A Port Moody, B.C. woman, Sara Gillooly, a mother of two and diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer, shared her concerns about the prolonged wait time to consult an oncologist, which she believes may have impacted her treatment. Recent data from B.C. Cancer, as reported by CBC News, indicates that although care wait times are getting better, British Columbia still falls behind other provinces in this regard.
Gillooly, aged 40, expressed reluctance in discussing the survival rates associated with her advanced breast cancer diagnosis, as she didn’t want to alarm her 11-year-old daughter and four-year-old son. Reflecting on the past eight months since discovering a lump in her breast, she questions whether a swifter response could have prevented the cancer’s spread to her bones and lungs.
Following the discovery of the lump in May, Gillooly received her breast cancer diagnosis on July 1 and underwent tumor removal surgery on July 28. However, it took an additional two months before her first consultation with an oncologist, significantly surpassing the national standard of four weeks. The delay in seeing the specialist hindered essential diagnostic tests, including the Oncotype DX test, which assesses the risk of cancer recurrence. Subsequent test results in early November revealed the cancer had metastasized to her lungs.
B.C. Cancer’s data highlights the province’s ongoing struggle to meet the four-week benchmark for patients to consult with oncologists promptly. Only 63% of new patients were able to see a medical oncologist within the recommended timeframe, with an even lower rate of 51% for patients requiring radiation therapy to see a radiation oncologist promptly.
Dr. Paris-Ann Ingledew, Chief Medical Officer at B.C. Cancer, emphasized the critical nature of timely cancer care, stating that any delay is unacceptable for cancer patients. She explained that patients’ cancer treatment paths commence before their referral to B.C. Cancer and involve regional health authorities handling initial surgeries and diagnostic procedures.
Sarah Kooner, President of the Health Sciences Association, expressed dismay over Gillooly’s experience, attributing delays in cancer care to a shortage of diagnostic imaging professionals like PET technologists. The limited number of PET technologists in the province leads to significant bottlenecks in scheduling crucial tests required for treatment initiation.
Dr. Robert Carruthers, President of the Consultant Specialists of B.C., echoed concerns over delayed cancer diagnoses due to specialist shortages. He emphasized the need for prompt access to specialists to prevent such situations from impacting patients’ lives.
B.C. Cancer reported improvements in reducing wait times for initiating cancer treatment, with over 90% of new patients now commencing radiation therapy within four weeks. Premier David Eby acknowledged the progress made in addressing healthcare backlogs by hiring more medical staff and planning to open four new cancer centers in Nanaimo, Kamloops, Surrey, and Burnaby in the near future. Despite these efforts, Eby acknowledged the continued strain on the healthcare system.