Panel data provided by Madison's Canadian Lumber Reporter.

Northern Health Receiving Report on Cancer Treatment

By Elaine Macdonald

Today, Northern Health will receive a progress report  on a cancer treatment strategy for the north.

This report is expected to outline the potential for a northern cancer treatment centre that would include radiation therapy. 

In short, the report should be able to make it clear if such a project is "do-able".

Several treatment models  have been examined, including Kelowna, Saskatoon and Thunder Bay.  It is the Thuder Bay  model that  many insiders are  pointing to as being the one that could  be most easily adapted to fit  Northern B.C.'s needs.

 It is clear cancer outcomes are not  as favourable  for  patients in the north compared to  the lower mainland.   

While  the "Northern Cancer Program - Progress report" has yet to be delivered,  other pieces of the puzzle are  being put in to place.  A public consultation process  on  access to cancer care in the north   is set to start early in the new year.  That process  will examine  the range of cancer treatment options in the North, the preferences and concerns  around travel to receive treatment,  and the relationship between those issues and cancer outcomes.  


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