Big Move doing big things for Niagara cancer care
Cycling event marks 10 years of fundraising
With the 10th annual Big Move Cancer Ride taking place this weekend, The Walker Family Cancer Centre has reason to celebrate.
The centre is recognizing the significant ways in which cancer care has changed in Niagara over the past 10 years.
Dr. Janice Giesbrecht, medical director of the centre for Niagara Health said the greatest improvements to local cancer care are the development of programs.
Niagara now has a radiation program — a treatment that wasn’t available in region before the centre opened in 2013. Since then, more than 4,000 patients have received radiation treatment, totalling 65,000 treatments.
Giesbrecht said the program is still advancing with precision radiation.
“That really is a major initiative and continues to be a place to support and that’s a great thing for Niagara with that kind of technology,” Giesbrecht said.
The centre is also working to launch technology which will allow it to connect with patients in their homes using videoing conferencing.
Giesbrecht said the technology can be used for consultations and in palliative care to support both patients and their at-home care providers.
Immunotherapy, systemic treatment, clinical trials, patient experience focus, are all aspects of cancer care the centre addresses.
“All of these things are really identifying us as leaders in the field and we’re very positive about that,” she said.
Although much progress has been made, Giesbrecht said there is always more work to be done and always a reason to do it.
“It’s always about, ‘how do we invest, how do we create better health care?’” she said. “It’s our family and friends who will need that care, and to me that’s a huge motivator and it is for many people because it’s going to be how we do this together.”
Giesbrecht said the centre is working on developing these technological advancements into the planned Niagara south hospital site.
“That’s going to be, you know, a great day in terms of medical care in Niagara having two new acute sites,” Giesbrecht said. “So that’s going to be huge going forward.”
She attributed the improvements in cancer care to fundraisers like the Big Move Cancer Ride and the Rankin Run.
“We couldn’t do what we’re doing without community support and Niagara has been an incredibly generous community,” she said.
The Big Move Cancer Ride will see its 10th anniversary on Sunday at Club Roma in St. Catharines. The event began in Niagara and is a non-competitive cycling event with 25-, 50- or 100kilometre route lengths.
Those looking to donate, volunteer, or ride can find more information at ofnhs.akaraisin.com