Going through cancer treatments is never comfortable, but the High River Community Cancer Centre is one step closer to making its patients feel a little more at ease.
The High River District Health Care Foundation announced on Feb. 4 that it was moving forward with a 2,400 square foot expansion for the cancer centre at the High River Hospital, now that funds are nearly in place.
In 2013, the foundation embarked on a joint fundraising campaign with the High River Rotary Club to raise $1 million for the project. Foundation executive director Michael Brown explained that the Rotary Club has raised 90 per cent of its $500,000 share, the Foundation has raised its $500,000 and it will contribute an additional $1.5 million of reserve funds for the rest of the $2 million project, with $500,000 for furnishings and equipment.
“All systems are go,” said Brown. “That kicks in the AHS procurement systems, they are going to put out an request for proposal and they know what we’re willing to pay for, so that’s really exciting news.
“We want to make sure that people are aware that this is actually going to happen”
Foundation fund development officer Cathy Couey said they’re proud of the community for coming together to support the project, as it’s future would have been uncertain if it had to rely on government dollars.
“They felt this community could do it. Sometimes if you want something to happen you just have to take it on,” Couey said. “And you know in light of where we are with the economic situation in this province, we would be facing some similar things where this would probably be shelved.”
Since the project is not relying on provincial funding, it is expecting to move forward without holdups this year, with possible completion in 2016.
High River resident and Cancer Centre patient Scott Forbes said he’s extremely thankful for the clinic in High River, as it mean’s he doesn’t have to endure lengthy trips to receive his treatments.
“I am currently undergoing my 50 something chemotherapy treatment,” Forbes said. “Being able to be dropped off by my wife Sharon on her way to work, being able to take a $10 cab ride home, has tremendously reduced the stress that would normally happen with the two-hour trip into Calgary and back three times a week.”
While he raves about the family like atmosphere at the High River clinic, Forbes said the facility is well overdue for an upgrade. The centre could use the extra space as there are only five treatment chairs, and sometimes patients have to share a stretcher while they get their treatments.
“Definitely a need for expansion. There are many times where there's people in the hallway receiving treatment,” Forbes said. “Having a little bit more space would be really wonderful.”
Cancer Centre physician Dr. Adam Vyse said it’s important to improve the Cancer Centre sooner than later, as the number of people receiving treatment continues to increase. He explained that while more people are surviving cancer nowadays, what it means is that more people, like Forbes, will need treatment for longer periods of time.
“Cancer is not going away. Mortality rates are declining, treatments are less toxic, more effective, and this creates more demand for places and facilities like ours,” he explained. “When I was in medical school, Scott’s life expectancy was six months. So that's what's happened in my lifespan as a doctor in 20 years, that's the change. It's quite amazing.”
Vyse said he’s eager to get the project moving forward and hopes that it will be another step in the right direction for High River that will serve the foothills as a whole.
“It’s a really important project for the community,” said Vyse. “With the devastation the town went through and to have a project like this that was planned pre flood to more or less march forward as planned, is a sign of something stable and something tangible.
“And I think it gives a lot of hope and faith to the community as a whole, but also to our patients who have cancer. Cancer doesn’t wait for floods to be cleaned up and it doesn’t wait for oil prices to come back up, it just marches on.”
