This article recently appeared in the Hill Times. You can read that article here.
Each week, 1,350 Canadians hear the life-altering words, ‘You have cancer.’ The need for robust, comprehensive provincial cancer action plans across Canada has never been more critical.
Cancer is a stark reality for Canadians. With statistics showing that one in two Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and one in four will die from it, the urgency for effective cancer action plans is undeniable. Each weekend, 1,350 Canadians hear the life-altering words, “You have cancer.” The need for robust, comprehensive provincial cancer action plans across Canada has never been more critical.
A cancer patient’s journey is a profoundly personal and often daunting odyssey. The cancer care environment and the healthcare system in Canada is intricately complex, involving various healthcare professionals including surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, medical oncologists, patient navigators, general practitioners, and other specialists. This complexity can be overwhelming for patients and their caregivers, emphasizing the need for enhanced continuity of care and strong provincial cancer action plans.
“A diagnosis of cancer for most individuals is terrifying. Communication, as is for most things in life, is key to navigating it unscathed. Time spent waiting for the next step seems endless. Remember, knowledge is power.” —Dianna Schreuer, cancer survivor and advocate.
As Canada’s premiers convene for a meeting this week, we urge them to share successes, challenges, and to work together to ensure that they have provincial cancer action plans in place that empower patients to take an active role in their screening and treatment journeys, providing them with the tools and information needed in order to make informed decisions about their care.
Cancer action plans
A provincial cancer action plan is a strategic framework developed by governments to guide efforts in cancer prevention, treatment, and care. A comprehensive plan must include clear roadmaps, adequate funding allocation, established and reported key performance indicators, and governance structures to ensure plans are successful. Well-defined elements as these are important and even more so is creating these plans through active engagement with patients, their families, caregivers, and community representatives.
“Effectively engaging patients and communities in the design and implementation of healthcare innovations is essential to improving health outcomes. Such engagement not only enhances patient satisfaction and trust but also aligns patient and clinician needs, ultimately reducing costs and benefiting the clinician experience.” —Robert MacDonald, president & CEO, LungNSPEI.
In Canada, provincial action plans vary significantly: some provinces are crafting their first strategies, others are optimizing or updating existing ones, several have expired plans or lack any formal plan. British Columbia’s 10-year cancer care action plan was developed in consultation with stakeholders and sets a standard for what a provincial action plan should entail. British Columbia’s plan aims to expand cancer care teams and service hours, improve cancer screening programs, support cancer research, increase Indigenous patient support positions, increase funding to support expenses related to travelling for cancer care, and add more cancer centres throughout the province to bring treatment closer to home. Other leaders are emerging, such as Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia’s Oncology Transformation Project (OTP) is changing the way that cancer care is delivered by bringing oncology information systems together for the first time, in real time, allowing patients to take a more active role in their treatment journeys. Additionally, Nova Scotia’s proactive collaboration with patients is a best practice, with their insights and recommendations being applied to the province’s upcoming optimized five-year cancer action strategy.
Screening and treatment
Last fall, the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN) hosted a roundtable on cancer care in Halifax. It brought together survivors, patient advocacy organizations, and representatives from the provincial government and we heard that it is of the utmost importance that patients have a clear understanding of their position in the treatment continuum. Two in five Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and delays in diagnosing has led to patients presenting with more advanced cancers. We heard that getting the right cancer screening test at the right time is not always an easy task.
“The earlier cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome. Provinces and territories offer varying degrees of organized screening programs for cancers like breast, cervical, colorectal and lung with some jurisdictions leading the charge and others lagging behind. Premiers are at a pivotal moment where decisions made today to improve screening programs will fundamentally shape the health of people in Canada in the years to come. More needs to be done to expand equitable access, especially for communities that are underserved, and those without access to a primary care provider.” —Dr. Stuart Edmonds, executive vice-president, mission, research and advocacy, Canadian Cancer Society.
When premiers return home, we urge them to prioritize the engagement of patients and caregivers in developing and implementing comprehensive cancer action plans. By placing patients at the centre of these plans, we can ensure that the full spectrum of cancer care is addressed effectively. Remember that the best cancer outcomes result from Canadians having access to strong multi-year provincial cancer action plans.