An Edmonton lady says she’s dropping hope as her husband has been left ready for months to see an oncologist after being identified with Stage 4 most cancers this spring.
Cici Nguyen mentioned her household’s life “blew aside” when her beforehand wholesome 41-year-old husband Steven Wong was identified with inoperable gastric most cancers in Might.
Whereas his medical doctors advised him he wanted to begin chemotherapy instantly, Wong was nonetheless ready on Thursday to see an oncologist to begin therapy.
“I believed that the scary feeling would get higher as we undergo the system, and it is gotten worse as a result of we have been left at the hours of darkness,” Nguyen mentioned. “Now we all know there is a actually large drawback, however no one’s telling us tips on how to repair it.”
Wong’s wait is properly outdoors the provincial benchmark of 4 weeks to see an oncologist, however his story will not be distinctive, the president of the Alberta Medical Affiliation mentioned Thursday.
“Sadly, that is changing into widespread,” mentioned Dr. Paul Parks. “In some areas, it may be so long as 12 to 16 weeks.”
In accordance with the AMA, the variety of most cancers diagnoses have elevated by greater than 40 per cent prior to now 10 years. In that very same time, the AMA mentioned simply 20 oncologists have been employed.
Alberta Well being Companies mentioned it employed 17 new most cancers care medical doctors this yr, however Parks mentioned 10 of these will exchange medical doctors who’ve retired or left the province.
With too few medical doctors to deal with most cancers sufferers within the province, Parks mentioned oncologists have needed to make arduous decisions.
“They’re attempting to really prioritize sufferers with extra treatable or curable cancers,” Parks mentioned. “We’re even listening to of circumstances the place individuals are having very severe outcomes or passing away earlier than they see our specialists.”
Throughout his wait, Wong has spent 48 days in hospital with issues from his most cancers, together with gastric bleeding, a abdomen rupture and a collapsed lung.
Every time a complication arises, Nguyen mentioned her husband turns into much less of a precedence in a triage system the place the sickest aren’t seen first.
“Do they know that he is a father of three younger youngsters? Do they know that he is 41, who does not smoke, does not drink, has an energetic way of life?” Nguyen mentioned. “Do they know that he needs to battle?
“Do they put that into consideration? I do not suppose so. I believe at this level they’re simply wanting on the numbers, and that is it.”
Parks mentioned extra aggressive wages are the important thing to attracting the round 50 most cancers care medical doctors wanted to handle the present demand in Alberta.
Well being Minister Adriana LaGrange mentioned she acknowledges the difficulty and she or he is dedicated to addressing them, whereas AHS mentioned it continues to actively recruit oncologists and different most cancers care workers in nursing and radiation remedy.
With information from CTV Information Edmonton’s Chelan Skulski
