April 23rd forum to provide information about programs and services to be offered at Abbotsford Centre
Anticipation is brewing in the community about the newest cancer centre to open in the province.
The BC Cancer Agency’s Abbotsford Centre is the fifth cancer centre in the province (regional centres are also located in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna and Surrey). It is part of an important network which provides a coordinated cancer control system, including prevention, cancer care, treatment, and research.
The public is invited to learn more about specific services to be offered at the Abbotsford Centre and to meet some of the leadership team who will be leading those programs, including Dr. Lee Ann Martin, Head of Medical Oncology, and Mary Flaherty, Interim Director, Regional Operations, for the Fraser Valley and Abbotsford Centres. BC Cancer Agency President Dr. Simon Sutcliffe will host the event.
“We are absolutely delighted that we will be offering cancer care closer to home, for patients in the Eastern Fraser Valley,” says Dr. Martin. “When you’re ill, you want to receive care in your community, where you can receive the support of family and friends.”
“As part of the BC Cancer Agency provincial cancer control program, Abbotsford will have the most advanced equipment and patients will also benefit from access to leading-edge clinical trials research.”
Staff at the new centre will provide core services such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, counselling and support services, pain and symptom management and palliative care, and community prevention education. The new centre has room for 12 chemotherapy chairs to provide outpatient treatment and four state-of-the-art radiation therapy machines, with two CT simulators, for treatment planning.
When fully operational, the new Abbotsford Centre will serve approximately 2,500 new patients annually.
“We’re very proud of the world-class services we’ll be able to offer at the Abbotsford Centre,” says Dr. Martin, “I would encourage the community to come to the public forum and get to know us a little bit better.”
The forum will be held at Garden Park Towers, 2825 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, please call 604.675.8105.
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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. The BC Cancer Foundation raises funds to support research and enhancements to patient care at the BC Cancer Agency.
For more information, or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Papinder Rehncy
Communications Co-ordinator
BC Cancer Agency
Tel: 604.877.6271; pager: 604.918.1043
Toll-free: 1.800.663.3333, ex 6271
prehncy@bccancer.bc.ca