Photo: KGH Foundation
Kelowna General Hospital Foundation raises public funds to move forward Cancer treatment at Kelowna General Hospital first time. The announcement comes as the latest part of the foundation’s $40 million fundraising effort. “It’s closer to home than I expected.”” campaign was launched exactly one year ago.
Last year, more than 7,500 people in the Central Okanagan and surrounding areas of B.C.’s southern interior underwent surgery at KGH or were hospitalized for cancer-related treatment.
“Even if cancer doesn’t affect you, it might affect someone you love,” says Alison Young, CEO of the KGH Foundation. “Advancing cancer care where it matters most – right here in our local communities – must be a priority for people living in the Central Okanagan and surrounding areas. For our patients, Kelowna General Hospital will be a big part of their journey.”
The KGH Foundation has been working to raise funds to advance essential cancer care services at KGH, particularly in the critical areas of medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, surgical oncology, and cancer treatment innovations.
“When thinking about everything that cancer treatment entails, it is important to recognize the importance of early detection, timely and accurate diagnosis, and surgery as primary treatment,” says KGH radiologist Brenda Fernquist. The doctor explains. “For example, medical imaging plays a critical role. Early and clear detection through advanced imaging techniques can make a huge difference in patient outcomes, leading to improved outcomes and survival rates.”
The KGH Foundation has long funded cancer-related devices and innovation projects, including a blue-light cystoscopy that will help urologists improve tumor detection during surgery in 2021. Acquisitions have been included, most recently testing new technologies in 2023. Wirelessly localize breasts to reduce discomfort for breast cancer patients and improve surgical precision. However, today’s announcement marks the first time the KGH Foundation has publicly raised money specifically for cancer treatment.
“We are thrilled that the KGH Foundation is working with our community to raise awareness and provide much-needed funding to keep clinical testing accessible,” said KGH Pathologist Dr. Dante Durbano . “Building the capacity to reduce or eliminate the need to send cancer specimens to Vancouver for testing will speed up the diagnostic process and reduce wait times for test results and treatment plans. and, most importantly, help reduce the anxiety felt by patients and their families during the examination, which is often a very difficult time. ”
Dr. Sita Ollek is a surgical oncologist at KGH and is working with the Foundation on the wireless breast localization project. “The innovations occurring in surgical oncology have the potential to dramatically impact patient care and outcomes,” she explains. “Surgery is often essential to accurately stage disease, improve chances of survival, and reduce the risk of recurrence. Funding for the latest equipment and technology allows us to perform surgeries with greater precision and eliminate invasive This will minimize the risk of cancer and shorten recovery time for cancer patients.”
The KGH Foundation’s “Closer to Home than You Think” campaign is the nonprofit’s most ambitious fundraising effort to date. The goal is to raise his $40 million to fund immediate needs and long-term system changes in local health care, both at his KGH, the region’s main referral hospital, and in the local community. . This campaign is unique in that it is structured to provide funding across multiple priority areas of health care, including cancer care. Since its launch in March 2023, more than $20 million has been raised.