PENTICTON — Every few hours, Garry Ackerman must change the bandage on his forehead that stops a cancerous lesion from bleeding out.
“It is like a fountain coming out,” described Ackerman.
Ackerman was diagnosed with skin cancer in February while he was in California. He said an American doctor removed the tumour within five minutes but was warned that he may require further treatment.
Once he returned back to his Penticton home, the cancer started to grow again. He’s been waiting to see a surgeon ever since.
“The specialist said, ‘yes, this thing needs to be removed ASAP but we have to schedule the operating time in the hospital,’ and he said ‘I have no clue when that’s going to happen,'” said Ackerman.
He has June 8 as his possible operating date. But so far, he doesn’t have any confirmation when he will have the surgery.
“This creates a lot of anxiety and stress for a person with heart problems,” said Ackerman.
Dr. Andy Hamilton, an Interior Health medical director for surgery, said lengthy wait times is a province-wide issue but improvements are being made.
Last year, the B.C. government provided $10 million to health authorities to cut wait lists.
“It is always distressing when patients feel like they have to wait too long,” said Dr. Hamilton. “We’ve set up a system where every patient who’s booked for surgery is now prioritize by the surgeons, according to their diagnosis and procedure that they require.”
The province has a website with information on wait times. To learn more click here.
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