‘A hub for continued innovation and world-class research’
Vehicle lottery to support enhanced cancer care in Cape Breton
Alexandra Szeto had just begun her university studies – and was making important decisions about her future – when life threw her a curveball. Szeto was just 19 when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
As chemotherapy, radiation therapy and countless visits to the Cape Breton Cancer Centre became her “new normal,” Szeto remembers feeling overwhelmed.
“I felt like my life was spiraling out of control, and that I was losing everything I had worked so hard to achieve,” she says.
A decade later, Szeto says she feels lucky – not because of her diagnosis but because she was able to fight her battle with cancer from home, surrounded by friends and family.
“Because I was able to stay in Cape Breton for most of my treatments, I was able to continue working part-time,” she recalls. “After my first day of chemotherapy, I was able to drive just five minutes to my home, celebrate my brother’s birthday with my family, and be surrounded by all their love.”
Besides easing the burden of travel costs, receiving cancer care close to home ensures patients have the warmth and support of family, friends and community close by, leading to better outcomes.
The Cape Breton Cancer Centre opened its doors in 1998. Originally built to sustain 16,000 patient visits annually, the Centre now sees more than 45,000 visits per year, and its infrastructure is ill-equipped to meet current and future needs.
To ensure Cape Bretoners receive the care they need, the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation has launched a campaign to support the construction of a new, state-of-theart Cancer Centre.to make this project a reality, the Foundation is asking for the support of the community.
The Foundation is holding its first vehicle lottery to support the campaign. On July 19, one lucky ticket holder will drive away with a custom 2021 Ford Bronco. Every ticket purchased will ensure patients like Szeto receive the care they need, where they need it most: near home.
Today, Szeto is a Registered Nurse at the Cape Breton Cancer Centre, where she is part of the team facilitating research studies and clinical trials, with the goal of innovating and enhancing the delivery of cancer care on the Island.
“One of the goals of the new Cancer Centre is to continue to conduct research and innovation, with the hope of allowing Cape Bretoners the opportunity to test new and ongoing treatments,” she says. “I am grateful each day that I get to work and learn alongside the very same healthcare experts who saved my life.”