Foundation Donors Help Install Third LINAC
Published Monday, April 7, 2025
A third Linear Accelerator arrives at the Cancer Centre, expanding cancer care to meet growing demand in Northwestern Ontario.
Unique Cancer Centre Project – and Major Renovation – Fulfils 20-Year Plan
Since the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre opened in 2004, the Cancer Centre has always operated two linear accelerators (LINACs) for patient care. These highly advanced radiation therapy machines help Cancer Centre staff target tumours with cancer-killing radiation while avoiding healthy tissue.
However, cancer rates are on the rise. The Cancer Centre has to install a third LINAC to keep up with patient need.
“Cancer rates are rising as our population ages,” said David McConnell, Director, Regional Cancer Care North West. “Adding a third LINAC will increase capacity to ensure we can provide all patients in Northwestern Ontario with timely radiation therapy.”
It's projected that by 2037/38, the Cancer Centre will see 3,005 new cases, up about 40% in 20 years from 1,648 new cases in 2017/18. In turn, a growing number of patients will need radiation therapy.
Further, Northwestern Ontario has some of the highest rates of cancer risks, incidence, and mortality rates. Reasons include distance and geography, lifestyle, and access to services.
Of course, adding LINAC capacity isn't a straightforward process. LINACs are housed in special treatment rooms made of extra thick concrete for radiation shielding. Luckily, the Hospital thought of that when they built the Health Sciences Centre. Designers added a third shielded room into the plans, knowing Thunder Bay would need it sometime in the future.
That future is now.
The Cancer Centre is in the middle of a major – and unique – renovation project to make room for the new LINAC. Until recently, that third radiation suite housed a CT scanner used for radiation treatment planning. That was moved to the old PET/CT scanner suite. A new PET/CT was installed in a newly constructed suite in Diagnostic Imaging with financial support provided by the Foundation.
“Everything fell into place nicely for this renovation project,” McConnell said. “It's a large project that took some planning. But still, it's a lot easier to build new imaging suites than a shielded treatment room.”
The Ontario Government will provide funding to purchase the LINAC itself. But there are other associated construction and installation costs. That's where your donations to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation come in.
Thanks to your support of the Northern Cancer Fund and the Thunder Bay 50/50 Draw, you'll help fund installation costs including part of the construction of the new PET/CT scanner suite and making necessary changes to the radiation therapy suite to accommodate today's technology.
There's still time to be part of this incredible project!
Make your donation to the Northern Cancer Fund today by calling 807-345-4673 or visit: healthsciencesfoundation.ca/cancer
Article by Graham Strong