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Community key to improved cancer centre

A community effort will help cancer patients get their care close to home. The new $1.6-million High River Community Cancer Centre officially opened its doors last week with a gala at High River Hospital on Thursday.
The new $1.6-million High River Community Cancer Centre at High River Hospital officially opened on Sept. 23 with the cutting of the ribbon by patient Scott Forbes. Helping
The new $1.6-million High River Community Cancer Centre at High River Hospital officially opened on Sept. 23 with the cutting of the ribbon by patient Scott Forbes. Helping to cut the ribbon are, from left, Jennifer Bosse, RN; Nichole Korol, acute care manager; Kim Lush, RN; Scott Forbes, patient; Carissa Boleziuk, patient navigator and Sandy MacNutt, RN.

A community effort will help cancer patients get their care close to home.

The new $1.6-million High River Community Cancer Centre officially opened its doors last week with a gala at High River Hospital on Thursday.

“The reality is the treatment is going to be the same, but it’s more organized, our staff has more room, we can see more people and we can do more things,” said Dr. Adam Vyse, one of the physicians at the centre. “This place is not going to be full at the beginning, but you wait, in 10 years, this place will be bursting.”

The centre serves patients throughout the Foothills, from Okotoks to Claresholm, including the Black Diamond-Turner Valley-Longview area.

The original cancer centre opened in a small room at the hospital’s emergency room in 1998. It later moved to a windowless room where there were two cancer chairs. The room was often packed with patients, their loved ones, doctors, nurses and other staff.

The new facility is bright, with plenty of windows and room.

“To have the room to have your family and loved ones around you is huge (for the patients),” Vyse said.

Okotoks resident Rodney James used to bring his wife Mernie, who passed away from abdominal cancer in 2015, to the centre. He said there was no way he was going to miss the expansion opening ceremonies on Thursday.

“This is fabulous,” James said. “At the old facility, the beds were so close together and there were so many people. But I was so glad to come from Okotoks to here rather than drive into Calgary it was such a pleasure.

“Dr. Vyse and the staff, they treated us like we were their parents… I haven’t been here for a year and three-quarters and the nurses all remember me. That’s the kind of indication of the people they have working here.”

The $1.6 million was raised through donations from Foothills community, most significantly $500,000 from the High River Rotary Club.

Other contributions came from Tate Barton, an eight-year-old who raised more than $21,000 through Tate’s Lemonade Stand. His mother, Jill, was a patient at the centre before passing away from breast cancer in 2013.

The Sheep River Health Trust Foundation also contributed to the cancer centre, donating about $25,000 through a radioathon hosted by The Eagle’s 100.9 FM.

“We are all going to be using this facility,” said health trust foundation chairman Andrew Gustafson.

Lise Brisebois-Blouin, of Alberta Health Services, said the Foothills never give up attitude in raising the funds for the centre’s renovation will help cancer patients and their families.

“This is a celebration, but at the end of the day, this is about a patient and their family and their journey,” Brisebois-Blouin said. “What you have accomplished has helped them in that journey... Thank-you from the bottom of our hearts.”

High River Cancer Centre facts

Can have up to seven patients at one time receiving treatment and staggered starts times means even more patients can be treated as needed. • Spacious and bright treatment area.• The chairs offer the option of heat and massage. • A patio area will allow for patients to enjoy fresh air and sunshine. • Treatment areas offer both private and shared spaces giving the patients an option. • Each patient will have their own television. • Two designated offices, an exam room, waiting room, nutrition area, a central spacious workstation for staff and a dedicated medical room.
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