In the tradition of a hospital that strives to deliver the best healthcare services the community needs and deserves, the Regional Cancer Program at Southlake provides a full range of cancer services including screening, assessment, surgery, chemotherapy, psycho-social and palliative care, clinical trials, and, for the first time in York Region, radiation treatment. The Cancer Program leads in providing technologies that will help detect cancer sooner, increase the effectiveness of treatment, and position Southlake as a Canadian leader in the delivery of Cancer Care Services. Breast and colon cancer are two prevalent forms of cancer in Ontario. Improvements in the diagnosis of colon cancer are achieved through CT Colography software which provides transparent 3-D reconstruction images of the colon and allow for a non-invasive and quick diagnosis of polyps and tumours. One of Canada's first fully digital mammography units provides increased detection rates in some cases, reduces wait times for non-urgent patients, and allows more women to be screened every year. Chemotherapy treatments for children and adults, minimally invasive surgeries that are used to treat lung, breast, and many other forms of cancer, a state-of-the-art digital specimen radiography unit specially designed to expedite diagnostic decisions for surgeons in the operating room, and radiation therapy provide Southlake patients with the most advanced treatment available. Everything about the Regional Cancer Program at Southlake is leading edge. Radiation treatment rooms are equipped with image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), both considered to be the “gold standard” in radiation therapy equipment. This sophisticated equipment enables the healthcare team to target the area requiring treatment more accurately and precisely. For patients, it means that their individual treatments will take significantly less time, and their risk of experiencing side-effects is reduced. And, at times, leading edge can also translate to down-to-earth. Our Community Cancer out-patient clinic includes a pre-chemotherapy teaching program, which allows patients to meet with a registered nurse who explains the chemotherapy drugs, possible side effects, scheduling dates and any other cancer-related questions. Personal time with an oncologist at each treatment visit allows the opportunity to review the patient's progress and to answer any questions. When hospitalization is required for chemotherapy treatment, cancer-related complications or palliative care, patients are admitted to the program's in-patient unit where the focus is on maximizing the quality of life and ensuring the dignity of the patient and the family. While healing is our top priority, we understand that putting our patients first means taking care of both their physical and emotional wellbeing. Our Regional Cancer Program is much more than technology and expertise, it is also the desire to attend to a patient's emotional, social, and spiritual needs that helps us deliver what our patients come to expect, shockingly excellent service. Dr. Louis Balogh, Vice President, Regional Cancer Program at Southlake Regional Vice President, Cancer Care Ontario