‘It’s incredibly rewarding and fulfilling’: Oncology nurse on the importance of care beyond physical treatments

While in nursing school, Devan MacCulloch didn’t know what he wanted to specialize in, but cardiology could have been a fitting choice.

When MacCulloch was approximately 10 years old, he was diagnosed with a heart condition called supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), which causes an irregular heartbeat. He spent years in and out of hospitals across Niagara and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), where he eventually had corrective heart surgery so that his heart would beat at a normal rate for his age – approximately 70 beats per minute instead of 300.

“I loved animals and wanted to be a vet, but my own experiences morphed into my passion for healthcare and helping people,” he says.

As a registered nurse (RN) at Niagara Health’s Walker Family Cancer Centre (WFCC), MacCulloch provides treatments to patients with cancer, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and other targeted therapies.

“Seeing cancer be prevalent in mine and my fiancé Hannah’s lives, and knowing that everyone knows someone affected by cancer, led me to oncology,” he says.

Being from Niagara, MacCulloch knew he wanted to stay local and give back to his community, following in his parents’ footsteps: his mom worked as an RN at Niagara Health, and his dad recently retired from his position as Niagara Regional Police Chief.

“Nurses are often the first person a patient sees,” says MacCulloch. “A big part of our job is providing emotional support and guidance. Patients and their loved ones who come to oncology are often scared and confused. Anything related to cancer can be a lot to absorb, and people tend to look online for answers, so it’s also our job to make sure they’re accurately informed about their unique case.”

Debunking myths about cancer and cancer treatment is one of the more challenging aspects of MacCulloch’s job. However, he says misinformation online isn’t the only area he’s needed to set the record straight when it comes to working in oncology.

“I’ve had people assume that it’s a really difficult area to work in,” he says. “It can be, but more than anything, it’s incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. I get to see firsthand the celebrations and success stories of people who get better. There’s patients who have been here longer than I’ve worked here – there’s so many opportunities to really get to know patients and make meaningful, lasting relationships.”

Some of those celebrations include patients banging a gong when they reach a milestone in their treatment, or simply celebrating both small and big wins with their loved ones and healthcare teams.