Despite rumours, our radiation bunker is fully operational

Although a small number of area cancer patients must continue treatment outside of Sault Ste. Marie, Director of Communications Mario Paluzzi told SooToday.com that the Sault Area Hospital (SAH) cancer radiation bunker has been fully operational since opening on April 1, 2011.

"Over 90 percent of patients that were previously treated outside of the city are now receiving cancer treatment here," he stated.

Dispelling rumours that the radiation bunker has yet to be used to its full potential, Paluzzi said: "There was never any illusion that 100 percent of cancer patients [in the Algoma region] would be treated here. There were always going to be some cases that would require out-of-town treatment."

Paluzzi cited rare cases, such as head and neck tumors where specialized care or surgery may be needed, that require patients to travel to Sudbury for treatment.

The SAH radiation treatment program is a partnership with Sudbury's Regional Cancer Program that includes an extensive staff of radiation therapists, medical physicists and nurses.

Sudbury's seven radiation oncologists take turns consulting and treating patients in Sault Ste. Marie twice a week.

The SAH Algoma District Cancer Program radiation bunker is the first of its kind in Ontario, and one of very few in all of Canada.