BC Cancer's first cancer treatment centre officially opened in Vancouver on November 5, 1938. BC Cancer operates six regional cancer centres and the BC Cancer Research Centre, with departments in Vancouver and in . All radiotherapy services in British Columbia are provided by the BC Cancer, as well as a majority of chemotherapy services. BC Cancer works with local health authorities across the province to provide cancer clinics in areas remote from the six main cancer centres, to cover rural British Columbia and the Yukon.
By raising funds in the community, the , an independent charitable organization, provides direct support for research and enhancements to care at the BC Cancer. Established in 1935, the BC Cancer Foundation is an independent charitable organization that raises and stewards resources to directly support breakthrough research and compassionate care at the BC Cancer throughout the province of British Columbia. With the best cancer survival rates in Canada, the BC Cancer Agency has become a model for cancer care and control around the world. Donations to the BC Cancer Foundation directly support research BC Cancer including support for salaries, for construction of the in Vancouver and Victoria, and for equipment. In addition to funding basic research at BC Cancer, the BC Cancer Foundation also provides funds for clinical research, prevention and enhancements to patient care. In 2017, the BC Cancer Foundation provided BC Cancer with nearly $55 million.
Events
The BC Cancer Foundation is the beneficiary of major fundraising events including: , a two-day, 60-kilometre walk through Vancouver streets in support of breast cancer research and enhancements to care at the BC Cancer Agency raised over $19 million to date. The 2010 , a 10-kilometre run/5-kilometre walk through Vancouver raised $552,000 to support prevention and early detection at the BC Cancer Agency of the seven below-the-belt cancers. featured special guest appearances by cancer survivor and cycling legend, Lance Armstrong and raised over $1.8 million for blood cancer research. raised over $9.2 million for cancer research at the BC Cancer Agency, making it the most successful fundraising event in the Foundation's history. The Foundation has offices in five of the BC Cancer's regional centres: Abbotsford, Surrey, Kelowna, Victoria and Vancouver.
