Radiation Oncology

Dr. Margaret Burnell, Clinical Head
Dr. John Carson, Director of Residency Training

The Department of Oncology has been providing radiation therapy services for the province since 1901. A multidisciplinary cancer clinic was set up in 1931 and an organized provincial "Cancer Service" was established in 1956. We were the sole providers of radiotherapy services until the establishment of a second center in Moncton, New Brunswick in 1991, which serves mainly the Francophone population of the province.

In 1998, 1,093 new patients were registered. A medical staff of 5 Radiation Oncologists, 1 Medical Oncologist, 1 Haemologist and 1 clinical associate, with excellent collaboration from various other departments and specialists, ensure that all patients have their clinical situation assessed by a multidisciplinary team.

Radiotherapy services have been enhanced by the recent acquisition of a dual energy linear accelerator with MLC and 3-D conformal radiotherapy planning system. Chemotherapy has moved from a mainly inpatient setting to an ambulatory setting with chemotherapy outreach clinics and a home chemotherapy program being developed.