Prostate cancer patients at the QEII will soon benefit from dedicated MRI scans, thanks to a recent gift from Prostate Cancer Canada.

The $60,000 gift included software for Endorectal MRIs, a technique that involves inserting a coil into the rectum to obtain dedicated high resolution images of the prostate. Endorectal MRI is a common tool for prostate cancer monitoring in Canada and is much more successful in detecting and evaluating cancer than other MRI imaging techniques, which involve body coils that are placed externally on the patient.

This is the first Endorectal MRI at the QEII. It is anticipated that about 100 patients will receive this exam annually. The MRI will be used to determine what stage of cancer a patient has and to monitor patients whose treatment plan consists of observation, also known as active surveillance.

Capital Health sees approximately 295 newly diagnosed prostate patients a year, the majority of which are treated at the QEII.

Photo: (left to right) Steve Jones, president and CEO of Prostate Cancer Canada; Helene Vassos, chief operating officer, Prostate Cancer Canada; and Dr. Derek Wilke, Oncologist at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.