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Wednesday, March
7, 2007
Cancer
Care In Northern B.C.
J. Rustad: Cancer
is a frightening and exhausting process for anyone, but it can
be doubly difficult if you live in a northern community and
your treatment requires you to travel hundreds of kilometres.
To improve this situation, my colleagues and I are advocating
on behalf of people from the north for the hope that comes
from a full-service cancer program in northern B.C. To date,
cooperation between this government, the Northern Health
Authority, northern doctors, the University of Northern B.C.
and the B.C. Cancer Agency is producing results.
But
cancer care is more than a building. It's about professionals
such as physicians and medical oncology staff providing the
care needed. Fulfilling the need of such professionals in the
north is what UNBC is all about. Clearly, this relatively new
university is up to the task and has already been able to
attract some of the best and brightest in the world.
An example of this is the research undertaken by Dr.
Chow Lee and his team of student researchers that discovered a
major cancer breakthrough which could eventually change how
cancer is treated, improving the lives of millions.
Cancer touches us all, including my family. It can be
a terrifying experience. But through modern research, cancer
outcomes have improved dramatically, especially in B.C.
Cancer can and will be beaten. I believe that northern
B.C. will play a role in that fight not only through research
but also through providing enhanced cancer care services in
the north. I look forward to celebrating with the people of
the north, especially the health care professionals and the
professionals at UNBC who are helping to pave the way for
enhanced cancer care in the north. |
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