Cancer survivor grateful for new cancer centre in Cape Breton
It's been four years since Lisa MacEachern-Burns got the medical news that changed her life.
"In 2017, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma”, the Sydney River resident recalled.
MacEachern-Burns is a busy mom. At the time of her diagnosis, her two daughters were ages four, and 11 months. She had to have chemotherapy and radiation treatments but was able to receive them at the Cape Breton Cancer Centre in Sydney, rather than travelling back and forth to Halifax.
"I needed to get up in the morning and take care of them and get them off to school and play with them after school, in order for them to stay healthy as well”, MacEachern-Burns said. “So it's not just about me. It's about everybody around me too."
On Friday, the first concrete was poured to start building a brand new cancer centre. It’s expected to help a lot more patients receive care at home.
"Today marks a momentous event”, said Dr. Elwood MacMullin, senior medical director for the Cape Breton Cancer Centre. "[The new facility will] more than double the space that is currently available at the old cancer centre."
Also Friday, there was a huge donation from some of the very people working to build the new centre. A cheque for half a million dollars was presented by members of the Cape Breton Island Building & Construction Trades Council. It’s the largest donation the group has ever made.
"For us, it was a no-brainer”, said Council President Jack Wall. “We said 'You know what? This is what it's all about. When we work on Cape Breton Island, we give back to Cape Breton Island.' And that's why we gave this donation over a five year period."
MacEachern-Burns says even though she's been lucky enough to have beaten the disease, she still goes to the cancer centre for follow-ups. She says getting treatment locally helped her both physically and mentally during her battle, and she's only too happy to know that more patients like her will be able to stay home.
"I don't think I would have had as healthy of a journey had I not been able to be here”, MacEachern-Burns said.
The new Cape Breton Cancer Centre is expected to take about two years to build, with a target opening date of late 2023 or early 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.