Plan to send B.C. cancer patients to U.S. for treatment gets mixed reaction
A day after B.C.'s health minister announced that some patients with B prostate or breast cancer will head to the U.S. for treatment, the opposition and a patient are saying this is a Band-Aid solution for a more complex problem.
On Monday Adrian Dix said staffing shortages, a need to upgrade equipment and more diagnoses of cancer necessitated a short-term solution. Starting May 29 and for two years, up to 50 B.C. residents per week could be sent south of the border for no-cost treatment.
Leah Rowntree was recently diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. While on a holiday to the United States, a friend urged her to get scans. Rowntree said those diagnostics revealed how urgent her case is.
"If I survive this one of the reasons will be that I had the scans I needed in an appropriate amount of time," she told CTV News.
She believes timing is critical and although she still has chemotherapy and surgery, she said if the opportunity was there, she'd go back to the U.S. for treatment.
"Absolutely I would do whatever is the fastest because that would give me the best outcome. And at the same time, I'd be crying as I packed my bags to leave my family and friends and my home to go down for treatment," Rowntree, who was choked up at the thought, added.
Data from the Canadian Institute of Health Information shows radiation treatment waits are getting longer. In 2020, 90 per cent of patients got treated within 28 days, the health minister says that's now under 83 per cent. What that means is hundreds of people with a cancer diagnosis are waiting longer than a month.
BC United health critic Shirley Bond said she has raised the issue with the government several times.
"We see long waits to get your diagnosis, long waits to see your oncologist and now you may have to leave the country to get treatment. I think it's a significant indictment of the deterioration of cancer care," Bond said.
At an unrelated event, Premier David Eby disagreed. He said the health minister saw the demand for cancer care growing and so came up with a solution.
"From my perspective, from the perspective of our government – anything we can do to ensure they get urgent care, and the care that is medically recommended for them in the timeframes that are required is essential," Eby added.
Rowntree had a different reaction.
"I just think my God, it shows just how broken our healthcare system is."
In a statement, the health ministry said up to $39 million is available per year to fund the treatment, and that amount includes contingencies for unplanned costs.
This is what the ministry says will be covered for patients:
- Travel by plane, car or ferry
- Meals (per diem in alignment with PHSA’s Travel and Business Expense Policy)
- Accommodation
- Ambulance fees related to their radiation therapy care
- Laboratory and medical imaging tests during the treatment duration, exclusing genetic testing
- Prescription drugs, including supportive care medications required during the treatment duration
- Patient immobilization devices required for radiation therapy treatment
- Services provided by non-physician professionals (e.g. Registered Dietitian, Psychiatry, etc.)
A companion will be also be able to claim travel, meals and accommodation.
Anyone traveling will be responsible for securing documentation like passports and visas.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with senior Western officials
Russia plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced Monday, days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine and Moscow warned that tensions with the West are deepening.
Summer forecast: What to expect as El Nino weakens
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army on Monday ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah to start evacuating from the area, signalling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent.