The Quebec City University Hospital on Thursday inaugurated a new $8.3 million cutting-edge device that makes it possible to see and treat a cancerous tumor in real time, a first in Quebec, including patients from all over the world. eastern part of the province will benefit.
The Integrated Cancer Center, neighboring the Enfant-Jésus Hospital in Quebec, becomes the fourth establishment in Canada to acquire this device, which combines magnetic resonance imaging with a linear accelerator (MRI -Linac).
The Quebec University Hospital on Thursday inaugurated a new $8.3 million state-of-the-art MRI-Linac device, which makes it possible to see and treat a cancerous tumor in real time, a first in Quebec, including patients throughout the eastern part of the province will benefit.
PHOTO Marc-André Gagnon
“It’s extraordinary,” rejoiced the minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale, Jonatan Julien, after visiting the room where the device is located, which will receive its first patients starting next October, the time of train staff.
The technology used is so precise that it makes it possible to target the affected region without affecting other organs, which reduces the toxicity of the treatment and therefore its consequences for the patient.
“We all know people who undergo this kind of treatment,” underlined Mr. Julien.
The Minister responsible for Infrastructure and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale, Jonatan Julien.
Photo Marc-André Gagnon
“We can actually think that we will bring better control of the disease and a reduction in toxicities,” explained the head of the radiotherapy department, Dr.r Jean Archambault.
“What this will also allow is to reduce the number of visits for patients, for certain cancers,” he added.
The head of the radiotherapy department of the Integrated Cancer Center (CIC) of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Dr. Jean Archambault.
Photo Marc-André Gagnon
By way of comparison, the cost of a standard device is around $3 million, underlined Christine Mimeault, deputy general director of the new hospital complex at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval.
A $2.238 billion project
As for the construction site of the CHU megahospital, of which the Integrated Cancer Center is a part, the budget of $2.238 billion updated in 2022 “is holding up”, despite overheating, confirmed Ms. Mimeault.
Christine Mimeault, deputy general director of the new CHU de Québec-Université Laval hospital complex.
Photo Marc-André Gagnon
Phase 1 of the project is completed and phase 2, currently under construction and which includes a building of around twelve floors for critical care, should be completed in 2026. It will then remain to modernize the current premises of l’Enfant -Jesus, until 2029 or 2030.
A “major reflection” is also continuing regarding the new name that the mega-hospital will have, once completed. “There are proposals on the table. […] I think there will be momentum with the delivery of the critical care building,” said M.me Mimeault.