The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation is dedicated to increasing cancer survivorship in Eastern Ontario. We unite those who want to be active in the fight for cancer survivorship, drawing on their expertise and resources to fund the gaps between what can be done and what is being done to reduce suffering and death due to cancer in Eastern Ontario. We support cancer care and research to prevent, detect, diagnose and cure cancer.
The Cancer Foundation is the only charitable organization dedicated exclusively to cancer in this region, and the most significant philanthropic contributor to cancer care and research in our community and will drive survivorship in our community by focusing on the following high impact priorities:
Shorter Wait Times
When someone we care about is diagnosed with cancer, we want quick access to the best possible treatments. We shouldn’t have to worry about wait times. Fortunately, the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation has pledged $12 million to the expansion of the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, and the new Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Centre at the Queensway Carleton Hospital. We are also exploring a new partnership with the Montfort Hospital as they prepare to expand their cancer services. Better and larger facilities will mean shorter wait times
Close to Home Access to Care
We believe our community should not have to travel to Toronto or New York for top-quality cancer care. We believe in our regional cancer program, a program that has encouraged the development of cancer services, where possible, in smaller local hospitals such as Renfrew, Winchester, Hawkesbury and 12 partner hospitals across the region. By helping fund these services in community hospitals, not only are we increasing the efficiency of the overall system and limiting bottlenecks, but also ensuring patients get treated in their own community, surrounded by family and friends.
Access to New Therapies
The Cancer Foundation is committed to funding clinical trials in several areas of cancer research and treatment. Clinical trials are one of the fastest and safest ways to find better treatments and bring researchers closer to finding a cure for cancer. New treatments, new approaches to surgery or radiation, new combinations of treatments and new methods of gene therapy are constantly being studied at the Cancer Centre in Ottawa.
Ottawa is one of the leading centres in the world for cancer research in several targeted cancer therapies, including oncolytic virus therapy. Translational research takes discoveries made in the laboratory and shapes them into potential new treatments or diagnostic tests that, in time, could help patients. It applies the knowledge gained by doing basic research and bridges the gap between scientists and patients. It also involves investigating why treatments already used in patients stop working, or why a treatment produces unwanted side effects. This type of research can directly improve treatment and patient outcomes.
Improved Quality of Life
The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation is working to change the way people think about cancer--because cancer can be survived. The Cancer Foundation is committed to providing a beacon of hope for all those touched by cancer with the new Cancer Survivors Park and soon-to-be-built Cancer Survivorship Centre. Finally, we are working with a network of hospitals and medical programs to support palliative care programs in the community because although survival rates are increasing, unfortunately, some people are still losing their battle with cancer.
