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Bâ€"K Motors Authorized BMW Retuides â€" 577 King St. N. Wat. ‘Tolaphone (519) 885â€"5090 Eâ€"mail info@b kmotors.com Recruitment of cancer specialists going better than expected ecruiting for the new Rgzgional Cancer Care ntre at Grand River Hospital is going better than expected, says the head of the new treatment centre, addressing concerns that the medical specialists needed for the service wouldn‘t be in place in time for its grand opening in 2002. Dr. Brian Dingle, CEO of the new centre, said the search is narrowing for the head of medical oncalogy at the new centre, with Grand River Hospital expecting to make an announcement on filling the position over the magine waking up every morning to a pounding headache, chronic diarâ€" thea, persistent nausea, debilitating muscle aches and agonizing stomach And that‘s on a good day. This powerful descripâ€" tion sums up the side effects of drugs used to combat HIV and AIDS in an infected person. It‘s a toxic and expensive shock to the system, but the alternative can be even worse, and eventually deadly. Despite the common belief that, after years of testing, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are now curable, experts say nothing could be farther from the truth. "HIV/AIDS â€" are â€" still chronic progressing disâ€" eases that are eventually fatal," said Rob Alexander, executive _ director _ of ACCKWA, The AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and AIDS Walk aims to raise funds and awareness "There is no cure, and it By Bos VRBANAC _ Chronicle Staff By Anprea Baey ACCKWA executive director faces the realities of the disease daily Chronicle Staff next week. The head of medâ€" ical oncology will be responâ€" sible for coordinating the systemic treatment program at the centre, including chemotherapy. In the meantime, the centre has already attracted six medical oncologists, who are now working in the hosâ€" pital‘s interim cancer care facility. "Those _ six _ medical ancologists are already in town and working, which when compared to 1997 when we only had one, it‘s a tremendous improvement," said Dingle. In addition to the six new medical oncologists, the cancer care centre has also is still very much a threat." As an AIDS sufferer, Alexander is forced to face that reality every day. He has been dealing with the effects of the disâ€" ease since first being diagâ€" nosed with HIV in January 1991. "I was living in Ottawa at the time, married, and had a fourâ€"monthâ€"old son," Alexander explained. "I had no symptoms, but thought I could possibly be diabetic." It wasn‘t until Alexander filled out a life insurance application, which required a blood test, that the truth came out. "I was aware of the disâ€" ease, but I think anyone who is diagnosed goes through a state of denial," he said. ~But after the initial shock wore off, Alexander knew what he had to do. "I knew 1 had to give up my job as a hotel manager," he said. "Jobs in the hospiâ€" tality industry can involve anywhere from 14â€", 16â€", to 18â€"hour work days, and I knew that as a person with HIV, 1 couldn‘t function with those hours. "I accessed the AIDS committee of Ottawa, and two months later 1 found myself speaking publicly about (my experience) to a group of firstâ€" and secondâ€" year university students. And I haven‘t stopped." Alexander then acceptâ€" ed a position with the Hamilton AIDS Network as an educator, a job which allowed him to bring awareness of the disease to schools, churches, busiâ€" nesses and a number of other organizations. He then moved on to a role with the Ontario AIDS Network, touring the province and continuing to make educational presenâ€" tations. added to the program two radiation oncologists, who are already working on conâ€" sultations for patients who still have to travel to other "I actually figured it out the other day," Alexander said. "I‘ve made over 500 presentations to more than 250,000 people." Dealing with the disease every hour of every day, through his work and his health issues, eventually took its toll, and Alexander knew he had to make a few changes. "Working in the AIDS movement made it a part of my life 24 hours a day," he said. "While most people get to leave their job at say 5 p.m., I was still facing mine when 1 got home through Dr. Brian Dingle regional cancer centre CEO PAGE 3 (519) 88 House of Cedar SuperStore Many spas priced to sell immediately Demonstrators, floor models, blems 2000 models, 1 of a kind, etc. Come early for best selection 21 exciting spas on display 85.1711 my own situation." â€"It was then that he took a job with the Canadian Stage Toby Poirier, left, and Rob Alexander of the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Area (ACCKWA) are preparing for the organization‘s annual AIDS Walk this Sunday at Victoria Park. AnorEa earey rOTO centres in London and Hamilton until the local radiation bays are up and running between 2002 and 2005. The first radiation oncolâ€" ogist to join the program was Dr. Shaun Costello, who made the move from New Zealand to join the local cancer care team. "He is very happy with the move, and very happy with the job, and has surged ahead with the planning for recruitment and computer applications for the radiaâ€" tion treatment program," said Dingle. "That‘s what we really needed him on site for, and that‘s going forward very well." 10 Rea Company â€" in â€" Toronto, which enabled him to purâ€" sue his love for theatre, as The other new radiation oncologist is Dr. Senti Senthelal, who made the move from his practice in the Maritimes. "It‘s a great start," said Dingle. "We need four more radiation oncologists by the time we open, but we hope to have a third by perhaps March or April of next year at the very least. "Then we‘ll have another three more by next fall. We‘re getting there." _ _ Dingle said he knows that there‘s still a lot of obstacles for patients and for staff to work through until the new centre officially opens its doors in 2002, but he says the cancer care centre is takâ€" Tolephone [519) 385â€"5090 Looking For a New B idick hare) C §â€"£ Motors Authorized BMW Retailer â€" 527 King 51. N. Wet. well as develop a number of creative workshops on the whole AIDS spectrum, from diagnosis to death and grieving." Working in theatre also introduced Alexander to his new life partner, Michael, who is also HIVâ€"positive. "My marriage ended a number of years ago, and 1 went through about a fiveâ€" year period with no contact with my family," Alexander explained. "They took a lot of things very negatively, from my diagnosis to my coming out that I‘m (gay)." But now, at the age of 37, Alexander said things couldn‘t be better in his life since accepting his position with ACCKWA last April. "It was a big decision for us to move here," he said. "But Michael, who was working with the AIDS Movement of Toronto, has opted to go back to school. 1 think that‘s for the best because with two of us in one house involved in the AIDS movement, I think we would have killed each other." While many people think of an HIV/AIDS diagâ€" nosis as a death sentence, ing the necessary steps. "We still have long waitâ€" ing times for patients, which I‘m concerned about," said Dingle. "There‘s also still a bit of organized chaos in the outpatient clinic because of space issues, but that will be fixed when the new centre is up. "There‘s still a hardship for patients and staff alike, but I think we‘re making really great progress." That‘s quite a different situation than what Dingle faced in 1997 when he was the only medical oncologist in Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo. "It‘s nice to have other people to talk to who speak your lanâ€" guage," said Dingle. Continued on page 6 Tâ€"mail info@h kkmoters.com