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SCA's Cancer Patient Lodges: A Home-Away-From-Home
A true home-away-from-home.
That’s how cancer survivor, Terry Gasior, describes his stay at the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency’s Patient Lodge in Saskatoon. In 2021, he stayed at the lodge for 20 days while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
“Being able to stay somewhere close to the cancer centre made that challenging time in my life so much easier,” said Terry.
Terry is one of thousands of cancer patients who have stayed at the patient lodges (located in Regina and Saskatoon) while attending appointments and undergoing treatments at one of SCA’s nearby cancer centres.
Terry lives in Eston, Saskatchewan (more than 200kms southwest of Saskatoon) with his partner, Cassie. He is a former sailor and a retired schoolteacher. Even though he has been retired for 15 years, Terry and Cassie are always busy with family and friends—making memories and enjoying life in rural Saskatchewan.
In 2021, he received some unfortunate health news that changed his life.
“It was a really hard time for me and my family, so I was grateful to have the option of staying at the Cancer Patient Lodge while I was in Saskatoon for treatment.”
Terry did not have the time or energy to drive back home every night. But he says the lodge was so welcoming and so comfortable that it felt like a second home. He says the rooms and the meals at the lodge were first rate, but he appreciated the attentive staff more than anything.
“Everyone was so friendly, caring, understanding, and supportive and always found a way to meet my needs.”
He says the staff always made themselves available if he needed someone to talk to. They were full of helpful advice, kind words and comforting smiles.
“Being able to connect with them and other patients made me feel much less lonely,” said Terry. “I really felt like I was a part of their family. It also impressed me that all the staff knew my name. That small personal touch meant a lot to me and really made me feel welcome.”
In September 2024, the Government of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA) announced plans to advance to the design phase of a brand-new structure for the Saskatoon Cancer Patient Lodge.
This important part of Saskatchewan's health care infrastructure aims to provide a "home-away-from-home" for patients undergoing treatments at nearby health care facilities. Early designs include 33 private patient rooms with 14 companion accommodation spaces, a commercial kitchen that can tailor meals to ensure proper nutrition for patients, lounge areas where patients and companions can watch TV and connect with others, as well as common spaces for games and puzzles and an exercise room with light equipment.
The new facility will be built on the existing lodge site at 1036 College Drive, which is close to the Royal University Hospital and the Saskatoon Cancer Center. Patients of the SCA can stay at the facility at a significantly reduced cost.
"Patient care, comfort and safety are top priorities for the Cancer Agency," said SCA CEO Deb Bulych. "A new expanded patient lodge will give out-of-town patients a comfortable, convenient and cost-effective place to stay, instead of having to travel long distances to receive important, life-saving treatments."
Terry recalls that he was able to travel home on the weekends to be with his partner Cassie and other family members, which he says was a nice break.
He is also thankful that his son was able to visit him at the lodge and says the lodge staff truly did wonders to keep his spirits high.
So, while his road to recovery was not always easy, he says his journey includes a lot of warm memories thanks to the home-away-from-home offered at the lodge.
“I am forever thankful and grateful for each and every one of the workers at the lodge. I don’t know what I would have done without them.”
