The statistics are sobering: 1 in 2 Albertans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and by 2040 it is estimated that Alberta will see approximately 33,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed every year. As the number of new cancer cases continues to climb, and as more people survive their diagnoses and extend their window for care, wait times in Alberta have increased by 68 per cent over the last six years.
The sheer volume of those impacted by cancer makes it a complex problem to solve, to say nothing of the 200 different cancer types that researchers are working to unlock at this very moment. Add to this the infrastructure required to treat cancer — from multi-million-dollar radiation equipment to cellular therapy manufacturing facilities — and it’s easy to see why cancer is unlike other chronic diseases.
That’s why the Alberta Cancer Foundation was so pleased to see the significant recent reinvestment in cancer research, care and treatment announced by the Government of Alberta and Siemens. This not only means a plan to replace nearly all the radiation and diagnostic equipment throughout the province with more modern, efficient and effective devices, but it will steadily improve wait times and support increased access in rural and remote communities. In addition, the partnership will include the establishment of a global learning centre of excellence in oncology, the first of its kind in Canada, to train the cancer workforce of the future on the latest advancements in care and technology. This investment will also build on Alberta’s leadership in artificial intelligence and machine learning, leveraging our cancer data to improve clinical operations and speed up access to care for those who need it most.
The announcement also means a significant matching investment in cancer research over the next eight years — a portion of which will be fueled by donor support through the Alberta Cancer Foundation. As much as we’ve learned about cancer up to this point, there are still too many Albertans for whom the traditional treatments of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy simply don’t work. By investing in research at this scale, and for this duration, we make a commitment to moving the needle right here in Alberta, rather than waiting for that life-saving innovation to come from someplace else.
Today we are seeing tremendous progress in overcoming a disease that has taken so much from so many. A breast or prostate cancer diagnosis 40 years ago was almost certainly a death sentence; now, both diseases are 90 per cent survivable if caught early enough. This progress is due to the incredible teams driving advancements forward, and because of donors who have supported early-stage research, clinical trials and attracting the very best and brightest in cancer care and research to Alberta for almost four decades.
Many in the scientific community believe we are now at a tipping point when it comes to finally turning the tide against cancer. We are seeing rapid advancements in emerging fields such as immunotherapy, theranostics and even cancer vaccines that may prevent people from ever developing the disease in the first place. This means we are getting closer and closer to providing personalized cancer treatments for the right patient, at the right time — right down to their genetic level. The best news? Many of these advancements are happening here in Alberta and are benefitting Albertans as we speak.
Cancer wait times won’t improve overnight, but this partnership helps to alleviate some of the pressures our cancer system is facing and offers hope to Albertans and their families facing cancer — today and well into the future. When we combine curious researchers, compassionate care providers, a future-focused vision from government, and motivated and generous donors, we are a community that can’t be stopped.
Wendy Beauchesne
CEO, Alberta Cancer Foundation