Cancer-surgery wait times longest in Montreal

MONTREAL – A new province-wide registry published by the Quebec government shows cancer patients have to wait on average 36 days for surgery in Montreal. In many cases, the recommended delay is  two weeks.

“For some cancer like breast cancer, 14 days is the required delay,” said Paul Brunet of the Council for the Protection of Patients.

According to the cancer-surgery registry’s most recent numbers, 31 per cent of patients have to wait more than 57 days for surgery. That’s compared to a mere 5 per cent in the Outaouais and in Laval, not one patient had to wait that long.

“It really unfortunately puts the patient in a situation of panic,” said Barry Stein, President of the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada.

Stein was diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer back in 1996 and he opted for surgery in the United States after being told he would have to wait 12 weeks for surgery.

“We’re still back to 1996 where we can’t have people operated on in a reasonable delay,” said Stein.

Patients rights’ advocates suggest there are many explanations for the long delays in Montreal, one being that many patients are sent for treatment in the city centre from more remote regions.

“That might explain but not excuse the situation,” insisted Brunet.

A decade ago, Premier Pauline Marois made the decision as health minister to send cancer patients south of the boarder for faster treatment. And some worry that may still be the best solution.

“I’m afraid that with that kind of delay we’re going to start seeing patient dying on cancer lists again,” said Brunet.

However, Quebec Health Minister Réjean Hébert has promised to take action.

“We are going to hold the minister accountable and we’re going to be chasing after him to insure that these delays can be better,” said Stein, who has been living cancer-free since his surgery 18 years ago.

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