'We have come a long way': Construction for Sudbury's PET scan suite begins

Sudbury's long-awaited PET Scanner should be up and running next summer. Construction on a new extension to house the machine has begun at Health Sciences North.

Among those on hand at a ceremony Wednesday marking the occasion were family members of the late Sam Bruno, a Sudbury resident who began raising awareness and funds for a PET scan machine before he died of cancer in 2010.

A foundation in his name helped raise $3.8 million to make the nearly $9 million project come true.

"We have come a long way," said Bruno's widow, Cheryl, who is also a member of the foundation's steering committee.

"We are all excited, so happy. Sam's mom is with us today and she's very, very happy and proud of her son for doing this. We are just so thankful to the community, to the businesses. There are just so many people to thank."

Tannys Laughren, the executive director of the Northern Cancer Foundation, and Brenda Tessaro of the Sam Bruno PET steering committee, offered special thanks to current Nickel Belt MPP France Glinas and former Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault for repeatedly bringing up the issue at Queen's Park over the years.

Ontario's Ministry of Long-Term Health and Care contributed$4.6 million for the realization of the project.

The province has also announced a commitment of $1.6 million in annual operational funding for the scan suite.

It's estimated the PET scanner will save northern Ontario patients over 477,000 kilometres in health travel each year.

"People will not have to travel anywhere to get [a scan]," said Cheryl. "Northeastern Ontario is covered. No more travelling to Toronto, as Sam did. That was very hard on him."

Dr. Tom Carr is Chief of Nuclear Medicine at Health Sciences North.

"A PET scanner is one of the most useful tools in oncology so having it here is going to make a difference for patients and families," said Carr.

"The main benefits for [cancer] patients is a more comprehensive look at the state of their disease," he explained.

"We know that in about 30 per cent of patients, there will be a change in management of their cancer based on the results of a PET scan, so that's a big number. The other two-thirds, we'll be able to tell whether there's more disease, or less disease."

Construction is expected to last about nine months.

The first patient scan should take place next summer, according to the hospital.