At Health Sciences North (HSN), a quiet revolution in cancer care is changing what’s possible for patients across Northeastern Ontario.
Through its stereotactic radiosurgery program, the Radiation Oncology team with the Shirley and Jim Fielding Northeast Cancer Centre is delivering precise, high-dose radiation treatments that can destroy cancer in as few as one to five visits, often replacing the need for invasive surgery.
For patients, the difference is profound.
Where traditional treatment for certain cancers once meant surgery, hospital stays, and weeks of recovery, many patients can now receive treatment in minutes, without incisions, anesthesia, or overnight stays. Instead of facing the risks and recovery associated with surgery, patients are able to return home the same day and resume their daily lives much sooner.
“We’re able to target tumours with incredible precision,” said Dr. Andrew Pearce, who leads Radiation Oncology. “In many cases, patients come in for a short appointment and go home the same day; no surgery, no hospital bed, and far less disruption to their lives.”
Transforming care across the North
The stereotactic radiosurgery program treats cancers of the brain, spine, lung, liver, bone, and prostate, serving a vast and geographically challenging region where two-thirds of patients live outside of Sudbury.
For many in Northeastern Ontario, accessing care has traditionally meant long-distance travel, extended stays away from home, and significant personal and financial strain. Reducing that burden is a key driver behind the program.
In the past, some treatments required patients to remain in Sudbury for five to six weeks. Today, many of those same treatments can be completed in just five days, or even fewer.
That shift is life-changing for patients and families.
It means more time at home, less time away from loved ones and work, and fewer costs associated with travel, accommodations, and time off.
For some, it can mean the difference between receiving care close to home or having to leave the North entirely.
At the same time, delivering treatment in fewer visits allows HSN to care for more patients overall, helping improve access and reduce pressure on the healthcare system across the region.
“This technology allows us to care for more people, more efficiently, without compromising outcomes,” said Dr. Pearce. “It’s a win for patients and for the healthcare system.”
Improving outcomes and quality of life
Beyond convenience, the impact on patient outcomes is significant, and continues to evolve.
By precisely targeting tumours, including those that have spread to other parts of the body, clinicians can treat cancer in ways that were not possible just a decade ago. In some cases, eliminating these additional tumour sites can delay the need for chemotherapy, reduce symptoms, and improve overall quality of life.
Emerging evidence also shows that this approach can extend survival for certain patients, marking an important shift in how cancer is treated.
“This approach is changing how we think about cancer care,” said Dr. Pearce. “Where some cases were once considered untreatable, we now have options that can make a real difference.”
As the program continues to grow, it is not only improving care for patients in Northeastern Ontario, it is helping ensure that people across the North can access leading-edge cancer treatment closer to home, without having to travel to larger urban centres.