B.C. expands services for women with gynecological cancer

The province announced on Friday new gynecological cancer surgery and treatment centres in Kelowna and Surrey and the expansion of existing centres in Vancouver and Victoria.

Dr. Sarah Finlayson, a gynecologic oncologist with B.C. Cancer, called it a "big win" for women in B.C.

She said almost every day she has to tell patients that "not only do they have cancer and they need surgery in two weeks, but that they can't get that surgery for two to three months and that they need to travel long distances to Vancouver to have that surgery."

Finlayson stood beside Premier David Eby and Health Minister Adrian Dix at Vancouver General Hospital Friday as they detailed the new and expanded services.

"Starting in September, a woman in Vernon will be able to have the same access to care as a woman in Whistler or Burnaby, as it should be," said Finlayson, who is based out of Vancouver General Hospital and also heads the UBC medical school's gynecologic oncology program.

The move is in response to a "dramatic increase" of nearly 50 per cent in gynecological cancers, such as ovarian and cervical cancer, in B.C. in the last 10 years, said Eby. He said more than 2,000 people were diagnosed last year, an increase largely attributed to B.C.'s aging and growing population.

The new and expanded centres mean the province will nearly double the number of gynecologic oncologists in B.C. from eight to 15.

Kristin Logan, a 44-year-old Campbell River mother who is in remission from Stage 4 ovarian cancer, said the expanded gynecological cancer services will make a difference but the measures are "not enough."

She said Saskatchewan has more gynecologic oncologistsper capita than B.C.seven for a population of 1.1 million.

"So in order for us to have the same ratio, we would have to have 30 (gynecologic oncologists)," she said.

Logan was diagnosed with ovarian cancer Sept. 18, 2023, after experiencing breathing difficulties and extreme bloating.

Her family doctor told her, "this will end your life."

She was referred for chemotherapy and after almost two weeks still had not heard anything about an initial consultation with an oncologist.

Logan was told to be patient. "Aggressive cancer isn't patient, so I can't afford to be," she said.

Logan had heard from fellow cancer patients that she could be looking at a three-to-four month wait to start chemotherapy.

She decided to travel to Washington State for treatment. Logan has medical coverage there because she is a dual citizen and U.S. military veteran.

By Oct. 20, 2023 Logan was starting chemotherapy treatment, which she says was much faster than the timeline given for chemotherapy in B.C. She had a hysterectomy on Dec. 18 of that year at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle.

However, her treatment in the U.S. meant Logan spent monthsaway from her husband of 15 years, Donovan, and 19-year-old daughter, Cipher.

"It was traumatic. It's not something I would wish on anyone."

Logan said she agrees with a plan from B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad who said on Thursday,if he becomes premier after the fall election, he would establish guaranteed wait times for medical services like surgeries and cancer treatment and increase the use of private clinics.

If the province can't meet wait-time guidelines, Rustad pledged thatBritish Columbians would be sent out of province or out of the country for faster care.

"I think that's absolutely the right thing to do because the alternative is to let people die," Logan said.

Premier Eby was asked on Friday about Rustad's promise to increase the reliance on private medical clinics and send people out of B.C. if needed. He said the B.C. Conservative planwould slash health care spending by $4 billion.

"People will pay the price with fewer services," Eby said.

Rustadsaid on Thursday thatclaim is false. He saidhe would find efficiencies in the system by slashing the number of health authority executives.

Logansaid the B.C. NDP government is already sending patients with breast and prostate cancer out of province to private clinics in Bellingham for radiation therapy. She questioned why some patients are selected to skip the queue while others are left waiting.

"Is my life not worth anything?" she asked. "Why was I left to die? Why are other people being left to die because they don't have one of these two types of cancers?"

The government has spent $16 million to send around 800 cancer patients to Washington State. Theprogram wasestablished last May and selected the two types of cancers because they're the most common invasive cancers and those patients are waiting the longest for treatment.