BC Cancer patients could be sent to Bellingham for radiation treatments

The wait time for radiation treatments in B.C. is too long, Health Minister Adrian Dix said Monday.

Starting May 29, Dix said BC Cancer will be offering eligible patients the chance to receive radiation treatments in Bellingham, Wash.

Up to 50 patients per week could benefit from this program, he added, which will take place either at the North Cascade Cancer Center or at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center. Over the next two years, that could add up to 10,000 patients, he said.

1:24 B.C. partners with clinics in Bellingham, WA to treat eligible cancer patients

The lack of radiation technologists and therapists in B.C. has exacerbated wait times, along with delays due to equipment upgrades, the minister said.

“But for British Columbians dealing with a cancer diagnosis, right now, in May of 2023, that’s not fast enough,” Dix said. “For them, for those they love. It’s not acceptable.”

1:53 Ethos adaptive radiation therapy unit one of a kind in Canada

“This commitment to supporting radiation treatment will initially focus on a specific group of patients – breast cancer and prostate cancer patients – are the largest patient populations receiving radiation therapy,” Dix added.

Additional groups of patients may be added to the program as it progresses, he explained.

The province will help coordinate appointments, travel plans and follow up with the patients once they return to B.C. The province will also cover all food, travel and accommodation costs.

Anyone taking advantage of this program will need valid passports and any travel documents.

“This effort to secure patients the care they need beyond the border of their health region and even beyond B.C. is not new,” Dix said. “It’s what we do and have always done. Connect patients with the care they need.”

5:10 Health Matters: U.S. updates breast cancer screening guidelines

Dr. Kim Nguyen Chi, head of BC Cancer, said patients who will be part of this program will receive a radiation prescription that makes it most feasible for them to travel for their appointments if they are amenable to the idea.

“Importantly, this initiative won’t just benefit patients who can travel, “Chi said. “It will also ensure increased capacity, and therefore, timely access for people across the province waiting for their radiation treatment.”

The B.C. government has said it is adding more cancer centres across the province, upgrading existing hospital space through renovation and expansion, including the addition of net new diagnostic imaging equipment, and hiring new physicians and clinical support staff through B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy.