Our Question:
Dear Party/Candidate,
Please respond to these important questions.
The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN) works to connect patients, survivors and other stakeholder groups with decision makers and the wider community to engage in discussion and to act on evidence-based best practices to alleviate the medical, emotional, financial and social costs of cancer and encourage research on ways to overcome barriers to optimal cancer care and follow-up for patients, caregivers and survivors in Canada.
A recent CCSN-commissioned Leger survey of 1,243 Canadians revealed that the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a crisis in essential cancer care across the country. Cancer patients, their caregivers and those awaiting confirmation of a cancer diagnosis faced and still face postponed and cancelled appointments, tests and treatment, causing heightened fear and anxiety, even as pandemic restrictions of are lifted.
Here are a few responses we received in our Leger survey from cancer patients living in New Brunswick:
“I had a throat scan cancelled, now I don’t know if I’m still in remission.”
“Crainte que le cancer soit revenu et de ne pouvoir avoir de suivi dans un délai raisonnable.”
The government of New Brunswick has a critical role to play in making sure that essential cancer care is not disrupted by COVID-19.
Cancer can’t be cancelled or postponed. The delay and cancellation of cancer care due to COVID-19 has triggered another public health crisis. Cancer care and diagnosis must continue during any public health crisis affecting Canadians to save lives.
If elected, how will your government provide the explicit inclusion of essential cancer care in a second or third wave of COVID-19 and in all crisis and pandemic planning in the future?
Your response will be circulated to cancer patients, caregivers and survivors in New Brunswick and included on our website at www.survivornet.ca. Links to your responses will also be posted on Facebook and Twitter.
Response from the candidate:
“When elected as the MLA for Gagetown-Petitcodiac and a member of the NB Green Party Caucus I would work to ensure the full spectrum of cancer detection, treatment and follow up services are supported and included in the planning for a second wave of COVID 19. I have neighbours who during this first wave experienced critical delay in early diagnosis testing, I have a brother- in-law currently undergoing chemotherapy in-hospital for acute leukaemia and another relative undergoing a stem cell transplant. The pandemic has impacted the nature of their care. The Health professionals and support resources have been exemplary however the pandemic has certainly affected their care. I am very committed to this issue and the action needed to follow it up. Thank you for your ongoing advocacy work and reaching out. Be sure and vote!”
—Marilyn Merritt-Gray Green Party Candidate Gagetown-Petitcodiac