By Greg Fry

Cancer Foundation aims to bring PET/CT scan to B.C. Interior

Jun 13, 2018 | 3:23 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s a challenge many of us can relate to: the need to travel to the Lower Mainland for crucial health care treatment — and it’s a difficulty one Kamloops resident recently faced.

Sandy Bath has lung cancer and, in early March, had little choice but to travel to Vancouver for a PET/CT scan, during Kamloops’ brutal winter no less.

“Travelling to Vancouver in the winter is not always the easiest,” Sandy says. “And it’s not the safest, either.”

Sandy chose to fly to Vancouver instead, bringing her daughter along for support. The ticket cost her $600 and she had to miss a day of work as well.

In total, Sandy was up for 22 hours straight calling it “an exhausting experience for someone in my condition.”

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But she had little choice but to make the trip considering there are only two PET/CT scanners located in B.C. — both in Vancouver.

Renowned for providing the latest in cutting-edge technology, the scanner delivers precise imaging technology that provides doctors with the information necessary to offer the most appropriate diagnosis.

It’s also led to a campaign fundraiser to bring one of those $5 million dollar scanners to Kelowna so residents from all over the Southern Interior can benefit.

The campaign, which launched last summer, has already raised $4 million with hopes of raising the final million by the end of this year.

“It’s the go-to technology technology for determining the health and function of organs, tissues and anatomy,” says Cynthia Waldek-Peters, director of development, Southern Interior for the BC Cancer Foundation. “And it’s crucial for us to raise funds for the state-of-the art equipment our patients so readily need.”

If you’d like to help you can learn more by calling Waldek-Peters at (250) 712-3910 or you can donate online by clicking here.