​​BC Cancer opened its first cancer treatment centre, then known as the British Columbia Cancer Institute, in Vancouver on November 5, 1938.

For more than 85 years, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to high-quality patient care. We continue to improve cancer detection and treatment through research and innovation. These efforts have shaped the services we provide today.

Key milestones

1938

• November 5 – An anonymous $50,000 donation to the British Columbia Cancer Foundation helps establish BC's first cancer treatment centre. The British Columbia Cancer Institute (now BC Cancer) opens in a renovated house at 11th Avenue and Heather Street in Vancouver, on part of the site where BC Cancer - Vancouver operates today.
• The institute starts with three full-time and two part-time employees. Today, BC Cancer employs more than 3,000 people across the province.
  

1952

• The Victoria Cancer Clinic (now BC Cancer – Victoria) opens a dedicated space at Royal Jubilee Hospital.

1955

• BC Cancer opens a new 36-bed boarding home called the BC Cancer Institute Private Hospital to provide overnight nursing care.
  
• BC Cancer launches the Cervical Cancer Screening Program, the first program of its kind in the world. Since its launch, cervical cancer rates have fallen by 70%.

1971

• Medical director Dr. A. Maxwell Evans retires. During his leadership, the BC Cancer Institute grows into a province-wide organization with 300 employees. More than 42,000 patients receive diagnosis and treatment during this period.

1974

• October 31 – The Province of British Columbia takes responsibility for cancer care and treatment from the BC Cancer Foundation and creates the Cancer Control Agency of British Columbia.

1979

• September 20 – The BC Cancer Research Centre officially opens in Vancouver.
• The first patients receive treatment through clinical trials.

1980s

• Researchers and clinicians develop a treatment that combines radiation therapy with powerful chemotherapy. The treatment doubles cure rates for people with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer.
• Researchers develop the Goldie-Coldman Hypothesis, which leads to alternating two different non-cross-resistant chemotherapy treatments to help prevent drug resistance.

1980

• April 23 – Phase I of the A. Maxwell Evans Clinic expansion project (now the Vancouver Centre) officially opens.
• Scientists at the Terry Fox Laboratory develop a method called culture purging that removes cancer cells from bone marrow before transplantation in leukemia patients.

1984

• Scientists and technicians at the BC Cancer Research Centre develop a computerized microscope that can identify and track living cells.
• Cancer specialists introduce a new combination of hormone therapies to treat prostate cancer.
• Researchers a treatment that uses red light and light-sensitive drugs to destroy lung tumours.

1987

• September 30 – The Victoria Cancer Clinic moves into a new building on the Royal Jubilee Hospital campus.

1988

• July 18 – BC launches the Screening Mammography Program, the first organized mammography screening program in Canada. Early detection helps reduce breast cancer mortality in the province.

1989

• Researchers develop a new treatment approach for early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma that shortens treatment time and lowers the risk of cancer returning.
• Scientists develop a light-induced fluorescence endoscope that helps doctors find hidden lung cancers.

Early 1990s

• Researchers develop the “comet assay,” a sensitive method for measuring DNA damage in individual tumour cells.

1990

• The Cancer Control Agency of BC changes its name to the British Columbia Cancer Agency.
• The Cancer Imaging Department creates ACCESS, an automated cervical cell screening system.

1992

• Cancer Imaging develops the Cyto Savant, an automated system that screens cytology samples such as sputum smears.

1994

• The British Columbia Cancer Agency shortens its name to BC Cancer Agency.

1995

• May 12 – BC Cancer opens its third treatment centre, the Fraser Valley Centre in Surrey.
• BC Cancer, UBC’s Department of Ophthalmology and TRIUMF open Canada’s first proton-beams cancer treatment centre.

1996

• The Hereditary Cancer Program sees its first patient.
• Patients in BC become the first to receive new liposome-based cancer drugs for pancreatic and colorectal cancers.
• BC Cancer completes Canada’s first clinical trial of a gene therapy designed to help the immune system fight cancer.

1997

• The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, D.C., along with European researchers and clinicians, adopts BC Cancer standards for interpreting pre-cancerous lung biopsies.
• BC Cancer begins creating Canada's first Genome Sequence Centre dedicated to cancer research.

1998

• April 3 – BC Cancer opens its fourth treatment centre opens in Kelowna, the Centre for the Southern Interior.
• BC Cancer launches brachytherapy for prostate cancer patients in Vancouver, becoming the only centre west of Toronto to offer the treatment at that time.
  

2000

• Researchers join Canada's first national study on how cancer patients use complementary and alternative therapies.
• Scientists at the Genome Sciences Centre help identify gene functions in two chromosomes of a roundworm, improving understanding of how genes control cell division.

2001

• The Vancouver Island Centre opens.
• As part of an international collaboration, researchers find that stomach removal may help prevent gastric cancer in people with a strong family history and confirmed genetic risk.
• The Screening Mammography Program launches “Fast Track,” reducing wait times between an abnormal screening mammogram and diagnosis.

2002

• BC Cancer launches Canada's first tissue tumour repository.
• Scientists at the Terry Fox Laboratory discover how to grow large numbers of blood-forming stem cells outside the body, creating new possibilities for bone marrow transplants.

2003

• Scientists at the Genome Sciences Centre complete the first publicly available genetic sequence of the coronavirus linked to SARS.
• BC Children’s Hospital and BC Cancer create the BC Provincial Pediatric Oncology/Hematology Network.

2004

• Researchers discover the gene RTEL, which may help explain how cancer tumours grow and survive.

2005

• The new BC Cancer Agency Research Centre building opens.
• Research programs expand to include 93 faculty members, more than 400 research staff and 340 trainees.
  
• BC Cancer launches the first phase of Telecare in partnership with the Vancouver Island Health Authority.

2007

• Researchers publish a breakthrough study that stops prostate cancer growth in the laboratory and opens new possibilities for treatment.
• Scientists develop volumetric modulated arc therapy, allowing patients to receive faster and more precise radiation therapy.

2008

• August 25 – BC Cancer opens its fifth treatment centre in Abbotsford.
• Partners approve funding for the Northern Cancer Control Strategy, including a new cancer centre in Prince George.
• Researchers identify five distinct forms of ovarian cancer and show that each follows a different biological pathway.

2009

• The  Colon Check pilot program launches in Penticton.
• Researchers from BC Cancer’s OvCaRe Program and the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute discover a genetic mutation that causes one form of ovarian cancer, helping launch a new era in cancer genomics.
• BC Cancer scientists become the first in the world to trace the genetic evolution of a breast cancer tumour, creating new opportunities for targeted treatments.
• The BC Generations Project launches as the largest health research study ever undertaken in BC.
• BC Cancer launches the CAMEO program, Canada's first program to support the safe integration of evidence-based complementary medicine into cancer care.

2010

• Researchers identify a protein that helps childhood sarcomas resist certain cancer treatments.

2011

• The Centre for the Southern Interior is renamed in honour of the late MLA Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins.
• Researchers discover that the CIITA gene plays a role in many cases of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Scientists identify a connection between the enzyme CA9 and the spread of breast cancer.
• A pilot study confirms that laser Raman spectroscopy can accurately detect lung cancer.
• Researchers from BC Cancer's OvCaRe program and their partners discover that several rare cancers share mutations in the same gene, DICER.

2012

• November 1 – BC Cancer opens its sixth treatment centre, the Centre for the North, in Prince George.
• Scientists decode the genetic makeup of triple-negative breast cancer, opening the door to more effective treatments.
• Scientists from BC Cancer and UBC identify new breast cancer genes and reclassify the disease into 10 new categories based on the tumour genetics.

2013

• BC Cancer celebrates 75 years of cancer care in British Columbia.
• A new 3D navigation system improves lung cancer diagnosis and treatment planning.
• A 10,000-square-foot expansion opens at the Vancouver Island Centre, providing additional supportive care space.
• The provincial Colon Screening Program launches across BC.
  
• The Screening Mammography Program of BC celebrates its 25th anniversary after performing more than 4.5 million mammograms and detecting more than 19,600 breast cancers.

2015

• A prostate cancer drug developed by BC Cancer enters clinical trials.
• Scientists develop a new method for sequencing individual cells.

2016

• The provincial government provides $3 million to support the Personalized OncoGenomics program and other priority cancer projects.
• New digital mammography vehicles improve access to screening in rural and remote communities.
• The BC Cancer Chinese Support Group celebrates its 10th anniversary.
• BC Cancer opens the Late Effects, Assessment and Follow-up (LEAF) Clinic for cancer survivors.

2017

• BC Cancer launches a groundbreaking Indigenous Cancer Strategy and partnership to address cancer-related challenges facing Indigenous communities.
• BC Cancer and the BC Cancer Foundation introduce a new brand identity reflecting BC Cancer's province-wide role in care and research.
• BC Cancer – Prince George celebrates its fifth anniversary.

2018

• The federal government announces funding for Institute for Advanced Medical Isotopes (IAMI), Canada's first nuclear medicine hub.
• An $18 million donation supports BC Cancer's new Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics Program.
• BC Cancer - Abbotsford opens a new patient and family centre.
• BC Cancer – Kelowna celebrates its 20th anniversary.

2019

• BC Cancer - Victoria opens its third publicly funded PET/CT scanner.
• The Genome Sciences Centre celebrates its 20th anniversary.

2020

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, BC Cancer rapidly expands virtual care. Across the province, about 70% of patient visits take place virtually, rising to 90% in Victoria.
• BC Cancer Research becomes a formal research institute approved by UBC ​and PHSA.
• BC Cancer - Kelowna opens a PET/CT scanner, increasing access to cancer detection.
• BC launches Canada's first organized lung cancer screening program.

2021

• Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, BC Cancer introduces new ways to support patients, families and the public.
• BC Cancer - Victoria celebrates 20 years of service.
• The Cervix Screening Program marks 65 years of helping save lives in BC.
  
• BC Cancer welcomes Indigenous patient navigators to provide culturally safe and trauma-informed support.
• A phase III clinical trial shows a new prostate cancer treatment improves survival for men with advanced disease.

2022

• BC Cancer launches an at-home cervix self-screening pilot in Central Vancouver Island and on the Sunshine Coast.
• BC Cancer launches province-wide lung cancer screening program at 36 sites.
• The Terry Fox Laboratory celebrates 40 years of research.
• BC Cancer Prince George celebrates its 10th anniversary.
• BC Cancer - Vancouver becomes the first centre in Canada to be named a Comprehensive Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Centre of Excellence.
• The first patient receives treatment on Canada's first Ethos radiation therapy unit at BC Cancer - Kelowna.

2023

• BC Cancer's immunotherapy team develops the expertise and infrastructure needed to create CAR-T cells for patients with life-threatening blood cancers. BC Cancer becomes the first academic organization in Canada to manufacture and provide CD19 CAR-T cells to patients in Canada.
• The Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging names BC Cancer – Vancouver Canada's first Comprehensive Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Centre of Excellence.
  
• BC launches a new Cancer Care Action Plan to improve cancer prevention, detection and treatment.
• BC Cancer and the Ministry of Health launch the Proof campaign to raise awareness about the cancer risk linked to alcohol use.
• BC Cancer – Kelowna celebrates 25 years of service.
• The province an​nounces new cancer centres for Nanaimo and Kamloops.
  
• Construction begins on a new cancer centre in Surrey that will significantly expand radiation therapy, chemotherapy and outpatient cancer care services.

2024

• The Cervix Screening Program launches Canada's first province-wide cervix self-screening option.
• Construction continues on a new cyclotron and radiopharmacy laboratory in Vancouver, expanding support for cancer research, diagnosis and treatment.
• CAR-T therapy becomes available in BC for some advanced leukemias and lymphomas.
• The project team is selected for the Burnaby Hospital Phase 2 and BC Cancer Centre project.
• Phase 2 includes the Keith and Betty Beedie Acute Care Tower and the new BC Cancer – Burnaby McCarthy Centre. The centre will include 54 ambulatory care rooms, 31 chemotherapy chairs, five linear accelerator spaces, two PET/CT scanner spaces, an oncology pharmacy, and research and clinical trial facilities.
• BC Cancer celebrates 85 years of advances in cancer care, research and patient support.

2025

• BC Cancer and UBC introduce the country's most advanced PET/CT scanner, improving diagnosis and supporting the development of new imaging agents and targeted cancer treatments.
  
• People with prostate cancer in BC gain access to improved diagnostics through prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET scanning, along with the precision treatment Pluvicto, which delivers radiation directly to cancer cells.
• BC Cancer – Victoria officially opens the Ernie & Yv​onne Yakimovich Integrated Care and Research Pavilion, expanding suppor​tive care services for nearly 1,000 patients each year.
• Preliminary sitework and construction begin on the new BC Cancer centre in Nanaimo. When it opens in 2028, the centre is expected to provide approximately 11,000 radiation consults and follow-up appointments and about 20,000 treatments each year.
• Construction begins on the new BC Cancer centre in Kamloops. When it opens in 2028, the centre is expected to provide approximately 7,500 radiation consults and follow-up appointments and about 16,500 treatments each year.
• Construction advances on the new Surrey hospital and BC Cancer Centre. Scheduled to open in 2030, the project continues to move forward as major construction milestones are reached.