The Windsor Regional Cancer Program received some financial help — thanks to local donors.
The fundraising arm of the cancer centre, the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation, presented a cheque Thursday morning worth $1-million to the local program to help pay for local programs and equipment.
The money will be used to buy a $300,000 Endobronchial Ultrasound or EBUS to diagnose people with lung cancer as the current machine is past life expectancy.
Part of the money has also been used to pay for the enclosure around the PET scan that was installed a few months ago.
"The province, CCO [Cancer Care Ontario] and the ministry paid for the PET scan itself, but the construction and all the other equipment needed to support that and create the care areas was provided by the foundation," said Vice President of the Erie-St.Clair Regional Cancer Program Monica Staley Liang.
Foundation Executive Director Houida Kassem says since the foundation started in 1996, more than $30-million has been raised in the community.
"We have been able to purchase items like the DaVinci surgical robot, an MRI, CT scan, bladder scanners, chemo pumps, IV poles. Last year alone, 17 women were able to receive breast reconstructive surgery because of those donations," says Kassem.
Since the PET scan was installed in June, more than 100 local patients have been tested.