Dr. Sean McIlreath has practiced medicine in the Quinte area for over 20 years and is part of the endoscopy department at the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation. 

Just over a year ago, he started to feel pain in his pelvis and legs and suffered major fatigue and weight loss.

He was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Prostate Cancer. While his initial standard treatment with hormones and chemotherapy alleviated some symptoms, it did not cure the cancer.

The surgeon was then approved for a new treatment, a series of radioactive injections. 

A new method of fighting serious and metastasized cancers, the treatment is not covered yet through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help with the costs of the radioactive therapy. 

Each treatment is $27,000 and is administered at a clinic in Montreal. Dr. McIlreath is expected to need six treatments delivered at six-week intervals. The fundraising goal is set at $100,000 to cover all six treatments. So far, about $32,000 has been raised. 

Dr. McIlreath is about halfway through the course of treatments.  He is continuing his work at the hospital, although with a reduced load. 

Late last month, Dr. McIlreath provided an update, noting, “I had my second treatment three weeks ago. I feel well with good energy and no bone pain. I do have numbness and occasional jolts of pain in my left foot from a metastasis pushing on my nerve root in my spine. I am working with the doctors at Kingston Orthopaedic Pain Institute. My PSA is now 9. I’m very happy this treatment is working for me.”

In an interview with Lindsey Harren of 91.3 FM CJLX (Loyalist College), Jean-Anne Hounslow, the funding page co-organizer and a Registered Nurse with Quinte Health, noted that, ironically, Dr. McIlreath has assisted thousands of colorectal and breast cancer patients through his work with Cancer Care Ontario.

Now it’s hoped the community for which he cares so deeply will return the favour.

“He’s given so much to the community through his decades of service at the hospital, we just hope people will return that generosity and help him out now,” Ms. Hounslow said.

Dr. McIlreath is husband to Jennifer, and a devoted father to Phelan, age 13, and James, aged 12. 

To support Dr. McIlreath, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-dr-sean-mcilreath-fight-cancer