Cancer Care scores high

When it comes to diagnosing and treating cancer, Regional Cancer Care scores above the provincial average. However, they are still lagging behind with prevention and screening.

“Our diagnostic programs, our treatment programs, our survivorship programs are exceptional,” said Michael Power, regional vice-president of cancer and diagnostic services. “We’re above the bar in just about every indicator area, but as we’ve been seeing for the last five years, we continue to fall behind in the area of reducing the incidence of disease.”

The per cent of patients seen within 14 days of referral to the cancer centre in the Northwest is 81.5 per cent versus the provincial average of 67.7 per cent.

The region also scored 23 per cent higher than the provincial average when it comes to the number of patients treated with radiation within target dates. Sunil Gulavita, head of radiation oncology, attributed the high numbers to the centre’s team approach. Physicians, radiation therapists, medical physicists and managers gather every Friday to review patient files.

“We meet and go through why we could not treat a patient on time and make a pro-active mission to make sure all patients are treated on time,” he said. “A team approach – it’s as simple as that.”

Northwestern Ontario ranks higher than the province when it comes to the number of smokers and screening rates for the region are lower.

“While we’re making gains, we’re still falling far behind what’s happening in the province of Ontario relative to smoking numbers, consumption of alcohol, not adhering to the guidelines of the benefits of five fruits and vegetables, actually listening to family physicians and having a colon cancer check,” Power said.

The region has the highest incidence of breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancer per capita and Power said it’s because of Northwesterners’ lifestyles.

“Year after year we’re getting better at reducing the number of smokers,” he said. “We’re getting better at reducing the number of individuals who are drinking beyond what are acceptable rates, but we still are the highest in the province, which is then driving the highest incidence of the disease.”

While 23 per cent of the region’s residents smoke, Power said if that number was brought down just five per cent to the provincial average, Regional Cancer Care would see their lung cancer numbers cut in half. The answer to bringing those numbers down is social marketing, he added, noting it’s no different than companies like Nike and General Motors promoting their products over others.

“Our challenge and our opportunity is to be able to communicate the benefits of purchasing the right approach to a healthy lifestyle,” he said, noting campaigns like Prostate Man, the Bottom Line and the Ontario Breast Screening Program are working, but they are looking for better results in the future.

While Power said their labours over the past three years have seen improved results, the cancer centre will be putting more energy, effort and investment into prevention and screening to continue making gains in those areas.