New technology will improve care for patients in Peterborough and surrounding communities

Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), Lakeridge Health and Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) are pleased to announce that the linear accelerator in the radiation treatment facility at PRHC is scheduled to be replaced this fall.

“We are thrilled to be working with our regional and provincial partners to upgrade PRHC’s radiation facility in 2020,” said Brenda Weir, Vice President, Regional Programs. “The new linear accelerator – or LINAC – technology is made possible through our partnership with Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) and Durham Regional Cancer Centre at Lakeridge Health, and will improve the care we are able to provide for patients in Peterborough and the surrounding communities in the years to come. Regular renewal of our equipment and technology helps us to maintain high-quality care for patients, and to keep PRHC’s radiation treatment facility consistent with a provincial standard of care.”

“The installation of the radiation facility at PRHC in 2013 has brought cancer treatment closer to home for more than 2000 patients and families in Peterborough and the surrounding communities in the years since it was first opened,” said Lesley Heighway, President of the PRHC Foundation. “The installation of this facility was made possible at the time through the generous support of PRHC Foundation donors, and we are excited about this further provincial investment into state-of-the-art radiation technology that will ensure patients in our community continue to receive the best cancer care possible, closer to home.”

“The Durham Regional Cancer Centre at Lakeridge Health welcomes patients from Peterborough and the surrounding area and is ready to deliver the same high-quality radiation treatment and care that they would expect to receive at PRHC,” said Kirsten Burgomaster, Interim Regional Vice President, Central East Regional Cancer Program. “Through our strong partnership, Peterborough Regional Health Centre and Lakeridge Health will ensure that cancer patients are well-supported at every stage of their treatment journey.”

Based on previous experience, it is estimated that this project will take approximately six months to complete, with work set to begin in the fall of 2020. During this time, patients who would normally receive their treatment at PRHC will receive their treatment at the Durham Regional Cancer Centre at Lakeridge Health. PRHC and Lakeridge Health will work directly with these patients and their families to ensure they are supported, and that the care they receive throughout this period is as seamless as possible.

A medical linear accelerator (LINAC) is the device most commonly used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer. The LINAC delivers high-energy x-rays or electrons to the region of the patient’s tumour in a way that destroys the cancer cells while sparing the surrounding normal tissue.

The new LINAC technology is expected to be in place, and the radiation facility reopened, in spring 2021.

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For more information:

Michelene Ough
Director, Communications
Peterborough Regional Health Centre
mough@prhc.on.ca

Sharon Navarro
Manager, Public Relations & Digital Communications
Lakeridge Health
905-435-7889