Grand River Hospital celebrating first-ever stem cell transplant, expanding cancer care

Grand River Regional Cancer Centre performed Waterloo Region’s first stem cell transplant from a single person in July.

Dr. Janet MacEachern is the medical director of the Transplantation and Cellular Therapy program at the centre. She explained the procedure was performed in partnership with the Juravinski Health Centre in Hamilton.

“We harvest stem cells from a patient themselves, store them by freezing them at a really cold temperature, and then we give the patient very high-dose chemotherapy to treat their cancer,” said Dr. MacEachern. “We then re-infuse the patients own stem cells.”

Chemotherapy damages stem cells, but reintroducing stem cells into the blood stream helps promote the creation of new, healthy bone marrow and blood.

According to Dr. MacEachern, right now the stem cells are harvested and stored in Hamilton, but the team at Grand River Hospital is working to be able to perform the procedure in Waterloo Region by 2026.

The patient who received the treatment, Joey Lovecchio, was months into being treated for multiple myeloma at Grand River Hospital.

“It required him to really put his faith in our team,” said Dr. MacEachern. “He was just awesome. There was a real energy in the room of trust of each other, optimism.”

The doctor praised Lovecchio and his partner for their bravery in taking part in the project.

“It really underscored why we’re doing this: to have patients that live in this region be able to have their care in a place that they feel comfortable, that they’re familiar with, and is close to their family, friends, and support systems,” she added.

Not only is their work made possible in collaboration with the Juravinski Health Centre, but through generous donations like one they recently received from the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation, and through programs like the Deer Ridge Fundraiser Fashion Show, which is happening Thursday night and is expected to raise $50,000 to go towards the program.

“The partnership between Grand River Regional Cancer Centre and Jurvanski Hospital and Cancer Centre demonstrates the innovation and collaboration taking place across our healthcare system that is connecting people to the care they need, close to home,” Sylvia Jones, deputy premier and minister of health, said in a press release. “This innovation builds on the bold actions our government is taking to ensure Ontarians are provided with the right care, in the right place, no matter where they live.”