Advancing Diagnostics, Pathology & Surgical Oncology at KGH
$927,707 Raised! Thank you!
8TH ANNUAL
KGH Foundation Day of Giving raised over $927k!
“In the past few years alone, there have been unprecedented advancements in AI, technology, and robotic-assisted surgical systems in cancer treatment—this is the future of cancer care, and we are ready.
Dr. Joshua Wiesenthal, Urologic Surgeon, Kelowna General Hospital
WHY GIVE?
It is anticipated that 45% of Canadians will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. If cancer hasn’t affected you personally, chances are it has touched someone you love. The KGH Foundation’s ‘Closer to home than you think’ campaign is a commitment to raising $40 million to help advance health care, right here at home. This includes $3.5 million dedicated to the advancement of Cancer Care at Kelowna General Hospital, specifically in the vital areas of medical imaging, pathology and surgical oncology.
Last year, over 7,500 people from the Central Okanagan and surrounding communities in BC’s southern interior underwent surgery or were admitted for cancer-related care at Kelowna General Hospital.
We know Cancer Care is important to you. Cancer touches us all. The campaign gives us the opportunity to work together and shape the future of cancer care at KGH, specifically the diagnosis and primary treatment of cancers – breast, prostate, pancreatic, brain, stomach, colon… and many more – that affect so many of us and our loved ones.
HOW WILL MY GIFT HAVE AN IMPACT?
The KGH Foundation’s commitment to advancing cancer care is to help ensure that when this life-altering disease affects you or someone you love, world-class diagnostics in medical imaging and pathology, and surgical oncology are available at Kelowna General Hospital, the current primary referral hospital for cancer patients living in the southern interior of BC.
Donations to the KGH Foundation are a direct investment in the care that is delivered at KGH in four key areas:
Your gift to cancer care will be directed towards the acquisition of cutting-edge diagnostic and surgical equipment, technology, and instruments that enhance diagnostic precision and provide detailed insights into tumour characteristics. Here are some examples of the vital equipment cancer care funds have and will support:
DIAGNOSTICS
UPPER GI CANCERS – Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS): Enables advanced diagnostics and tissue biopsy in primarily the upper abdominal area, allowing for less-invasive and more accurate access to tissues. The additional endoscopic ultrasound set will help meet the growing demand due to increased referrals and use for other procedures, such as treating liver disease or bile duct stents. The EUS will improve scheduling efficiencies, reduce waitlists, and provide more timely diagnoses.
ALL CANCERS – Flow Cytometry: Enables the onsite detection and analysis of specimens collected through a blood draw. This tool will enable timely diagnostic results, from a few days to merely a few hours, as the viable specimens will no longer require a trip to Vancouver for assessment.
SURGICAL
LUNG CANCER – Tumour Debridement/Cryo Equipment: Freezes tissues for emergency airway tumour removal onsite at KGH by the Thoracic surgery team. Without the proposed cryo equipment, patients requiring the procedure will have to be referred to a hospital in the lower mainland for treatment.
BREAST CANCER – Wireless Breast Localization: This technology aims to improve surgical accuracy, enhance patient comfort, streamline surgical procedures, and minimize the need for additional surgeries, marking a significant advancement in breast cancer care.
GIVING CHANGES EVERYTHING
Dr. Sita Ollek, Physician
BREAST CANCER:
WIRELESS BREAST LOCALIZATION
Thanks to the generosity of KGH Foundation donors, we have been able to trial innovative technologies for breast cancer patients, such as Wireless Breast Localization. This novel approach reduces patient discomfort and improves patient experience. It can also enhance surgical accuracy and may reduce the need for additional surgeries. The impact of embracing innovation in cancer care is multi-faceted.
Dr. Joshua Wiesenthal Urologic Surgeon
BLADDER CANCER:
BLUE LIGHT CYSTOSCOPY
“Blue Light Cystoscopy is a very powerful diagnostic tool that allows urologists to improve tumor detection for bladder cancer at the time of surgery, vastly and subsequently reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. Previously, it was only available for bladder cancer patients residing in the Lower Mainland and Victoria. Now, thanks to the KGH Foundation’s donors, we have the capacity to perform this life-saving procedure right here at KGH.”
of cases sent to pathology are related to the diagnosis or screening of cancerous and precancerous conditions (approximate).
cancer cases at KGH in the last year.
inpatient beds were utilized by cancer patients on average each day.
CANCER CARE
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