Prince Rupert residents have questions about proposed cancer centre in Prince George

While no one in the Northwest is begrudging Prince George's recent success in finally receiving the go ahead for a Cancer centre to be based in the Northern Interior city, there are some vital questions from a Northwest point of view that have yet to be answered.

The natural migration of residents in the northwest for cancer treatment has been on a north-south pattern for years, many families have a support system built in down on the lower mainland or Victoria, a comforting situation in a time of high personal stress.

As the current scenario works out, most patients requiring treatment would fly to the southern cities where facilities exist. There is a well developed system in place for patients and their families that has served the northwest well since put in place, and many are wondering if that support system is now at risk.

The concern is that with a new centre planned for Prince George that local residents will be forced to travel east west for treatment. On transportation alone, the requirement to travel to Prince George would add a number of hours in travel time, as the only way east is by rail or road and a lengthy travel period.

For those seeking treatment from the Northwest the comfort zone has been in the south, many are worried that all of that will change now in a bid to centralize treatment programs for the North in Prince George, they are hopeful for reassuring words on the issue.

The Daily News featured the debate as its front page story in Wednesday's paper.

CANCER CENTRE PLANS LEAVE QUESTIONS UNANSWERED

By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Pages one and three

Friday's announcement from the provincial government committing to a multifaceted strategy for Northern cancer patients comes as a relief to many, but still leaves some questions unanswered.

Premier Gordon Campbell said a new cancer treatment centre attached to the Prince George Regional Hospital will help improve care and close to home access for Northern British Columbians when it becomes operable in 2012.

"I'm delighted with the announcement, because it's been recognized if we could deliver some of those services closer to home it makes it a lot easier for the patient and the families to be together," said Northwest Regional District Hospital Chair Tony Briglio.

"Anything that brings appropriate, qualified medicine within or closer to our communities is a positive thing."

A fear that patients and families on the North Coast have already expressed is whether they will have a choice between using the new Prince George cancer centre, or opting to continue travelling down South for treatment. The Canadian Cancer Society has lodging for patients and their families adjacent to the Vancouver treatment centre which has proved to be an ideal place for patients from Northern communities.

"If patients were forced to go to Prince George in order for the treatment consultation to be fully funded by B.C. Health Insurance, it would be an issue," said Peggy Davenport, a retired nurse and Prince Rupert resident. "Down South there's lodging for people who come in from out of town where people can stay for less money, have their meals provided, and if there's enough room, have their family members stay with them. It's also a wonderful opportunity for patients to speak with other people who are going through treatment, and there's help available to them there."

In the government funded Consultation for Improved Cancer Care in Northern B.C. report, of which the Prince George cancer centre was a recommendation, the idea of a similar cancer lodge to support patients and their families was included.

While it has yet to be officially announced whether a facility of that nature will be constructed, the Canadian Cancer Society is willing to explore the possibility alongside the province.

"Certainly it's been a tradition that we've had in the Society that when a stand-alone cancer centre is built and people have to travel long distances to get there, we're happy to look at the development of a lodge," said Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Cancer Society, B.C. and Yukon Division Barbara Kaminsky. "When that happens we fund the construction through donor dollars, and look to the provincial government to help with the operating costs."

Generally half of the operating cost would be covered by user fees, and the other half would come from funding by some level of the provincial government. Early stage conversations between the Cancer Society and government representatives planning the centre have happened, but Kaminsky said no decisions have been made yet.

Whether or not lodging facilities will be available alongside the new centre, it's still the hope of many that it will still be the choice of patients whether to use the Prince George centre, or travel to one of the southern treatment facilities.

"Prince George certainly is a ways away, but it also has a tremendous catchment area within that outlying region," said Briglio. "It's a matter of choice for patients. If one patients choice is they want to go to Prince George that's their choice. But other patients might want to go where we've traditionally gone to Vancouver, and we've always had that choice."