Your impact on cancer care

Given that one in two Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, it is essential to have access to exceptional cancer care closer to home. Donors to North York General (NYGH) enable the purchase of advanced diagnostic equipment and enhanced innovation for the over 5,000 patients with cancer that our teams treat every year.

We are so proud of our donors’ commitment and compassion to their family, friends and neighbours. Together we are making a difference to our communities’ health and well-being, every day.

Here are our achievements in cancer care from this past year made possible by our generous donor community:

Your impact on cancer care

We are so proud of our donors’ commitment and compassion to their family, friends and neighbours. Together we are making a difference to our communities’ health and well-being, every day.

Here are our achievements in cancer care from this past year made possible by our generous donor community:

By The Numbers

From January to December 2023, the number of patient visits to cancer care clinics and programs increased, signaling the need for continued growth and expansion to be able to care for every patient who comes through our doors.

5,909 Oncology Clinic patients made 34,889 visits

3,076 breast cancer patients made 16,005 visits

1,472 chemotherapy patients made 9,277 visits

120 warm blankets given out with 60 snacks and juice drinks to make patients more comfortable while receiving chemotherapy

Dr. Stan Feinberg Medical Director of Ambulatory and Cancer Care

“Donors are central to ensuring our dedicated team has the advanced equipment we need for timely diagnosis and treatment. It’s never easy for patients to hear they have cancer. However, this equipment can literally be lifesaving, as an earlier diagnosis results in faster treatment – which often leads to better health outcomes. This provides patients with both hope and confidence.”

Dr. Stan Feinberg
Medical Director of Ambulatory and Cancer Care

Life-saving cancer care equipment

A more comfortable biopsy

When initial screening reveals that a patient may have prostate cancer, a biopsy is often the next step in investigation. This year, thanks to donor support, the Gale & Graham Wright Prostate Centre has been able to replace an end-of-life procedure chair for prostate biopsies. This new chair is easier to maneuver than the old one, so when the patient reclines in the chair, the clinician can better position it to facilitate the procedure. This improved functionality also enhances patient comfort during the procedure. As this chair is used for over 800 prostate biopsies each year at the Centre, it’s vitally important to have up-to-date equipment to provide patients with a timely diagnosis.

New breast ultrasound machine

NYGH will be receiving a new dedicated breast ultrasound unit shortly, as part of an ongoing plan to replace an aging fleet. Used in conjunction with mammography, the ultrasound machine will help to diagnose and follow-up on breast irregularities. The new machine is equipped with advanced technology to show clearer images in greater detail. This improvement aids in diagnosis – for example, in being able to differentiate between a cyst and a cancerous mass. This vital new equipment, which will be used every day, is more reliable than the end-of-life units, so it will result in faster and more accurate diagnosis for patients.

Maintaining equipment facilitates breast screening

The equipment in the BMO Breast Diagnostic Clinic is used every weekday for diagnostic breast imaging and procedures (and on weekends as well for screening) and needs to be kept in good working order to capture clear and precise images. This past year, donor funds have supported the maintenance of two specialized X-ray machines for mammography (including upright and prone biopsy systems) and three ultrasound machines. Maintenance includes cleaning and replacing parts and conducting calibration tests on the machines. In the fall of 2024, the age requirement for breast screening will be lowered to 40 from 50 years old, so the Clinic is set to become even busier and the equipment even more critical.

“Following the recurrence of my cancer, I needed to resume chemotherapy every four weeks as a precautionary measure. Although I initially started the treatment at a local hospital, I missed the exceptional care I received at NYGH. Despite the two-hour drive, I reached out to Dr. Joanne Yu and she kindly agreed to have me back. In January 2022, I began my chemotherapy treatment again at NYGH and received the same amazing care as before. The care I receive at North York General is unparalleled, and the staff have become like family to me. I will forever appreciate their expertise and compassion.”

Tatiana
Grateful Patient

Would you like to support patients and their families at North York General? Donate today to help fund our most urgent needs including upgraded equipment, enhanced care spaces and innovation across NYGH:

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