Combination of $3 million from the Ministry of Health and $1million donor funding to BC Cancer Foundation means BC is one of only three provinces with this state of the art equipment
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Vancouver, British Columbia ) On Tuesday June 6 the BC Cancer Agency and BC Cancer Foundation announced a new precision radiotherapy tool that could dramatically improve treatments for patients with cancers known to be treatable with radiotherapy. The new technology will be used for clinical research to further improve treatments.
Radiotherapy is the main non-surgical treatment for cancers. In radiation therapy, high-energy X-rays generated from a Linear Accelerator (LINAC) are used to kill cancer cells. In doing so, healthy tissue surrounding the cancer is also irradiated, leading to side effects for the patient.
The new technology, BrainLAB’s ExacTrac X-Ray 6D, when added to an existing LINAC, transforms the LINAC into a millimeter precise image-guided radiation tool. The radiation beam can then be targeted much more precisely, sparing healthy tissues and lessening side effects. The technology matches the radiation beam to a patient’s breathing cycle, so that when the tumour moves outside the radiation beam, the beam is shut off and does not harm healthy tissue. When the patient’s breathing moves the tumour back within the radiation beam, the beam is automatically turned back on again.
The additional $1 million which provided the precision BrainLAB ExacTrac system was funded through the BC Cancer Foundation from proceeds from One World One Heart’s “An Evening of Nostalgia for Cancer Cure” and from individual donors to the Foundation.
Bonita Chan and Lydia Ma, co-chairs of One World One Heart’s organizing committee said, “Cancer is a disease that impacts many people in our society. We wanted to do something that would improve outcomes for patients at the BC Cancer Agency. We are very pleased to see this new technology in place as a result of the efforts of our many supporters and volunteers.”
Dr. Tom Keane, radiation therapy program leader for the BC Cancer Agency said, “We are extremely appreciative of the Provincial Health Services Authority, the government and the individual donors to the BC Cancer Foundation who came together to make this entire technology package possible. It will allow physicians at the BC Cancer Agency to improve treatments for people with cancers that are known to be treatable with radiotherapy, as well as conduct research using this very advanced equipment.”
“This is a perfect example of how the government-funded care at the BC Cancer Agency can be enhanced thanks to the generosity of donors to the BC Cancer Foundation,” said Sharon Kennedy, senior director of development for the BC Cancer Foundation.
The BC Cancer Foundation raises funds that directly support research and enhancements to care at the BC Cancer Agency, throughout B.C. The BC Cancer Agency, an Agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of
British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care.
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For information contact:
Penny Noble APR, director of communications, BC Cancer Foundation: 604 707 5902, cell 604 805 5637
Marisa Adair, Communications Director, BC Ministry of Health: cell 250 920-8500, media line 250 952-1889.
