve County residents, the new name allows the group to expand its reach.

“Our focus is still very much on the people of Davidson County, and we don’t want to go away from that,” said Caron Myers, executive director of Carolina Cancer Services. “This will now allow us to serve the people in the surrounding areas as well.”

Because cities have moved and shifted over time, changing with increases in population, some city limits have expanded outside Davidson County lines. Some Thomasville residents, for example, actually live in Randolph County, and parts of High Point stretch into Guilford County.

“All of those things considered, we knew that we had to also help the people that are in the fringe area of the county,” Myers said. “We eliminated the county line so we could help everybody.”

Since the name change, Carolina Cancer Services has received calls from people in Guilford County and Rowan County asking for assistance. And because the organization is one of only 54 agencies nationwide, the expansion allowed by the name change will help North Carolina citizens, Myers said.

“What we do is very unique in that we raise money to help take care of people who have cancer and can’t afford their bills,” she said. “The need is ever-growing – cancer is not going away.”