Improved Cancer Services For Fraser Valley Patients, Canada

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 31 Jul 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Health Minister George Abbott opened newly renovated areas of the BC Cancer Agency's Fraser Valley Centre, where approximately 12.5 million dollars in funding has provided new radiation therapy equipment and increased chemotherapy capacity to improve patient care.

"Patients in the Fraser Valley area will benefit from better access to cancer care services and modernized equipment through expansion and redevelopment of the Fraser Valley Centre in Surrey," said Abbott. "Upgrades to the centre's radiation therapy equipment and the expansion of chemotherapy chairs will help the agency meet the challenge of almost 3,000 new patients who are treated each year at this centre."

The cost to replace three linear accelerators (machines used to give radiation therapy to destroy cancerous tumours), a CT simulator and a digital simulator (machines used in treatment planning) was $10.5 million, including $9.5 million from the Ministry of Health and $1 million from the BC Cancer Agency's radiation therapy program.

An additional $2-million - including $100,000 from the BC Cancer Foundation - expansion to the chemotherapy areas will allow a new larger, state-of-the-art pharmacy to be built, which supports the timely and safe preparation of intravenous chemotherapy drugs for ambulatory patients, and a much larger dispensary for patients requiring oral drugs. The chemotherapy space has also been redesigned to provide for 23 chemotherapy treatment chairs - up from 14 previously - in addition to enhanced patient privacy and workspaces provided for nurses at point-of-care, so nurses remain close to patients.

"Unfortunately, statistics show that one in three British Columbians will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime," said Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave Hayer. "The expansion of chemotherapy services, and the purchase of new radiation therapy equipment at the BC Cancer Agency's Fraser Valley Centre, will benefit Surrey area residents and the health care team who work hard in our fight to beat the dreadful disease of cancer."

"We are very pleased that the ministry has made this significant investment in cancer services in the Fraser Valley. It means that we can continue to provide the best care possible in a timely way for our patients," said Mary Flaherty, director of clinical operations, systemic therapy for the BC Cancer Agency's Fraser Valley Centre, and the new Abbotsford Centre, scheduled to open in 2008.

The BC Cancer Agency's Fraser Valley Centre in Surrey opened in 1995 with three linear accelerators, a cobalt unit, a CT simulator, and a digital simulator. A fourth linear accelerator arrived in 2001. According to the lifespan of the machines, three of the linear accelerators, and the two simulators were scheduled to be replaced this year.

"The new equipment is state-of-the-art, and it will allow us to more precisely target tumours and verify the day-to-day accuracy of the treatment, which will reduce treatment related side-effects and improve the quality of life of our patients," said Olwen Demidoff, director of clinical operations, radiation therapy, for the agency's Fraser Valley Centre and the new Abbotsford Centre. "The new technology will also give our centre the opportunity to participate in leading-edge research."

The centre now has four linear accelerators, a cobalt treatment unit, a CT simulator, a digital simulator, 23 chemotherapy chairs and a world class pharmacy.

"This is the most recent in a series of initiatives designed to strengthen cancer treatment and research in B.C.," says PHSA board vice-chair Denise Turner, "By making these strategic investments, we are collectively helping ensure that British Columbians continue to have excellent access to cancer treatments."

In addition to acquiring new and upgraded equipment, the BC Cancer Agency focuses on recruiting and retaining radiation therapists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and other specialized care providers to ensure that these standards are met.

The four centres are located in Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna. The BC Cancer Agency will open a fifth regional cancer centre in 2008 in Abbotsford that will serve approximately 2,500 new patients annually.

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca