Radiation therapy treatment now offered in Red Deer

Story by Heather Kipling; Photo by Paul Rotzinger

Radiation therapy now has a new home in Red Deer.

The new Central Alberta Cancer Centre, located adjacent to the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, officially opens Nov. 25, bringing radiation therapy to the area for the first time, as the new facility expands cancer services available for central Alberta residents.

And for those who have had to travel for radiation therapy, having more care options closer to home is good news indeed.

“This is a wonderful addition to central Alberta,” says Red Deer resident Morris Flewwelling.

Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009, he faced a series of radiation treatments in 2010.

Receiving those treatments meant the active family man and community member had to add daily trips to Edmonton to his schedule.

Not only was Flewwelling facing a frightening disease and a treatment regimen of radiation and chemotherapy, he also spent a lot of time separated from his family.

“It was a long drive every time I had to go, and it was tiring and stressful,” says Flewwelling, who received treatments in Edmonton for 39 consecutive weekdays.

“Now we have radiation therapy here and that is going to enable more people to receive treatment closer to home. It’s a benefit to all of central Alberta.”

Kim Rideout concurs. The breast cancer survivor had to leave her home in Red Deer and travel to Calgary on a regular basis for radiation therapy.

“The commute placed additional stress on an already stressful situation for both me and my family,” she says. “That travel time is better spent healing. Having the services here is so important. This centre is so important.”

With the opening of the new centre, Red Deer becomes the fourth city in the province to offer radiation therapy, joining Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge.

With the two radiation vaults in the facility – and room for a third to come on board in the future – radiation therapy will be provided to about 600 new cancer cases.

“Having radiation therapy in Red Deer brings many benefits,” says Brenda Hubley, Executive Director of Community Oncology, CancerControl, Alberta Health Services.

“Depending on each patient case, radiation treatments can go on for many weeks and that can mean a lot of travel for people to Edmonton or Calgary, which takes them away from the support of their homes and families.

“The care that will be available here will mean that the majority of people who need radiation in central Alberta will be able to access that treatment close to home, comforted and supported by their families, friends and community.”

Hubley says bringing radiation therapy online in Red Deer will also help improve access for all Albertans, no matter where they live.

The new Central Alberta Cancer Centre facility also offers additional outpatient clinics, a medical day unit with treatment areas for chemotherapy and pharmacy services, including a satellite pharmacy for cancer medications. The new facility will offer treatment for multiple cancers, including lung, breast, gastrointestinal and prostate.

“We anticipate that we’ll see an increase to about 15,000 patient visits in the coming year,” says Hubley.

The new centre is part of a provincewide strategy to open a corridor of cancer care treatment centres across Alberta. Radiation therapy is also slated to become available at the new Grande Prairie Cancer Centre, now being constructed.

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