It will look like business as usual for the staff of the BC Cancer Agency's Centre for the Southern Interior today, but they certainly have reason to celebrate. Five years and 9,200 patients since officially opening the centre on April 3, 1998, the centre has achieved some major milestones in the care and treatment of the cancer patients residing in the southern interior of British Columbia.

Sheri Aubin, a secretary in the Centre's radiation therapy department, has been with the centre since before opening day. It took a tremendous effort to get everything ready for patients and the public, but it was worth it, she says.

"Our public open house was a very exciting event for all of Kelowna," Sheri recalls. "It was amazing how many people were interested in seeing the new centre. There were line-ups down the street of people waiting to get in. It was a crazy day!"

Before the Centre opened, cancer patients throughout the Interior had to travel to Vancouver for many treatments. Bev Gretzinger was one of the first patients referred to the new Centre for the Southern Interior. Diagnosed with breast cancer, and facing months of treatment that included surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, she was grateful to receive treatment close to home.

"For me, it really was a blessing to have the centre here in the Okanagan," explains Bev, a computer graphics specialist. "I was a single parent with two small children, and travelling to Vancouver for treatment would have made things difficult."

With no previous experience to know what to expect from a cancer centre, Bev was pleasantly surprised to discover a welcoming, comfortable environment.

"I haven't been to other cancer centres, but I think the facilities here are fabulous," she says. "I can't rave enough about the staff."

Although it's the bricks and mortar that house the treatment, it's the staff and volunteers who are the soul of the Centre for the Southern Interior, says BC Cancer Agency Regional Administrator Sandra Broughton.

"I think the team here has made a huge difference to our community," insists Sandra. "I've watched them start from nothing and make the centre grow and develop. There is an enormous willingness here to champion new programs."

Years before the centre even opened, volunteer Dorothy North made a commitment to giving her time and effort.

"My husband and I were moving to Kelowna 11 years ago, and I saw the sign for the location of the new cancer centre," Dorothy says. "I told my husband that one of the criteria for our house was it had to be nearby so I could volunteer!"

Six years later, having herself experienced the physical and emotional toll of cancer first hand, Dorothy became a volunteer at the centre from day one. She started as a "wayfinder," taking new patients to their appointments, or for their tests at Kelowna General Hospital, or helping them find information at the cancer information center. But her true volunteer calling came two years later in the chemotherapy department.

Each Wednesday, she acts as a companion to the patients in chemotherapy - bringing coffee and juice or snacks, making them feel comfortable, or sometimes, just being a sympathetic ear.

"It's all so rewarding, being able to provide some comfort to the patients, and being ready to give them a hug or hold their hand," explains Dorothy.

Her own understanding as a cancer patient and survivor allows her to help guide current patients through their own journeys.

"The worst days are the day you get your diagnosis, and your first day of treatment," says Dorothy. "There is so much information, and it's so hard for you to absorb everything. I'm always glad to help try and answer questions, or share my own experience."

The Centre for the Southern Interior is the most recent addition to the BC Cancer Agency's network of regional cancer centres. It offers prevention, screening and diagnosis, treatment and care, rehabilitation and pain and symptom\palliative care, and research . Over the next five years, Sandra would like to see a further expansion of services, through more research opportunities, clinical trials, education initiatives for patients, primary prevention, and palliative care.

"It's important that we continue to grow and evolve, to the meet the changing needs of the community and provide the best patient care to those residing in the southern interior," Sandra explains.

The Honourable Sindi Hawkins, Minister of Health Planning, has always been a great supporter of the Centre for the Southern Interior. "The facility is a tremendous asset to the people of Kelowna and the surrounding area," says Minister Hawkins. "It allows patients to get the services they need closer to where they live, with the family support that is such an important part of treatment."

As the centre has defined its role in the community, there has been a constant need to expand and improve programs and equipment. Supporting the BC Cancer Agency in its research and care mandate is the BC Cancer Foundation.

"Every time the doctors and staff have come to the Foundation in need of something, the community has provided it," says Janice Perrino, Director of Development. "That is amazing. The community knows that when we come to them for help, we're not kidding. I always say, the donors are our heroes."

Through the generosity of the Southern Interior communities, the centre has been able to develop the prevention and pain and symptom management\palliative care programs and an incredible range services, including equipment, art, and patient comfort supplies. Janice is hopeful that the support will continue to help the Foundation reach its goal of raising $1 million each year.

"We need to raise that amount in order to meet the needs of the patients," she explains. "It will be a huge part of maintaining the programs and equipment we have now, and to provide for future program initiatives. New technology development means new radiation and chemotherapy equipment, and we need to ensure that we remain state-of-the-art."

• Provides care and treatment to 1,800 patients each year?
• Has 205 staff and 85 volunteers to help treat and care for patients?
• Is the newest of four centres across the province?
• Is involved in cutting-edge research into the causes and cures for cancer?
• Foundation aims to raise $1 million

 For more information, please contact:
Sandra Broughton
Regional administrator
BC Cancer Agency, Centre for the Southern Interior
(250) 712.3903