Category: Uncategorized

Surgical Oncology participates in the Tour de Cure

On August 27th, the two-day cycling event Tour de Cure took place in a 100 kilometer course around the Fraser Valley. Our wonderful surgical oncology team took part as almost two thousand participants and supporters gathered for the largest cycling fundraiser in British Columbia. $6.3 million was raised to support research through the BC Cancer Foundation. Many thanks to our…

Physicians rallying for climate action

Over the summer, between wildfires, flooding and the heat dome, we have seen first hand how our health is tied to that of our environment. The evidence around climate change and its ramification is clearer than ever – as a result, in September, over 230 medical journals, including the NEJM, the Lancet, and the CMAJ published a joint editorial calling for…

Dr. MacNeill on CBC Radio North by Northwest

I’ve been in this space now for a decade, and for approximately the first eight years, the reception to this message was the same … I was still having to really explicitly make the connection between climate change and health …. Over the past two years and in particular throughout the pandemic, public awareness around climate change as a health…

Surgical oncologist to spearhead a shift towards more reusable and recyclable medical equipment

“We have a moral imperative to first do no harm. And that includes to the rest of the population who’s not currently a patient, but who is potentially being adversely affected by the implications of the care we’re delivering right now.” Dr. Andrea MacNeill, Surgical Oncologist at Vancouver General Hospital Congratulations to our very own Dr. Andrea MacNeill for her…

The Inaugural Edition of “The Clinical Chronicle” Discusses Current Issues in Cancer Surgery

Earlier this month, the inaugural edition of “The Clinical Chronicle” was released, which discussed some of the big issues that cancer surgeons in BC are facing today and the plans they have going forward. Featured in the article is our very own Dr. Andrea MacNeill. You can find the article and more information about “The Clinical Chronicle” at the links provided.

New Study on the Impact of Surgery on Global Climate

Congratulations to Dr. Andrea MacNeill on her recent publication in Lancet Planetary Health regarding the impact of surgery on global climate. The study estimated the carbon footprint of several health care facilities, and found that in addition to energy consumption (i.e. heating, air conditioning), anesthetic gases were one of the largest contributors to the generation of greenhouse gas emissions. You…

Operating Room Ultrasound Advances Breast Cancer Care at the BCCA

In early March 2016, West Coast Surgical Oncology and the BC Cancer Agency took a major step forward to improve the care of breast cancer patients. With funds from the BC Cancer Foundation, specialized ultrasound equipment was purchased for surgeons to use during breast cancer surgery. This equipment allows real-time confirmation of the cancer site, size, and resection margins. There…