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New centre provides treatment in home community continued from p.5 He noted cancer is not new to Oakville and pointed out the disease was treated for years at the previous OTMH in the areas of diagnosis, surgery, symptom management and end of life care. Chemotherapy, he said, was the big hole in that treatment that the Cancer Care Clinic is filling now. "I think we can now offer that continuum of care and that will really add to a patient's experience," said McPhaden. "It may seem like it is not very far to go to Mississauga or Burlington or Hamilton, but it is a completely different environment, it's different doctors, it's different staff, it's different transportation mechanisms. It really makes it a lot easier to get through treatment if you can get treated in your own institution." McPhaden said in February, the clinic began treating hematological malignancies (such as lymphoma and leukemia). In the last few weeks, the clinic has begun seeing solid tumour patients (breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer). In the next few weeks, McPhaden said palliative care (end of life care) would be added to the clinic. McPhaden said this gradual ramping up of services within the clinic is necessary so adequate staff can be hired and trained. The gathering acknowledged donors Betty Birmingham and her late husband Bruce Birmingham for their contributions to the Cancer Care Clinic. The couple donated $3.5 million to the Oakville Hospital Foundation in 2010 and the clinic now bares their names as a result. During the presentation, Betty spoke about her own brush with cancer and how while her diagnosis and surgery were at the previous OTMH, her treatment had to be at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga. "Bruce and I spoke of how wonderful it would be to just stay in Oakville and when we found out the new hospital was planning to have a cancer clinic to bring in chemotherapy we decided to step on board and support it," said Betty. "It is now complete and it is wonderful and I appreciate everybody, and thank you Dr. McPhaden for being `the man.'" Frank Cooney, one of the Cancer Care Clinic's first patients, also addressed the gathering. Cooney, who was diagnosed with lymphoma, said staff at the clinic were honest and straightforward with him in telling him what to expect during treatment. He also said he was deeply grateful to the support staff from the volunteers he dealt with to the staff in diagnostic imaging and cardiology. "When you are getting your treatments, there is a reliance, there is a bond that's established between the registered nurses and the patients and I had two of the greatest registered nurses that one could ever ask for. I had Jen and Carrie. These two ladies are true professionals. Their knowledge base, their compassion... I can't say enough about them. I have two sons and I have two daughtersin-law, but if I had two daughters, I would want them to be Jen and Carrie," said Cooney, choking back tears. The ceremony ended with a ribbon cutting at the Cancer Care Clinic and a tour of the facility. Clinic staff said they have 300 visits per month for consultation (mainly hematology patients) and 200 visits per month for systemic treatment. 7 | Thursday, September 29, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com As a Maid Right owner you have my quality guarantee with every clean. FREE Save $25 off your Schedule 3 cleans, 1st regular service clean $ and 50 off your 4th get the 4th free* SM SPECIAL $ * 75 Off CLEAN *Receive the 4th of four cleans at no charge up to $125 Not valid on prior services. *Not valid value. on prior services. Not redeemable for redeemable cash. Applies to cash. new customers only. Not for Applies to new customers only. SPRING CLEANING FALL CLEANING SPECIAL OFFER: 289.809.9823 (XXX) XXX-XXXX localurladdressgoeshere.com Oakville.MaidRight.com Same Reliable Owners Clean Every Visit Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products Colour-Coded Cloths Reduce Cross Contamination EnviroShield® Whole Home Disinfecting Strongest Guarantee In the Industry ©2015 Maid Right Franchising LLC. Maid Right and JAN-PRO International are subsidiaries of Premium Franchise Brands LLC. WIN A $250 Gift Card to your favourite Dorval Crossing Store! Enter at www.dorvalcrossing.com Contest Ends October 31st, 2016 Over 60 Shops & Services located at the QEW & Dorval Drive Visit dorvalcrossing.com for more information