Why Donate

Why Your Support Matters
Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in Canada — but it doesn’t get the attention or funding it deserves. Despite its staggering impact, it receives just a fraction of cancer donations.

Together, we can change that.

The Reality of Lung Cancer in Canada

  • Lung cancer is the #1 cause of cancer death worldwide.
  • In Canada, it kills more people each year than breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers — combined.
  • 1 in 4 lung cancer patients are never smokers. It can affect anyone — and rates are rising among people under 50.
  • Causes include genetics, radon, asbestos, air pollution, and other environmental exposures.
  • Yet, only 0.1% of cancer donations go toward lung cancer. (Source: Canadian Cancer Society)

    • Your Donations Save Lives
    Lung cancer treatment is being transformed by precision diagnostics and targeted therapies — and your support makes this possible.

    At Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, one of Ontario’s leading lung cancer diagnostic centres, your donations help:

    • Fund biomarker testing to match patients with treatments that are more effective and less toxic.
    • Advance liquid biopsy, a non-invasive blood test that can detect cancer early and guide follow-up care.
    • Train the next generation of oncologists, radiation specialists, and pathologists from across Canada and beyond.
    • Maintain essential testing equipment that ensures patients get timely, accurate diagnoses.

    Your Support at Work

    2025

    2024

    • Replaced aging genetic testing equipment to reduce delays in treatment.
    • Supported international trainees specializing in lung cancer.
    • Funded a clinical trial using liquid biopsy in early-stage lung cancer patients. Early results may be presented at ASCO 2025.

    2023

    • Funded research into liquid biopsy, enabling earlier, safer diagnosis and faster treatment decisions.

    2022

    • Helped acquire equipment for Rapid Onsite Cytology Evaluation (ROSE) — a faster way to determine if a biopsy is positive for cancer, reducing patient wait times.

    2021

    • Enabled the purchase of an Ion Chef — an automated tool that increased the speed and capacity of lung cancer biomarker testing, expanding Sunnybrook’s reach across Ontario.

    A Global Leader in Lung Cancer Care
    Sunnybrook is internationally recognized and currently ranked #24 among the world’s best hospitals. But it relies on donor support to close funding gaps, invest in cutting-edge tools, and train tomorrow’s specialists.

    Let’s Keep Crushing It. Together.
    Your donation brings hope to people living with lung cancer. It fuels real progress — in labs, clinics, and patient lives.

    Every dollar makes a difference.

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