A new sophisticated piece of equipment has opened up options for Windsor-Essex cancer patients.
The long-awaited PET-CT scanner for Windsor Regional Hospital is now functional in the Regional Cancer Centre. It was formally unveiled during a media event at the cancer centre Thursday morning, complete with an appearance by the patient who will be the first to use the machine.
Eric Hands, 81, of Windsor, was approached by the hospital earlier to take the first appointment, which was scheduled for later Thursday afternoon. The energetic senior was all smiles as he helped cut the ribbon in front of the giant trailer that houses the scanner.
Hands is battling cancer in the bone marrow and had previously been treated for cancer located in his abdomen. He said he's now feeling terrific and is grateful for the chance to be the first to use the scanner.
"This came up, and they asked me to come forward on this. I was so proud to have been asked for the privilege," said Hands. "It is really a privilege for me. To be sick and start getting better again, I'm just wonderful now."
The PET-CT scanner, a cutting-edge device that both takes high-quality photos of a patient's insides as well as provides 3D colour images depicting cell function, was installed at the cancer centre earlier this spring. Staff and technicians have spent the last several weeks installing the device and learning how to use it. It is capable of serving 600 patients per year.
With the machine in place and accepting patients, trips to Hamilton, London, Toronto and points beyond will no longer be necessary for local patients. The scanner was made entirely possible by the Ontario government. David Musyj, president and CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital, said the patients are the biggest winners.
"It's perfect in the sense that it's going to provide the service that is needed for the patients in our region, so they stay close to home where they belong, and not have to do that travel up the 401," said Musyj.
As for Hands, he is amazed by how well his treatment is going and that he hopes the scanner will keep that streak going.
"When I went on chemotherapy, the pain started to go away," said Hands. "I started to walk. I went from a wheelchair to a walker, and now I'm on a cane. The next thing is a new Porsche."
