Dr. Roy Jackson benefited from new, cutting-edge immunotherapy treatments at BC Cancer – Surrey when his melanoma returned. Today, he joins the BC Cancer Foundation in its largest fundraising campaign for the region to raise $30 million to equip the new BC Cancer Centre in Surrey with cutting-edge technology and research capabilities. Courtesy BC Cancer Foundation
Peace Arch News – Nov 8 2024
Roy hopes to give fellow cancer patients hope, and highlight the importance of community support in building B.C.’s future of cancer care
Diagnosed with stage four melanoma, Dr. Roy Jackson’s perspective is deeply unique. As a local physician who spent over 30 years caring for patients, Roy’s transition to becoming a cancer patient himself brought invaluable insight into the importance of innovative cancer care.
His journey began in 2012 when he was diagnosed with Stage 1 melanoma. The tumor was removed, and Roy lived cancer-free for over a decade. However, in November 2023, after a persistent cough and discomfort, a CT scan revealed Roy’s cancer had returned as Stage 4 melanoma, with tumors in his lung, mediastinum and adrenal glands. Fortunately, new, cutting-edge immunotherapy treatments were available – drug therapies that weren’t available a decade earlier when he was first diagnosed.
These therapies, made possible by decades of cancer research and pharmaceutical breakthroughs, gave Roy a lifeline. He vividly recalls the relief he and his family felt when his treatment began, knowing immunotherapy could change the course of his life.
For Roy, his experience at BC Cancer – Surrey has been remarkable. “The care I’ve received is second to none,” he shares.
Under the expert guidance of his oncologist, Dr. Aleksi Suo, and the supportive team of nurses, Roy’s journey has been filled with compassion. Now receiving monthly immunotherapy infusions, Roy remains hopeful, especially as recent scans show his tumours are shrinking.
However, the significance of the new, second BC Cancer Centre in Surrey, currently under development, is not lost on Roy. The state-of-the-art facility will be one of the most advanced cancer centres in B.C., playing a crucial role in advancing cancer care and expanding access to lifesaving treatments for Fraser region families. BC Cancer Foundation has embarked on the largest fundraising campaign for the region to raise $30 million to equip the centre with cutting-edge technology and research capabilities.
“We need to support cancer innovation,” Roy emphasizes, underscoring the critical role philanthropy plays in driving these advancements.
Roy’s journey illustrates the importance of this new centre, which will enhance imaging capabilities and house research that will save lives – just as immunotherapy saved his. Expanded access to treatments and the potential to shorten wait times will benefit countless patients.
