VICTORIA - The BC Cancer Agency is seeking volunteers who are interested in playing a pivotal part in cancer care at the new Vancouver Island Cancer Centre. 

The Vancouver Island Cancer Centre, scheduled to open March 6, 2001, needs volunteers to assist patients and their families by helping them find their way around the centre, providing them with refreshments and other comforts, and generally being available for support and information. Volunteers are also needed to assist within the patient and staff library.

The new Vancouver Island Cancer Centre is a $46.7 million, 95,000 square-foot cancer care and research facility located in Victoria, next to Royal Jubilee Hospital. The new cancer centre is three times the size of the existing centre and combines the latest technologies with a spacious and healing environment.

While the professional staff at the Vancouver Island Cancer Centre have tremendous expertise in their various disciplines, the volunteer has the "time and heart" to simply sit and be with someone while they are waiting for their appointment or treatment.

"Dealing with cancer can be a very frightening and overwhelming experience and volunteers provide a friendly, supportive face," says Shaun Lorhan, who leads volunteer services at the Vancouver Island Cancer Centre. "Being a volunteer means a cancer patient isn't alone. They have the support of someone who understands," she adds.

Volunteering at the Vancouver Island Cancer Centre offers the opportunity to learn new skills, work in a state-of-the-art cancer treatment facility, and to join an incredible team of staff and volunteers.

"The best days of my life are spent on Thursdays, when I volunteer at the cancer centre," says Jean Canova, who has been volunteering at the existing Vancouver Island Cancer Centre for five years now. "Sometimes I wonder who gets more out of it…me or a patient. It doesn't matter…we are all here for each other," Jean adds.

Volunteers are needed for weekly 4 hour shifts between 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday only). Duties include helping patients find their way around, providing patient comforts, helping to locate reading material in the library, and being a support system for patients and their families.

Services at the Vancouver Island Cancer Centre include:

• Assessment and diagnosis 
• Treatment planning, including chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation therapy 
• Follow-up care 
• Full-service pharmacy 
• Nutritional Counselling and information 
• Individual, family and group counselling 
• Spiritual Support 
• Library/resource centre 
• Research Facility

For more information contact:
Shaun Lorhan, Volunteer Services Coordinator,
Vancouver Island Cancer Centre
(250) 519-5669
slorhan@bccancer.bc.ca