Help Bring Bigger, Better Cancer Care to the North Shore
When the Dr. Paul Klimo Medical Oncology Clinic opened 20 years ago, it was a fantastic new facility that provided for the needs of the population at the time. Fast forward 20 years and it’s one again time for change. Two in five of us can expect a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime and it’s estimated that the population of the North Shore will grow by 18% by 2040.
Now you have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of your family, friends and neighbours by helping us raise $20 million to develop Bigger, Better Cancer Care right here on the North Shore.
Moving with the Times
Our current Oncology Clinic has been too small for too long, and we’re planning a big move to create a bigger revitalized space for more patients and their care teams.
From 2021 to 2023, the Chemotherapy Clinic and the Outpatient Care Centre Medical Daycare accommodated almost 39,000 patients. With the ever-growing demand for cancer care, the clinic is bursting at the seams. Today, our cancer care teams are treating an average of more than 1,000 patients per month performing a variety of treatments that weren’t even imagined when the current 24 patient spaces were planned and built in 2004.
A plan is in place for a new, larger Oncology Clinic at Lions Gate Hospital. It will be located on the main floor of the hospital and it will
- Expand the footprint of the clinic by 135%
- Increase patient spaces from 22 to 40 for more personalized care
- Add 3 new counselling rooms + 3 new exam rooms to keep patients embedded in the clinic for the duration of their care, allowing increased access to services
- Bring physician offices from community into the clinic for on-site follow up visits
- Increase the size of the Pharmacy to 1,946 sq. ft. from 529 sq. ft.
“We have a plan to bring Bigger, Better Cancer Care to our community. We can only achieve our goals with your investment, partnership and commitment to help develop a modern facility with the latest equipment and technology.”
Dr. Sasha Smiljanic (pictured above) – Head of Oncology for the Coastal Community of Care
Beyond Chemo
Our Oncology Clinic is about people caring for other people in a way that supports their recovery, medically, emotionally and psychologically. It’s this holistic approach that has differentiated cancer care at LGH over the last 20 years.
Today, the Oncology team provides the following services for patients:
- Chemotherapy – still the number one cancer care treatment at LGH, but there have been plenty of changes to the treatment options compared to 20 years ago. Between 2021-2023, there were 25,000+ patient visits for chemotherapy.
- Immunotherapy – a biological treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer and requires a significant amount of attention by oncologists to manage the various medications.
- Blood transfusions – another key therapy many patients benefit from, whether they need red blood cells, platelets (or both).
- Infusions – from magnesium and iron to antibiotics, infusions are now an essential component of modern cancer care that supports patients’ immune systems and improves their ability to overcome the disease.
- Symptom management – the team helps people manage uncomfortable symptoms and side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, fever, fatigue or depression resulting from their treatment or disease.
- Stress reduction & enhanced services – through activities such as breathing exercises, meditation, music therapy and guided imagery, clinic staff support patients dealing with the stress and anxiety that come with a cancer diagnosis.
The LGH oncology team wants to maintain the warm, caring environment our patients love, while offering private treatment rooms to provide more personalized care, larger facilities to meet the unique needs of our patients and their families, and an environment that not only meets our urgent needs today but is prepared to adapt for what is required in the future.
If your life was on the line, wouldn’t you want the best possible cancer services right here in our community? Please donate now below.