Chemotherapy and Cancer

Due to the overwhelming support of Moose Jaw Health Foundation donors patients now have the best chemotherapy equipment in Canada for patients battling cancer at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital.  Everyone in the community showed how much they care about friends and family who are battling cancer.  Equipment such as:

• Invacare Recliners are specially designed for chemotherapy patients that are required to sit for long periods of time as they receive intravenous chemotherapy medication to eradicate cancerous cells from their body.  The chemotherapy chairs provide patients with enhanced comfort throughout their treatment;
• Advanta Hospital Beds are the latest in electric patient bed technology designed to accommodate patients of all sizes and shapes comfortably, and enhance the ability of healthcare professional medical teams to deliver exceptional care;
• Vital Signs Monitors to provide instant information about a patient’s state of health.  Healthcare professionals are quickly able to assess the condition of the patient and how well they are responding to treatment.  With new state-of-the-art monitors medical professionals will have instant access to a patient’s body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation;
• Electrocautery surgical equipment to reduce pain, minimize the chance for post-operative infection and enhance recovery time. Electrocautery uses a high frequency electrical current to stop bleeding from small blood vessels or to cut through soft tissue.
• A Gamma Wand is cutting edge surgical tool to help surgeons detect and remove breast cancer with optimal efficiency.
• Patient Controlled Analgesia Pump (PCA) isan electronically controlled infusion pump that delivers an amount of intravenous pain medication that is controlled by the patient.  This PCA pump can be used for both acute and chronic pain patients. It is commonly used for post-operative pain management and cancer patients.
• Transport Stretchersdesigned to ease the movements of patients when they need to be moved for treatment.  The adjustable height and shock absorbing material will ensure safe movement and transfer of the patient; and prevent injury to the healthcare worker providing their care. 

Foundation donors recognized the growing need in Moose Jaw; chemotherapy treatments at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital have increased by 35% in the last three years.  Last year, nearly 1,000 chemotherapy treatments helped patients battling cancer at our hospital.

Every family has had cancer touch their lives.  Now patients have a better chance in their battle with the latest equipment.  Every piece of life saving equipment will be used today to help cancer patients and then transferred to the new hospital when it opens.

Every donation, no matter what the size, makes a difference and is appreciated.  There is always need for more life saving equipment for patients.  If you still would like to contribute to the local fight against cancer, please click here.  For more information on how you, your organization or company can create another success story at our local hospital, please contact Kelly McElree, Executive Director of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation at 694-0255 or kmcelree@fhhr.ca.