Marking 10 Years of Chemotherapy Services in Cornwall
2026-02-21
It was February 2016 when
partners and dignitaries cut the ribbon to officially open a new Chemotherapy
Clinic at Cornwall Community Hospital (CCH), a satellite location of The Ottawa
Hospital’s Regional Cancer Centre.
The service had long been
identified as a community need. At the time, local patients had to travel,
usually to Ottawa, to receive chemotherapy treatments.
With the opening of the
Chemotherapy Clinic at CCH, local cancer patients could finally receive
chemotherapy care closer to home.
In its first year of operation,
the Clinic administered fewer than 600 treatments. Today, equipped with eight
chairs, it serves an average of 10 to 15 patients per day and administers more
than 2,000 treatments per year. This reflects both the demand for the service
and its significant impact on local patients and families, saving hundreds of
thousands of kilometres in travel and helping improve quality of life during an
incredibly difficult time.
One of the most meaningful
features of the Clinic is the Bravery Bell. When a patient rings the bell, it
marks the completion of their treatment, a moment that brings hope not only to
the individual, but to others receiving care alongside them.
Like many of our initiatives at
CCH, this service was only realized thanks to the support of our partners. The
Cornwall Community Hospital Foundation played a significant role in making this
vision a reality with the support of community donors. The Foundation raised
$400,000 in one year to help purchase the required specialized equipment.
Equally important is the work of
the Chemotherapy Team at CCH, whose skilled and compassionate care supports
patients and their families throughout the treatment process.
Ten years after opening its
doors, the Chemotherapy Clinic at CCH remains a vital part of cancer care in
Cornwall, allowing patients to receive local and compassionate treatment in a
comprehensive and supportive setting.