‘Absolutely game-changing:’ fundraising underway for new Nanaimo cancer centre

Design has begun and the provincial government expects the project to be out for tender shortly.

The three-storey building will be located near the hospital’s front entrance off Dufferin Cres. will include the addition of radiation therapy and an expanded pharmacy.

Construction not only includes the building itself, but also the required infrastructure for radiation treatment.

“It’s going to take a few years to build, it’s going to be a big centre and not every day you build a cancer centre,” Litchfield said. “It’s a little more complex than a general house, so it does take a little more time in the planning, especially with the radiation bunker.”

William Litchfield, executive director of the Vancouver Island BC Cancer Foundation, speaks on the importance of a Nanaimo cancer centre during an announcement of their fundraising campaign on Thursday, May 23. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

One of the major facets of the centre is ensuring those outside of Victoria have easy access to cancer care options.

Litchfield added over 50 per cent of patients at the cancer centre in Victoria come from outside the Capital region use.

“You think of all those patients that in addition to that physical toll on their bodies, they’re away from their family, friends, their home, there’s an emotional there’s a financial burden. Bringing radiation therapy to this side of the Malahat is absolutely game-changing for our community.”

A more local cancer care centre would have been extremely useful to Adele Cave, as she battled colorectal cancer in 2018.

Now cancer-free for five years, she spent just over a year commuting to Victoria for treatment.

“I had friends and family that would drive down every Sunday and drop me off, come back on Friday and pick me up to bring me back for the weekend. Not everyone has that, so a clinic in Nanaimo is going to be absolutely amazing.”

She said the benefits extend well beyond just the patient.

“It’s hard on families. I had to be there for five weeks getting radiation because there’s no radiation available here. For comfort of the patients but also the families to be able to not worry about their loved ones when they’re staying away from home for such a long time.”

Adele Cave is five years cancer free after a 13-month battle with colorectal cancer. She travelled to Victoria extensively during her treatment. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The long-called-for facility to improve care for cancer patients on the mid-Island was part of a 2020 provincial election campaign promise from the then-John Horgan-led NDP.

One year later, the health ministry told NanaimoNewsNOW conceptual planning was underway to determine specific needs and potential locations.

NRGH has seen a lot of upgrades recently, including a new 12-bed intensive care unit which opened in June of 2023 after being announced in 2018.

One floor below the new ICU is a high acuity unit (HAU) which is also under construction. The Nanaimo Regional Hospital Board expects the new HAU will open in August or September of next year, roughly a year behind schedule.

As part of fundraising efforts for the BC Cancer Foundation, Mid-Island Co-Op announced Thursday, May 23, $1 million in matching funds towards the project.

To donate, click here for the BC Cancer Foundation’s website.

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by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

‘Absolutely game-changing:’ fundraising underway for new Nanaimo cancer centre

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