Cancer Care in Northwestern Ontario Getting a Huge Boost
Published Thursday, December 8, 2022
People who live in the Northwestern Ontario will soon have access to improved cancer care services closer to home thanks to funding from the Ontario government, Cancer Care Ontario and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation.
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is receiving funding support from the Ministry of Health, Ontario Health - Cancer Care Ontario and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation to add a third LINAC onsite, and to replace the ageing PET/CT. The total project costs come in at just over $13.2M. It includes the addition of a new, third linear accelerator (LINAC) and an upgraded positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) scanner. The PET/CT and LINAC are essential for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“We have seen firsthand the benefits to the patient of being able to offer cancer care closer to home,” said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of TBRHSC and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. “Now thanks to this funding and donations, we will be able to address any gap in radiation therapy treatment capacity in the region. This is great news for the communities we serve.”
PET/CT combines two general types of imaging – nuclear and x-ray. The PET (nuclear) imaging “lights up” cancer cells where they are present and the CT (x-ray) imaging allows doctors to see exactly where in the body those lit-up areas are located. PET/CT imaging allows doctors to more accurately diagnose and manage disease and supports physicians in developing a treatment plan. The current PET/CT is due to be replaced in 2023. The LINAC is used for radiation treatments for patients with cancer. It delivers high-energy electrons to the affected area, destroying the cancer cells while sparing the surrounding normal tissue. The technology is essential in supporting cancer care.
“We are pleased to announce the addition of a third linear accelerator to our Hospital,” said Dr. Nicole Laferriere, Chief of Oncology and Medical Director at Regional Cancer Care Northwest, TBRHSC. “Radiation therapy treatment volumes have grown to require this additional piece of equipment. We have seen firsthand the benefits to the patient of being able to offer cancer care closer to home. Now we will be able to address any gap in radiation therapy treatment capacity in the region.”
“This announcement is a game changer for cancer patients in the Northwest,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development and M.P.P. for Kenora-Rainy River. “Our government is focused on improving health outcomes for people across the North, and this investment will allow northerners to get the best quality of care closer to home with loved ones by their side.”
The people of Northwestern Ontario also played a critical role in the announcement through their support of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation's PET/CT campaign. Just recently on November 19th, a special sold-out event, Dancing with the Docs, raised over $200,000 for the campaign. The event, which was announced in 2020 then delayed by Covid, was created by Patricia and Dr. Joseph Del Paggio in honour of their mother Nikki who passed from cancer in 2019. Since then, the event has been a driving force to help bring a new PET/CT scanner to our city and region.
“Through the generosity of events like this, our donors, and with funds from the Thunder Bay 50/50, we will be contributing $500,000 to the PET/CT project,” said Katy Commisso, Chair of Governance of the Health Sciences Foundation Board of Directors. ”We are pleased to support this new replacement scanner, which will allow the Hospital to do more for patients with it than ever before.”
Beyond cancer care services, the new PET/CT scanner has advanced technology that can be used for other diseases including cardiac disease. PET/CT can give heart surgeons a 3D image of your heart – an important tool as our Cardiovascular Surgery program grows. It will make planning surgeries easier and ultimately lead to better results.