$6.1M raised to increase cancer treatment capacity in Kelowna

A BC Cancer Foundation effort that began in the fall of 2022 to raise money to build a Systemic Therapy Suite in Kelowna has surpassed the goal ahead of time. The campaign has reached it’s $6.1-million goal for the new, state-of-the-art treatment facility, according to a BC Cancer Foundation media release issued today, May 23. “The new systemic therapy suite will open a new chapter for cancer care and research for the Interior, and we’re deeply grateful to the community for making this possible,” BC Cancer executive medical director Dr. Ross Halperin said in the release. The new suite will increase capacity to deliver systemic cancer therapy treatments including chemotherapy and immunotherapy by 40%, the foundation said. It will make Kelowna the first centre outside Vancouver to offer clinical trials in an effort to give cancer patients access to cutting-edge treatments closer to home. Construction of the therapy suite is expect to begin this year. No word when the facility will be up and running. Former senator Ross Fitzpatrick and his wife Linda, both cancer survivors who live in the Okanagan, donated the final $725,000 to the campaign. "Cancer has personally touched us in many ways, as we know it has most,” Ross and Linda said in the release. “Supporting BC Cancer-Kelowna means giving hope to those facing cancer now, and in the years to come." To contact a reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander mailto:halexander@infonews.ca  or call 250-309-5343 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tip@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .