brachytherapy in the Southern Interior
- From: J <nexsw@nvalid,anon>
- Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 13:03:31 -0400
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/ABCCA/NewsCentre/2007/brachytherapy.htm 2007
News
04/04: New BC Cancer Agency program brings prostate cancer treatment
closer to home
Patients to benefit from specialized radiotherapy treatment in the
Southern Interior
A new program launched at the BC Cancer Agency?s Centre for the Southern
Interior gives prostate cancer patients in B.C.?s Southern Interior access
to a specialized radiotherapy treatment, called brachytherapy, in Kelowna.
?Having specialized radiotherapy treatment available in Kelowna will be a
tremendous benefit to prostate cancer patients who need it,? said Health
Minister George Abbott. ?Expanding the brachytherapy program supports
B.C.?s position as a leader in cancer care with some of the most
favourable outcomes in North America.?
Brachytherapy is the placement of radioactive seeds or sources directly
into, or next to, a tumour. In the case of prostate cancer, these tiny
radioactive sources, often called "seeds," are placed into or near the
prostate itself to deliver radiation therapy directly to the tumour
tissue, sparing surrounding healthy tissues.
?I was thrilled when I was told I was a candidate for brachytherapy,?
recalls James Stones, the first patient to have the procedure done in
Kelowna just last week. ?When I found out I had prostate cancer, I did a
lot of research on the treatment options for men in my situation.
Brachytherapy was a good choice for me because it?s considered just as
effective as surgery but much less invasive.?
Previously, men had to travel to Vancouver for prostate brachytherapy
after they completed an assessment at the BC Cancer Agency?s Centre for
the Southern Interior to determine their eligibility for the treatment.
With a new partnership with Interior Health, the treatment can now be done
at the Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) as an outpatient procedure.
?We are very pleased to be able to offer this effective treatment option
to local men diagnosed with prostate cancer,? says Dr. Ross Halperin,
radiation oncologist, BC Cancer Agency. ?This will not only save time for
those patients who would have had to travel to Vancouver, but they will
also have the opportunity to take part in prostate brachytherapy clinical
trials.?
Dr. Halperin adds, ?Thanks to the collaboration between Interior Health,
the BC Cancer Foundation and a dedicated team of professionals at the BC
Cancer Agency, an estimated 36 men in the Interior will be able to benefit
from the availability of prostate brachytherapy annually.?
?Having this treatment available in Kelowna will make a world of
difference for patients in the Interior,? says Dr. Jan McIntosh, Chief of
Staff, KGH. ?They?ll have peace of mind knowing they can receive the same
excellent care locally, rather than having the added stress of traveling
to the Lower Mainland.?
Most patients are able to resume normal physical activities in a matter of
days after receiving treatment. Sexual function is also preserved in many
patients.
The expansion of the BC Cancer Agency?s prostate brachytherapy program is
made possible with the support of the BC Cancer Foundation and Interior
Health. Donations from the community to the BC Cancer Foundation were
critical in making the BC Cancer Agency?s prostate brachytherapy program a
reality in Kelowna. Over $200,000 was raised to purchase the ultrasound
equipment and treatment planning system that are required to assess
patients? suitability for the procedure.
?The outpouring of support we received from the community is truly
heartwarming,? says
Cynthia Waldek-Peters, BC Cancer Foundation?s Director of Development for
the Southern Interior. ?The BC Cancer Foundation is very grateful for the
generosity of the donors who were instrumental in bringing an important BC
Cancer Agency program to the Southern Interior.?
The BC Cancer Agency?s prostate brachytherapy program has come a long way
since its inception in 1998, when both the assessment and procedure were
only done in Vancouver. Today, patients can have their assessment done in
Kelowna, Vancouver, Victoria, or Surrey, and their procedure done in
Kelowna and Vancouver.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian men. In B.C.,
approximately 3,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006 and an
estimated 570 died.
.
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