Nova Scotia 2024 Election Campaign

Hi Jackie

Thanks for sending this along.

As someone who has recently had my own cancer story, I can relate to the importance of this. That being said, there are some items here that I am not the right person to provide a response, and so I have forwarded it along to the central campaign.

Thanks for being interested in helping the lives of all cancer patients.

Paul

If elected I will respond to this email.

Thank you

Question 1: Speaking as the mother of a daughter with breast cancer, and as a woman who has been on the waiting list for a primary doctor, this would be a huge priority for me.
Should I have the honour to serve as an MLA, even if my party doesn’t win, I would be very diligent in holding the government accountable for any delay in addressing the issue.

Question 2
I just had a breast biopsy yesterday - my second one in two months. It took months to get in for even a second mammogram, and far too long to get the biopsies done.
I feel very strongly that this should be a primary concern.
2a:
Again, as a woman who fits into this category, I feel very strongly that anything that can hasten early diagnosis, should be considered essential.

2b:
As I mentioned before, I fit into the category and age groups for the sort of testing and so it would be a very important issue for me to help address.

3:
Again as a woman who fits into this category, I know how difficult it is to even realize that there is a lump. And the feeling of anxiety that accompanies the lengthy wait for results, is a prt of my own daily life. I would work very hard to assure results and outcomes in a timely manner.

4: Any form of cancer is a heartbreak and I have several friends who have had to deal with colorectal cancer at younger ages. Again, access to testing and timely results would be crucial to early diagnosis and less life threatening outcomes. I would be making all forms of healthcare in this province a priority. Our system both here and all across Canada is in crisis. We need to do whatever is needed to fix it.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to speak to the issue of prompt and functional healthcare in Nova Scotia.

Yours sincerely,
Clare Brett

I can speak only for myself.

The old saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Prevention and early intervention is key to success in all disease processes.
Please forgive me if you find my reply a little blunt.
#sustenancehomeandnurture
failure to address the least supported pillar of well-being means efforts in the other areas are going to have poor efficiency.

The percapita spending (public and private) on sick care in NS is huge, unsustainable, the spending on food and ensuring access to the basic essentials and an environment conducive to wellbeing is by comparison small.
Metabolic health needs to be addressed, Nova Scotians need to have access to a diet low in carbohydrates and with adequate amount of complete protein and healthy animal sources fat. Access to a doctor when needed is much better than the supply of healthy local food for Nova Scotians.

Answers.
1. Perhaps we should have navigators for all cancer patients, yes aim for a health care provider for all but even if they have a family doctor a navigator for many is still needed.
2. I would encourage lung cancer sceening surveying in both radon and non radon areas. Depending on results a decision would be made on expansion. Perhaps TB screening will be included..Worthy Phd projects for a team of academics.
3. Better still we should scrap the mammagram program in it's present form.It is likely that serial Is Thermography is a grat alternative and should be combined with biomarker testing.
4.Efficiency of scale. I believe these tests, with time will become more accessible because of what is being gone else where. But why not a Canadian NRC study to help? Without the need for industry funding matching?
5.Prevention is better than the need for cure. The Current program in NS needs a major over haul. Kits should be readily available, like water test kits for those who are concerned when they wish to be tested. The literature that eroneously demonized red meat in the current kits needs to be eliminated.

Are you familiar with the work of Gary Fettke, Jason Fung and Eric Westman?

Well regards and kind wishes,

Jillian Foster DVM
#thinkfoodtoo

Dear Jackie,

Thank you for your email and for raising these critical issues facing cancer care in Nova Scotia. As a woman living in rural Nova Scotia without a family doctor since mine retired five years ago, I deeply understand the challenges of accessing timely and consistent healthcare. The healthcare crisis is personal for many of us, and as a Green Party candidate, I am committed to advocating for equitable, innovative, and practical solutions to address these issues.

1. Ensuring Access to Family Doctors or Nurse Practitioners for Cancer Patients
   If elected, I will advocate for every cancer patient in Nova Scotia to have access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner to ensure continuity of care, especially post-treatment. I also recognize that traditional approaches alone will not solve the doctor shortage, particularly in rural areas. I am open to exploring outside-the-box solutions such as expanding team-based care models, utilizing nurse practitioners and physician assistants more effectively, and investing in telemedicine through publicly funded systems. Long-term, we must expand training programs, support internationally trained professionals, and offer strong incentives for healthcare workers to serve in underserved areas.

2a. Expanding the Lung Screening Program
Yes, I fully support expanding the Lung Screening Program across the province. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Nova Scotia, and equitable access to early detection services is essential to saving lives.

2b. Including High-Radon Households in the Lung Screening Program
Yes, I would advocate for including individuals in high-radon areas in the Lung Screening Program. Addressing environmental factors like radon exposure is a crucial preventative measure that can reduce lung cancer rates.

3. Supplemental Breast Screening for Women with Dense Breasts
   If elected, I would work to ensure women with Category C and D breast density have access to supplemental screening options like ultrasound or MRI. As a rural Nova Scotian, I know how important it is to bring equitable access to specialized services, particularly in areas with limited resources. Early detection improves outcomes and reduces long-term costs to the healthcare system.
4. Reducing Turnaround Time for Biomarker Testing Results
   Timely biomarker testing is critical for personalized cancer care. I would support investing in diagnostic infrastructure, increasing staffing in pathology labs, and partnering with research institutions to reduce wait times. Additionally, improving patient education about biomarker testing and its benefits is essential to empowering patients in their care.
5. Expanding Colorectal Cancer Screening Eligibility
   I support expanding screening eligibility for colorectal cancer to include individuals starting at age 45, aligning with current international guidelines. Addressing rising colorectal cancer rates in younger populations is a necessary step in improving cancer care outcomes.

As a Green Party candidate, I believe in tackling Nova Scotia’s healthcare challenges with innovative, inclusive, and patient-focused solutions. The healthcare system should work for everyone, regardless of where they live or their financial situation. I commend the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network for its advocacy and leadership on these critical issues, and I look forward to working together to improve cancer care in our province.

Je suis bilingue et je serais ravie de discuter de ces enjeux importants en français ou en anglais, selon vos préférences.

Warm regards,

Sara Adams
Green Party Candidate, Annapolis

Thank you for your questions. We have answered below in bold for ease of communications.  For more information on the Liberal platform, please visit:

Policy<Policy@liberal.ns.ca>

1. If elected, will your government ensure that every cancer patient in Nova Scotia is assigned to a family doctor or nurse practitioner?

A Nova Scotia Liberal government will build and expand collaborative care clinics across the province to ensure that all Nova Scotians, including those diagnosed with cancer, are connected to primary care close to home. 

2. If elected:

2a. Will your government continue the expansion of the Lung Screening Program to include the rest of the province?

We will continue to expand the Lung Screening Program to ensure that Nova Scotians everywhere have access to this very beneficial program. Our platform centres around preventative health care measures, and this is an example of the types of things we want to focus on in our province. 

2b. Will your government include citizens with high levels of radon in their dwellings in the Lung Screening Program?

We understand that certain communities are subject to the increased risk associated with radon, which is why will include Nova Scotians with high levels of radon in their dwellings in the Lung Screening Program.

If elected, will your government ensure supplemental breast screening is available for women with Category C and D breast density, using either ultrasound or MRI?

A Nova Scotia Liberal government will expand early screening by building 3 diagnostic centres for excellence across the province, ensuring that we catch illnesses early on. We will also expand supplemental screening for Nova Scotians with high risk factors for disease, like women with dense breasts.

Cancer patients are waiting too long for vital biomarker testing results to inform their treatment plans. If elected, what steps will you and your party take to reduce turn-around time for biomarker testing results?

We will ensure that we work to reduce the wait times for testing and reporting of biomarker results through our diagnostic centres for excellence. We will work with advocacy groups and survivors to ensure information is shared with patients; and that patients across the province are receiving the same level of care. 

Colorectal cancer rates are rising rapidly in people under the age of 50, who are currently ineligible for screening in Canada. If elected, will you and your party expand the screening eligibility criteria to align with current internationally recognized recommendations and guidelines?

Early screening is a priority for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. We will work with federal bodies to advocate for colorectal cancer screening eligibility criteria to align with the current international recommendations, to ensure that younger individuals have access. 

Kind regards.

Hello and thank you for your patience.

Cancer is indeed a terrible disease and I lost both my parents to it.  I think there are few Nova Scotians who have not been touched by this terrible illness.

Please find my responses below:

1. I have made early screening, as in  "the find it early act" for women with dense breasts, one of the four cornerstones of my campaign platform.

A Nova Scotia Liberal government will expand early screening by building 3 diagnostic centres for excellence across the province, ensuring that we catch illnesses early on.  We will also expand supplemented screening for Nova Scotians with high risk factors for disease, like women with dense breasts.

2. We will ensure that we work to reduce the wait times for testing and reporting of biomarker results through our diagnostic centres for excellence.  We will work with advocacy groups and survivors to ensure information is shared with patients' and that patients across the province are receiving the same level of care.  Rural patients will be cared for just as quickly and efficiently as our urban friends.

3. Early screening is a priority for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.  We will work with federal bodies to advocate for colorectal cancer screening eligibility criteria to align with the current international recommendations, to ensure that younger individuals have access.

Finding a disease early is paramount to effective and positive treatment.  It is easier to treat a disease early on than to cure it later.

Many thanks for this opportunity,

Lorelei Murphy

NS Liberal Candidate for Argyle

Hi Jackie,

My dad passed from cancer at 59 years of age. Although a smoker, and with exposure to wood dust from his career, we also believe that the healthcare system let him down. Specifically, although his cancer had spread throughout his body, he complained of issues well in advance and, in my opinion, did not receive adequate diagnostic testing until it was too late. I also believe that his blood tests were predictive of cancer and that his doctor did not take earlier intervention.

For a very long time, I have been an advocate for more diagnostics for all. I recognize that there are economic concerns and a philosophical debate about the role and effects of for-profit healthcare, although I believe that this could potentially help in terms of diagnostics in Canada. I personally believe that the rapidly accelerating capabilities of artificial intelligence systems are going to allow for amazing progress and new efficiencies in diagnostics at lower cost.

I would be generally supportive of all of your recommendations, although I do know that many of the reasons we do not do so already come down to resources, particularly in an already struggling healthcare system. I say this with the intention of recognizing the hurdles, not dismissing the objective.

In terms of your question about access to a doctor, I would say yes. Newborns and anyone with a serious medical condition should jump the line. We might also start doing some more data analysis of doctors' client lists and start to distinguish between client lists based on severity of illness or potential for illness and ensure that these are balanced.

As you know, the resources are a core challenge. However, I'd personally be in support of prioritizing cancer patients to jump the line and to be assigned to a doctor (or temporarily a nurse practitioner). People need doctors, especially when they already have life threatening illnesses. This makes complete sense to me, and I would advocate for it within my party.

Joe