A million-dollar gift from the estate of a local couple helped launch Surrey Memorial Hospital's new endoscopic ultrasound program, which will help diagnose gastrointestinal cancers earlier.
The $1 million gift to Surrey Hospitals Foundation last year from the estate of Len and Joan Leece helped expand the hospital's gastroenterology division, with a new advanced gastroenterology fellowship position and the purchase of an endoscopic ultrasound device.
A release from Surrey Hospital Foundation noted that the Leeces had both received care at the hospital and were "proud and grateful" to have such a fantastic hospital in their community. Joan passed away in 2018, followed by Len in 2021.
"Creative and hardworking, Leonard and Joan Leece emigrated from England in 1964 and grew to love Vancouver and White Rock. They saved and invested well, and over the years they shared their good fortune by generously supporting many charitable causes," the release read.
The Foundation received the estate gift over time, starting in 2021, after Len's death.
According to the World Health Organization, gastrointestinal cancers account for one in four cancer cases and one in three deaths globally. "Gastrointestinal cancers affect the digestive tract that starts from the mouth to the anus, including the esophagus, stomach, intestines, bowel, and anus, as well as surrounding organs like the pancreas, bile duct, and gall bladder," Surrey Hospital Foundation noted.
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer diagnosed in 2024 in Canada.
The new endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) program, launched in April, is now available twice a week in the ambulatory day care (ADC) department. It will help diagnose pancreatic and other cancers earlier. Fraser Health noted that the procedure also helps rule out bile duct stones, which will also help patients avoid unnecessary procedures.
“With the exponential population growth of Surrey and surrounding regions, the need for endoscopic ultrasound has never been greater and is long overdue at Surrey Memorial Hospital,” Dr. Henry Wong, gastroenterologist and head of the gastrointestinal division at Surrey Memorial, said.
“We are routinely sending patients to Vancouver every week, which delays the treatment and care of our patients. But we shouldn’t have to, given that our hospital has the most gastrointestinal specialists in the Fraser Health region.”
Fraser Health noted in a release that, "EUS combines endoscopy and ultrasound to create high-resolution images of the inner layers of the digestive tract and surrounding tissues. Its precision surpasses CT scans and can detect tumours less than two centimetres in size, offering hope for earlier detection and improved survival rates."
Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster also offers this program.
Surrey Hospital Foundation noted that this is its "largest estate gift to date."
