Montreal artist with ovarian cancer says ordeal will shape her vote

When Dulcinea Langfelder moved to Montreal from New York, part of the attraction to Canada was the idea of universal health care.

Now, 40 years later, she's a Canadian citizen, a well-established performance artist with her own non-profit theatre company and most recently, a cancer patientwhose image of our health-care systemhas beenshattered.

"Seeing these cracks in the system and having to leap over them made me angry," she said.

That's why she reached out to Daybreak, wanting to have her say during the program's coverage of the Quebec election campaign.

Langfelder's ordeal has her paying close attention to what candidates in the Quebec election are saying about health care, and she says they are nottaking the issueseriously.

Late diagnosis

Langfelder first noticed atiny lump in January. She was performing and touring at the time but managed to see her doctor when she was able to take a break.

Her doctor thought it was not seriousand told her to see a gynecologist, but did not refer her to one.

When Langfelder contacted a localhospital to see a gynecologist, she was told the wait would be 12 to 18 months.

Shemanaged to get an appointment with a gynecologist at an alternative clinic.

If you're going to [vote on] one single issue it should be health care, for crying out loud.- DulcineaLangfelder

That doctor determined the situation was urgent, andsent Langfelder to another gynecologist, at ahospital. After that consultation, Langfelder was finally referredto an oncologist.

She was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer in March.

"I don't understand why we wasted those precious weeks," shesaid.

Needed surgery 'yesterday'

Langfelder says the oncologist told her she needed surgery "yesterday," but there would not be a surgeon available for at leasta few more weeks.

"I could feel[the cancer]growing inside me. Bythe time I had my surgery, I had two enormous tumours and just a month earlier it was a tiny little lump," she said.

Langfelder said she started calling the hospital every day, insisting she needed the surgery.

By the time she had surgery in May, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and could not be completely removed.

Since then, Langfelder has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments and is still unable to work.

"I can't say that the delay in getting treatment cost me my life, I'm not ready to say that now," she said.

"I'm planning to beat this but certainly it's very serious."

Health-careactivist

Langfeldersays she's been "something of an activist" in health care through one of her creations for the stage: Victoria.

It's a piece she has performed around the world for 19 yearsabout an elderly womanwho has lost her memory.

Langfelder said herhealth crisis may inspire future creations, once she's able to work.

"It's changed me...I may very well make a very funny piece about it," she said.

Atthe moment,she sees nothing funny about itand isdetermined to speak out.

She says it's troubling that some patients can face an 18-month wait to see a gynecologist, while those who can afford private servicescan access appointments faster.

Langfeldersays she wants the next government to examine the extent to which "the private sector has taken over the public."

More preventive care

Langfelder also wants candidates to start talkingabout preventive health care.

• What do the four main parties have to say about the health-care system?

With a compromised immune system after starting chemotherapy, she developed shingles, a viral infection that causes a painful rash.

Langfelder says she later learned she might have avoided that "nightmare"had she known there's a vaccine, but it costs about $300.

She says that cost should be covered, at least partly,for patients.

Langfelder also learned she has the BRCA genetic mutation.

• AngelinaJoliereveals preventive cancer surgery to remove ovaries

Had she been tested for it, she would have known she faced a higher risk of breast or ovarian cancerso, she says, our health-care system should cover that testing for all women.

Plea to Anglos

She says plans to vote for Qubec Solidairebecause she believesits priority "would be human beings and not corporations," and itwould address her concerns about the health-care system.

"PhilippeCouillardhas let us down. I don't expect theCAQto do any better."

Langfelder wishes Qubec Solidaire would let go of the idea of a referendum, but believes any referendum would fail any way.

And she's making a plea to other anglophones.

"If you're voting on one issue, and that one issue is Quebec separating, I would consider that a wasted vote," she said.

"If you're going tohave one single issue it should be health care, for crying out loud it concerns all of us, especially when you get older and you start getting sick."