CANCER
More than 30,000 people in BC will be newly diagnosed with cancer this year
1 in 2 people in BC will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime
Look at the person next to you.
At some point in your lives, one of you is likely to hear the three words that nobody wants to hear:
“You have cancer.”
This year alone, more than 30,000 people in BC will be newly diagnosed with cancer. With our population growing and aging, latest models project a 75% rise in cases at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), which diagnoses and treats the most complex cancers in BC.
Help us rise above.
We are Greater Than Cancer
Watch VideoFrequently Asked Questions
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BC is seeing an overall increase in the number of cancer cases in large part due to a growing and aging population. In 2023-24, there were more than 5.8 million people living in the province, an increase of almost 10% since 2020-21.
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There are also increasing rates of cancer among young people and a greater number of people with cancer living longer who require ongoing care.
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Global cancer cases are projected to rise by more than 75% by 2050, according to the World Health Organization. In addition to a growing and aging population, key factors behind the increase include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and obesity – with air pollution still a key driver of environmental risk factors.
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As the largest and most specialized hospital in BC, VGH is the only place with the expertise needed to diagnose and treat the most complex cancer cases from across the province.
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VGH is home to the busiest Pathology Lab in Western Canada and the province’s Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, among numerous other specialized cancer programs.
- 50% of patients are referred to VGH from outside Vancouver Coastal Health for specialized care they can’t get anywhere else in BC.
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In 2023, the BC Government announced a 10-year Cancer Care Action Plan, which includes significant investments into capital, people and cancer care across the province.
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VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation’s Greater Than Cancer fundraising campaign is essential to VGH’s ability to deliver on the province’s plan, raising funds to renew the pathology lab at VGH, equip surgeons with state-of-the-art tools and operating rooms, and help clinician-scientists discover and test new treatments at the bedside.
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Currently, approximately two-thirds of people in BC diagnosed with cancer survive five years or more after a cancer diagnosis.
- BC has the second-lowest age-adjusted mortality rate from cancer in Canada.
Greater Than Cancer addresses the urgent need for donations to improve outcomes for cancer patients across BC. Your generous support will help VGH build capacity in key areas such as:
Diagnostics
Building the pathology lab of the future, harnessing the power of robotics and artificial intelligence to decrease diagnostic turnaround time, facilitate more accurate diagnoses, and heighten access to diagnostic expertise.
Learn more
Surgery
Equipping our world-class surgical teams with state-of-the-art tools and operating rooms, helping them tackle cancer’s most-difficult-to-remove tumours.
Innovation
Helping our clinician-scientists discover and test new treatments at the bedside, building infrastructure to conduct clinical trials and giving patients access to new life-saving therapies.
“VGH takes care of the most complex cases and offers subspecialized treatment that isn’t available anywhere else in BC. Philanthropy can help us leverage our strengths to be Greater Than Cancer and make the biggest impact on outcomes today and well into the future.”
– Dr. Gary Redekop, Head of Surgery, VGH
At VGH, the most complex cancer cases get answers.
The Pathology Lab at VGH is the province’s go-to testing and diagnosis site for the most complex cancer cases. As the largest pathology lab in Western Canada, it currently processes nearly 12 million samples annually, of which 60% are related to cancer.
“With the projected increase in cancer cases, the renewal of Western Canada’s busiest pathology lab couldn’t come at a more critical time. A pathology lab that is enhanced by AI and robotics will reduce turnaround times and enable more personalized treatments.”
– Dr. David Schaeffer, Head, VGH Pathology
Building the pathology lab of the future
The Anatomical Pathology Lab is where tissue and organs are analyzed to determine the causes of disease and to test for treatment strategies. Thanks to your generosity, the lab is introducing several new pieces of equipment, each of which provide an incredible boost to efficiencies.
Hundreds of tissue slides are now ready for diagnosis in mere hours instead of days, and technologists can focus on high impact assessments instead of manual slide preparation.
Your support is ensuring more diagnoses can be made sooner and with a higher degree of precision and accuracy. In this competitive job market, your generosity in this space also supports retention of staff, allowing them to focus their energies on high value tasks that maximize their skill set.
Join Greater Than Cancer to open doors to a new future, where an AI-driven pathology lab will maximize the impact of innovations for more accurate cancer detection and treatment.
Donate to Greater Than Cancer 
At VGH, cancer’s toughest tumours meet their match.
VGH is where patients with the most difficult-to-remove tumours are treated. In fact, 50% of patients are referred to VGH from outside Vancouver Coastal Health and VGH is the only place to treat spine and gynecologic tumours.
“A rare form of bone cancer took hold of my cervical spine. And the only place in BC that could successfully remove it was VGH. It took a grueling 22 1/2 hours in surgery and a long road to recovery, and I am so grateful I received care at VGH – this is why I am here today, healthy and able to share my story.”
– Michaela Baer, Cancer Survivor
Unlocking the power of surgical innovation
Head and neck surgeon Dr. Eitan Prisman is revolutionizing jaw reconstruction surgery at VGH.
Recruited here with donor support, he deploys groundbreaking robotic techniques such as Trans Oral Robotic Surgery (TORS) and microvascular reconstructive surgery to improve outcomes for oral cancer patients.
Since arriving at VGH, he developed software and 3D printing to guide very complex surgeries to remove tumours and reconstruct the jaw. As a result of his achievements, surgical time is cut almost in half, and the procedure is more accurate, with less need for revisions, so that patients heal faster, wait less time for surgery, and enjoy better outcomes.
Join Greater Than Cancer to build capacity for our world-class surgeons to provide highly specialized, complex, and life-saving cancer surgeries.
Donate to Greater Than Cancer 
At VGH, breakthrough cancer therapies begin.
Medical discoveries incubate in labs; yet to be applied to patients as standard of medical care, they need to be tested in clinical trials first. VGH is uniquely positioned to play a prominent role in conducting clinical trials thanks to their access to large volumes of patients from across the province and a large concentration of experts who have the know-how to deliver them.
“We are so thankful to our donors, who boosted our AI-based approach that helps ensure no patient misses an opportunity for potentially lifesaving interventions.”
– Dr. Jessica McAlpine, Co-Head, Gynecologic Oncology
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GYNECOLOGIC CANCER INITIATIVE
Gynecologic Cancer Initiative (GCI) seeks to expand on its initial successes in preventing and treating ovarian cancer. They were the first in the world to demonstrate an effective surgical intervention that prevents ovarian cancer and is now globally recognized.
Philanthropy will support fellows and clinician-scientists to conduct groundbreaking research that will bring GCI closer to its goal of reducing death and suffering from all gynecologic cancers by 50% by 2034.
Through research into early detection and prevention, targeted treatments and improved survivorship care, GCI will impact women with endometriosis and cancers of the vulva and other pelvic conditions, here in BC and beyond.
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LEUKEMIA/BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT PROGRAM
VGH is home to the province’s Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant(L/BMT) Program.
Philanthropy will help build a new Hematology Research Unit at VGH, enabling patients who do not respond to standard treatment to receive potentially life-saving novel cellular immunotherapies. Over the past decade, cellular immunotherapy has emerged as a new tool in our arsenal to combat cancer because of its potential to turbocharge our own immune system to fight off disease.
Your support is needed to empower teams to augment care with new tools and technologies, increase research capacity, and train the next generation of fellows and specialists.
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PANCREAS CENTRE BC
Philanthropy is needed to build on the early detection and treatment tools pioneered by Pancreas Centre BC.
Pancreatic cancer continues to be diagnosed at a very late stage when treatment options are limited. With your support, the team will apply novel tumour profiling methods to diagnose cancer sooner and more effectively guide treatment.
Philanthropy will also attract and support early career investigators to build research capacity for the province and train fellows to provide world-class care for complex cases now and into the future
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VANCOUVER PROSTATE CENTRE
The Vancouver Prostate Centre (VPC) is Canada’s top translational science facility for prostate cancer.
Philanthropy is needed to attract, recruit and retain top talent to discover new and targeted therapies for cancer patients here in BC and around the world. Over the years, clinician-scientists at the VPC have uncovered the mechanisms behind cancer’s resistance to treatment and brought new anti-cancer drugs to market to stop cancers from progressing.
Now is the time to amplify the impact of these discoveries to other urologic cancers including kidney and bladder cancer.
Join Greater Than Cancer and help patients with no other options access life-saving therapies.
Donate to Greater Than Cancer 
We extend our deepest gratitude to all campaign donors and Cabinet
“I believe that helping others is the best way to give back for the kindness and brilliant medical care that my Dad received when he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, who lived 17 years after his initial diagnosis. My hope is that everyone can receive the same exceptional care. As technologies and treatments improve, investing in healthcare is necessary.”
– Devi Sangara, Co-Chair
“Many life-saving therapies in use today across the world started at VGH. For example, I was part of the team that pioneered opportunistic salpingectomy as a surgical intervention to reduce the risk of ovarian cancers. I joined Greater than Cancer because I believe in the bright surgeons and scientists at VGH whose innovations continue to change standards of care.”
– Dr. Dianne Miller, Co-Chair
“Cancer demands our attention now. I am joining the Greater than Cancer Campaign because I believe in investing in the best and most innovative scientific minds to reach new heights of achievement. This campaign will lead to greater prevention in high-risk families, better treatments, and health and longevity for years to come.”
– Alice Chung, Vice-Chair
CO-CHAIR
Dr. Dianne Miller
CO-CHAIR
Devi Sangara
VICE-CHAIR
Alice Chung
CABINET MEMBERS
Charlie Lamb
Genevieve Duford
Ian Storrs
Leslie Cannon
Rebecca Pang
Sherry Zamrou
Tony Geheran
Travis McPherson
