Opinion: Philanthropy pushing the envelope for new cancer solutions

Motivated is the feeling that best describes my first month on the job as president & CEO of the B.C. Cancer Foundation. That’s due to the extraordinary people at the agency who are making great strides in technology and uncovering knowledge to save the lives of those diagnosed with cancer. ?

I’ve been delving behind the scenes of the agency and as an insider I’m filled with hope by the projects and plans that are taking diagnostics and treatment to the next level.

Imagine being diagnosed with a rare cancer called a neuroendocrine tumour (known as NETS), something you’ve likely never heard of. And then you learn that the gold standard treatment is only available in a few centres in Europe. Unwell, juggling all of life’s pressures, you travel several?times overseas for the best chance at survival. ?

We have the power to change this and in quick fashion.

The oncologists and scientists?here have the expertise, technology and desire to develop a leading-edge diagnostic and treatment combo for NETS patients. Our donors will make this possible. Within a year, with funds raised at the B.C. Cancer Foundation 2016 Inspiration Gala, people diagnosed with NETS in B.C. will have access to custom therapy produced through the agency’s NETRACER program. This will be the first of its kind in Canada.

The scalability of this technology is exciting. The scientists behind NETRACER have their sights set high to rapidly expand, developing radiotracers, a radiopharmaceutical that’s tagged to seek out specific attributes of a cancer, for advanced diagnostics and treatment.

Investments from generous individuals and corporations will advance this program to benefit people diagnosed with melanoma, pancreatic, breast and prostate cancers.

I’ve been meeting with researchers every day and they express pure gratitude for the dollars our donors provide to help advance the cause. They make every dollar work hard, applying for grants and competitive funding to leverage B.C. Cancer Foundation investments four times over.

The effect?philanthropy has made by feeding innovation and discovery is not just compelling from a scientific standpoint — it’s life-saving.

Today, women around the world can dramatically reduce their risk of ovarian cancer by having their Fallopian tubes removed during routine hysterectomy thanks to research by?B.C.’s OVCARE team. Donors made this progress possible.

We know the medical world is watching and taking action based on discoveries made by B.C. Cancer Agency research teams. In the past year alone, numerous studies have influenced change in clinical practice for lymphoma, ovarian and gastric cancers.

Waiting in the wings of scientific advancement is a group of patients who need more than hope — they need change in the form of new treatment options.

The teams we support are making game-changing advancements; from a new drug for advanced prostate cancer to a new prognostic test for follicular lymphoma in just the past year. These have a direct link to what matters most: improving care.

These studies are the difference-makers in the lives of individuals diagnosed with cancer.

And donors make this happen. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of our donors over the past few weeks. These individuals share their financial success with all of us by making investments in research to help the thousands of people in our province who will face cancer this year.

It’s humbling to sit across from someone who is so committed to partnering with us to enable real change in cancer care. ?

One in three of us are expected to face cancer in our lifetime. What has become crystal clear in these early days for me at the B.C. Cancer Foundation is that there is willingness and passion shared across the philanthropic and research community to ensure that each day we make strides that help every one of those who hear, “you have cancer”. ?

Sarah Roth is president & CEO?of the?B.C. Cancer Foundation.