Canadian Breast Cancer Network Releases
2008 Breast Cancer Wait Times in Canada Report Card
Wait times still too long for Canadian women diagnosed with breast cancer
WINNIPEG, MB, June 5, 2008: New data collected by the Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) shows that not all Canadian women are receiving equal access to breast cancer treatment. The CBCN presented the 2008 Breast Cancer Wait Times in Canada Report Card findings today at the 5th World Conference on Breast Cancer in Winnipeg.
"This Report Card is a call to action for concerned organizations and individuals to work collaboratively to find solutions to breast cancer issues," said Diana Ermel, president of the CBCN. "Breast cancer wait times and accessibility to medications must remain high on the public agenda to improve access and quality of care."
While many jurisdictions are working on innovative solutions to shorten wait times, there continue to be significant gaps in the current standards of care across the country. Key issues identified by the Report Card include:
* There are no national benchmarks for wait times associated with surgery or chemotherapy
* Only half of the jurisdictions reporting achieved or bettered the national benchmark of four weeks wait time for radiation therapy
* Some jurisdictions have no wait time reporting systems with little or no data to share
* The approval process for new treatments is lengthy, currently taking up to five years from the initial application by the manufacturer until listing on a provincial or territorial formulary
* Canada lags behind other countries in the adoption of electronic health records, a technology which could expedite procedures
The Report Card provides an overview of wait times for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in Canada. It looks at guidelines, benchmarks and data provided by the provinces and territories, as well as at factors affecting wait times, best practices and strengths, gaps in information and weaknesses in performance. The report also reviews drug approval timelines and access to affordable drugs, and suggests options for an action strategy on improving timely access to treatment.
"More than 22,000 women are newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Canada each year, and scientific evidence demonstrates that early detection and treatment decreases the rate of recurrence," said Ermel. "This Report Card is critical because it is only by recognizing the gaps and disparities in wait times and access to treatment that we can develop innovative and creative solutions."
A call to action
By highlighting the key issues in this Report Card, the CBCN proposes a call to action for concerned organizations and individuals.
* Working with provincial and territorial jurisdictions to provide accessible and comparable information
* Identifying and disseminating best practices
* Supporting research and innovation to improve access and quality of care
* Encouraging health care systems to listen to and learn from the experiences of breast cancer survivors
The report's findings reflect information provided by the provinces and territories. Although more data is constantly being gathered and made available, the findings illustrate that improvements are needed.
The 2008 Report Card on Breast Cancer Wait Times in Canada was made possible by the information provided by provincial and territorial ministers of health, as well as an educational grant from the GlaxoSmithKline Foundation.
About breast cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women: one in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime, with the risk rising significantly after the age of 50. Women account for 99 per cent of breast cancer cases.
Breast cancer is not a single condition. Many types of tumors can occur which may require different treatments. The stage at which breast cancer is diagnosed influences the type of treatment chosen and the degree of urgency in starting treatment.
About CBCN
The Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) is a survivor-directed, national network of organizations and individuals concerned about breast cancer. The CBCN mandate is not only to inform Canadians on issues related to breast cancer, but also to advocate for access to diagnosis and treatment. Through its various initiatives, the CBCN aims to encourage dialogue, and inspire Canadians to take action on behalf of all those living with, affected by, or at risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. For more information on the CBCN, visit www.cbcn.ca.
About the World Conference on Breast Cancer
The World Conference on Breast Cancer (WCBC) is an international multi-disciplinary global conference on breast cancer held every three years in Canada. The conference serves women and men with breast cancer, as well as the friends, family and community networks that support them. The conference creates opportunities to examine issues in all their variety and complexity, giving equal voice to the person affected by breast cancer, the clinician, the scientist and the advocate. In this way, international knowledge is shared and enriched from a number of perspectives that broaden expertise, deepen sensitivity and respect and accelerate progress in confronting breast cancer. For more information, visit www.wcbcf.ca <http://www.wcbcf.ca/> .
Jackie Manthorne
Executive Director/Directrice générale
Canadian Breast Cancer Network
Réseau canadien du cancer du sein
300-331, rue Cooper Street
Ottawa, ON K2P 0G5
613-230-3044 ext. 222
Fax/Téléc: 613-230-4424
1-800-685-8820
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www.cbcn.ca
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