The area鈥檚 cancer centre has a new tool to help people with the disease.

The BC Cancer Foundation has announced a $5 million fundraising initiative to bring a PET/CT scanner to the BC Cancer Agency鈥檚 Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior.

With more than 5,000 new cancer diagnoses expected this year in the region, the time to bring this essential diagnostic tool to 91大黄鸭 is now.

Each year, more than 900 patients must travel from the Southern Interior to the BC Cancer Agency Vancouver Centre for a PET/CT scan, where the province鈥檚 two publicly funded scanners are located.

鈥淲ith a growing and aging provincial population, cancer incidence is expected to increase and we are committed to bolstering cancer care in the Southern Interior,鈥� said Sarah Roth, President of the BC Cancer Foundation. 鈥淭oday we bring good news to cancer patients in the community with a goal to raise $5 million for PET/CT technology.鈥�

Oncologists utilize the results of a patient鈥檚 PET/CT scan to accurately plan treatment, monitor treatment effectiveness and detect cancer recurrence. The PET/CT scan plays an integral role in a patient鈥檚 care, as the most precise and detailed cancer diagnostic tool.

To learn more about the PET/CT campaign, how this technology impacts care and how to support, visit the Cancer Foundation鈥檚 .