Cancer-detecting cyclotron announced for Calgary
The government of Alberta has announced a cyclotron and new radiopharmaceutical facility will be coming to Calgary to improve access to diagnostic tests and treatment for cancer, cardiac and neurological conditions.
"It is vital that we have access to robust tools which can help diagnose these medical problems or find tumours as quickly as possible and then to guide the targeted treatment," said Tyler Shandro, Alberta's health minister.
A cyclotron is a machine that produces radioisotopes (radioactive atoms) for use in medical imaging, therapy and research and is crucial to cancer care and treatment.
Doctors say this is a much needed resource for Calgary and southern Alberta.
"This is a huge impact on how we treat cancer," said Dr. Steven Yip, medical oncologist and clinical assistant professor, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine.
"This is going to bring us to a new level of cancer excellence where we can not only enhance the care of patients who are treated now but also the care in the future."
Calgary currently relies on supplies from Edmonton but the drugs have short half-lives and degrade along the journey. Only 25 per cent of what arrives can be used.
The province says having cyclotrons producing medical products in both Calgary and Edmonton will ensure a consistent supply, especially during regular maintenance shutdowns each year.
Alberta Health said radiopharmaceuticals are used to diagnose some medical conditions and treat certain diseases. The radioactive agents are given to patients orally, by injection or inhalation and collect in certain types of organs or cells, helping doctors pinpoint the disease and target treatment.
Dr. Ingrid Koslowsky, Calgary Radiopharmaceutical Centre director, welcomed the news of a cyclotron in Calgary currently, saying patients will reap the rewards.
"If we produce FDG (a radiopharmaceutical) on site, we can easily double the number of patients that we can inject with FDG every single day so that will really help reduce wait times for patients."
The province said the Calgary facility will also help spark research to develop new radiopharmaceuticals that could potentially help better understand the progression of other diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinsons.
The province says it's committing $18.6 million over three years as part of budget 2021 to begin building the cyclotron.
The entire Calgary project is expected to cost $50 million. The exact location of the new cyclotron and radiopharmaceutical facility at the Foothills Medical Centre site is still being finalized but itis expected to be completed in 2024 or 2025.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian among three climbers missing on New Zealand's highest peak
A Canadian is among three climbers missing after they'd planned to climb New Zealand's highest peak.
Trudeau to brief opposition leaders on Trump meeting
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet with all opposition leaders today before question period to brief them about his meeting with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.
Toronto library apologizes after staff at east-end branch refuse to help lost girl
The Toronto Public Library is apologizing after staff at a branch in the city’s east end refused to provide a lost child with access to a telephone.
This salad brand is being recalled again. Here's why
A Taylor Farms salad kit is being recalled over concerns of a salmonella contamination, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Here's where Canadian experts stand on fluoridating drinking water
For decades, water fluoridation has played a key role in improving the oral health of North Americans, experts say, but the practice is coming under scrutiny in some communities as opponents gain new prominence in the U.S., pointing to research that cautions about the risks of exposure to the mineral in high doses.
2 Ontario men charged after police seize US$40M in suspected cocaine from tractor-trailer in Illinois
Two Ontario men are facing charges after police in the U.S. say they seized 540 kilograms of cocaine from a tractor-trailer along Interstate 80 in Illinois.
Residents of Alta. town vote in favour of bylaw banning rainbow flags, crosswalks
Residents of a northern Alberta town have voted in favour of a bylaw banning Pride flags and rainbow crosswalks from municipal property.
Five years after toddler's brutal death, Northern Ont. family struggles to find peace, justice
A North Bay family is struggling to find peace and justice as the five-year anniversary of the brutal death of toddler Oliver McCarthy approaches.
Ontario dad removes hockey rink at heart of neighbour dispute
A Markham dad who drew the ire of neighbours and the city after installing a hockey rink in his backyard says the rink has now been taken down.