Frank Tousaw’s life was transformed by a stem cell transplant. Now, the newly expanded stem cell unit at Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre will be able to treat more patients. Read this and other stories that showcase the incredible cancer care at HHS.

2020 Celebrations: Cancer Care

Throughout 2020, Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) shared a wide selection of stories about our exceptional cancer care, including everything from hospital and research milestones, to patient and leadership profiles.

Highlights included a virtual celebration in late October to unveil the new Ron and Nancy Clark Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies Unit at the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre (JHCC). The JHCC is one of just three centres in the province providing all forms of stem cell transplantations to adult cancer patients. The new unit means hope for more patients locally and provincially. Thanks to the generous support from Ron and Nancy Clark, HHS also launched a first-of-its-kind Nurse Practitioner (NP) Fellowship Program in Complex Malignant Hematology (CMH) in Canada.

Cancer research was front and centre in 2020. HHS is recognized as one of the world’s leading health sciences research organizations, and groundbreaking work includes brain cancer research and ongoing clinical trials that show promise for patients with advanced lung cancer. HHS stories also featured the revolutionary role that artificial intelligence (AI) can play in health care, including breast cancer treatment.

HHS welcomed bright new leaders to cancer care, including Debra Jonathan, the new Indigenous cancer lead. Patient stories included a young man who just finished his second stem cell transplantation, and `IronGabe,’ a child with leukemia who defined his treatment experience through the eyes of a superhero fighting the evil villain, Lukie Leukemia.

As we ring out 2020, these are just a few examples of stories highlighting exceptional cancer care at HHS.

Watch for more 2020 celebration stories this month.

VIDEO: Grand opening and tour of new stem cell unit Young man on road to recovery after HHS stem cell transplant Introducing an Indigenous cancer lead The making of a superhero HHS physician leads deal to expand brain cancer research in Canada Understanding breast cancer treatment through AI Research offers hope for advanced lung cancer patients I feel like the luckiest guy ever