Provincial Report shows successful year for Regional Cancer Care in Northwestern Ontario

cc_progress Dr. Terry Sullivan, President and CEO of Cancer Care Ontario, highlighted several success stories and cancer investments for Northwestern Ontario as part of the Ontario Cancer Plan 2006/07 Progress Report.

“I’m very pleased to be in Thunder Bay today to talk about the Ontario Cancer Plan as a roadmap for the future of cancer care,” Sullivan said. “We are improving access to cancer treatments, and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is among those leading the way.”

Thunder Bay has some of the best wait times in Ontario for cancer surgery, with 100 per cent of cases completed within 84 days, the provincial target for non- urgent cancer surgery cases. In the 28-day provincial target for urgent cases, the TBRHSC continues to be a top five performer in Ontario with more than 70 per cent of cases meeting the CCO standard.

Systemic (or chemotherapy) wait times in Northwestern Ontario continue to be the shortest in the province, while waits for radiation therapy rank amongst the provincial best with an excellent January-February wait time posting of just 2.9 weeks from referral to treatment.

Michael Power, Vice President of Regional cc_progress Cancer Services and Diagnostics at TBRHSC, said the wait time progress is an excellent example of the Regional Cancer Program commitment to driving quality, accountability and innovation through the cancer system.

“It once again demonstrates that we are a world-class cancer program dedicated to providing the best possible care for residents in Northwestern Ontario,” he said. “We continue to commit to providing our patients with the quickest access to the most innovative treatments and healthcare services available.”

This year Regional Cancer Care at the TBRHSC will be a pilot site for two significant Cancer Care Ontario initiatives: the Provincial Palliative Care Integration Project’s new pain and symptom management program and the nurse-lead flexible sigmoidoscopy project, a pilot project that will test an innovative colorectal screening approach to see if it is acceptable in Ontario. The centre will also be taking part in the province’s provincial colorectal cancer screening program which will expand access to FOBT (Fecal Occult Blood Test) to average risk people over 50 years and expand colonoscopy procedures for people at increased risk because of family history or those who have a positive FOBT.

“This has been an exciting year for cancer care, particularly with the announcement of Ontario’s population-based colorectal cancer screening program, the first of its kind in Canada.” said Dr. Sullivan. “Regional Cancer Care in Northwestern Ontario will also play a leadership role in providing access to palliative care.”

TBRHSC has recruited three nurses to perform flexible sigmoidoscopies. It is one of only four sites in Ontario that will participate in this initial project.

“The nurse-led flexible sigmoidoscopy pilot will be an important complement to the overall push to increase access to colorectal screening though the provinces first colorectal screening program,” Dr. Sullivan said.

cc_progress The Northern Cancer Research Foundation announced a contribution of $175,000 for endoscopic equipment, one of its largest grant announcements this year.

“Thanks to the support of our donors, the NCRF is able to provide the financial resources needed to purchase the medical equipment essential to operating the nurse-led flexible sigmoidoscopy program. We understand and support the need for innovation and increased access and capacity for the people of Northwestern Ontario,” said NCRF President and CEO Glenn Craig.

The Minister of Health is also expected to announce new investments to further deal with wait times for cancer treatment in 2007-08.

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