Anyone who has ever needed and had treatment at the Cape Breton Cancer Centre (CBCC) in Sydney has only glowing praise for the cancer specialists and staff and for the care they provide. This is true, despite the fact, that like the QEII Cancer Care Program in Halifax, cancer care program staff in Cape Breton have been challenged by lack of appropriate space for some time.

“We have always focused on serving our community by providing the highest quality of cancer care closest to home,” said Chris Hillier, a dosimetrist, at the CBCC. “In recent years, this has been tested by a lack of necessary physical space.”

Today cancer care specialists and staff at the CBCC provide a variety of treatments, supportive and follow-up care to approximately 625 patients each week.

Dr. Ron McCormick, Chief of Medical Oncology, Cape Breton Cancer Centre said the cancer centre has needed an expansion for some time. “It’s vital that we go in this direction,” he said.

Chris agrees. “With the wave of cancer patients coming our way due to an aging population and continuing improvements in cancer care, we need a dramatically increased physical space to succeedin the future,” he said. The expansion will allow the CBCC to deliver modern, high quality care right here in Cape Breton for the next 20-30 years.”

A member of the CBCC team for the last 20 years, Chris says, “I am extremely excited and proud to be part of the expansion project, which will bring great benefit to our patients for the foreseeable future.

Although the new QEII cancer centre and the expanded Cape Breton Cancer Centre are still in the planning phases, there will opportunities for staff and patients to provide input to ensure the new facilities meet the needs of cancer care staff, patients and families. Watch the newsletter for progress updates.