Valerie R.’s Story
My name is Valerie R. and I live in Kamloops, B.C.
I would like to firstly start with the understanding that I have personally never received a diagnosis of cancer. I have had many, many people that I am close to not be as fortunate as I am.
One aspect of why a Cancer Centre in Kamloops is so very, very important is that I had the privilege to be a driver of one of the vans that drove people needing radiation treatment from Kamloops to Kelowna. I call it a privilege because it was a small thing that I could do for the people in my community who needed assistance.
I only drove the van for maybe half a dozen times, and it was in the early 2000's.... but I still remember what an arduous trek it was for those needing treatment. I also recall that it was during the winter months when it was dark, snowy and icy on the highway. As a driver, it was very stressful being responsible for all people on board the van.
We would leave downtown Kamloops around 7:00 a.m. and make the drive through Highway 97 and Vernon, B.C. to arrive at Kelowna General Hospital in time for their treatments. There were usually four to five people needing treatments and their treatment start times were a bit staggered. By the time they were all finished and had a bit of time to be up to traveling - we would usually end up leaving Kelowna between 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. - making our return time to Kamloops around 7:00 p.m. This made it a 12-hour day for these people.
Can you imagine having a 12-hour day, which included a 2 hour drive each way, along with having radiation?
They also would be making the return trip after the treatment and not feeling well most of the time. All this in a minivan with several others that were also not at their best. This long, long day was also without their families as the van was for patients only.
I cannot believe that over 20 years later people are STILL having to commute to receive treatment for cancer. Here we are - we still wait for a better way to help the people in our communities - because Cancer Won't Wait.
Let's get the Kamloops Cancer Centre built without further delays!
- Valerie R., Kamloops Resident