Nanaimo cancer centre construction to begin next year
Construction workers are poised to start building a BC Cancer centre in Nanaimo in 2025 – bringing access to critical treatment services closer to home for thousands of people on Vancouver Island.
Nearly one year after announcing the $289-million health-care facility, B.C.’s NDP government says a business plan has been approved.
“Typically on a project of this size, in the hundreds of millions of dollars, that takes 18-24 months. It’s been completed in 11, which demonstrates I think the priority we have here,” says Health Minister Adrian Dix.
The three-storey centre is being built at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital next to the ambulatory care building. The province says the procurement process is underway.
“It will house a CT simulator, a PET/CT diagnostic scanner and an oncology ambulatory care unit with 12 exam rooms, four consult rooms, and space for medical physicists and radiation therapists,” says Dix.
The building is expected to open its doors to patients in 2028.
A Nanaimo men’s health advocate, who brings care packages to other men sharing a cancer diagnosis, says bringing treatment closer to home is a big deal.
“I know I have to travel for treatment and I’ve accepted that,” says Don Helgeson.
He’s recently been diagnosed with a recurrence of prostate cancer. He’s begun treatment in Nanaimo but says travel is required for certain scans and radiation, which adds to a challenging time.
“So what I’ve been told is that I’ve been onboarded to travel to Bellingham, Wash., for my radiation treatments,” says Helgeson. “There’s a possibility that I could have side effects as a result of radiation, so would you rather be in a hotel room in a strange city or would you rather be in your own house where your friends and family are – and you’re surrounded by all your own things?”
In the first year of operation at the new clinic, 20,000 radiation treatments are anticipated for roughly 1,600 patients.
“With increasing rates of cancer, the rapidly growing and aging population in Nanaimo and surrounding communities, we know there’s great need for more cancer services in this part of our province,” says BC Cancer’s chief operating officer Tracy Irwin.
According to statistics released by the province, one in two people will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in B.C.
“Cancer can take so much from you. And you and your family need all of the love and support you can get,” says Joanne Falvai.
The criminology professor and mother of three temporarily relocated her family to Victoria when she went through cancer treatment following a diagnosis in November 2020.
“I’m grateful to our government for answering this call. And while I’m super excited about a cancer centre in Nanaimo, I hope to never see the inside of those radiation machines again.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Indianapolis 500 delayed as strong storm forces fans to evacuate Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The start of the Indianapolis 500 was delayed as a strong storm pushed through the area Sunday, forcing Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to evacuate about 125,000 fans who had already arrived for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Hamas rocket attack from Gaza sets off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv for the first time in months
Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza that set off air raid sirens as far away as Tel Aviv for the first time in months on Sunday in a show of resilience more than seven months into Israel's massive air, sea and ground offensive.
At least 13 dead in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after severe weather roars across region
Powerful storms killed at least 13 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after obliterating homes and destroying a truck stop where dozens sought shelter in a restroom during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.