Kelowna residents will now be able to access ground-breaking cancer treatments at home at the new Surgical Oncology Research Program at the BC Cancer Centre, located adjacent to the Kelowna General Hospital. 

Now in Kelowna there will be a research facility and program dedicated to the study of cancer treatments and surgeries. 

The new program was funded by a donation of $1.5 million from Ken and Gloria Sargent and will be led by Dr. Chris Baliski, a surgical oncologist. 

sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½œThanks to the Sargentssa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½™ generosity, our new research program will allow us to ensure patients are receiving the best treatment sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½“ or combination of treatments sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½“ at the right time," said Baliski.

Patients in Kelowna will be able to benefit from the latest in cancer surgery research.

One area that is now being researched is the timing and synergy of surgery and cancer treatments sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½“ like radiation and chemotherapy. 

Patients in Kelowna will have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge clinical trials and researchers will work to better understand disease biology and how cancer responds to treatment. 

Baliski said there will be a focus on enhancing the standard of care through research, with a special interest in patient-reported outcomes.