Ovarian Cancer Canada celebrates the expansion of cancer care services in British Columbia

British Columbia (July 22, 2024) – Ovarian Cancer Canada celebrates the Province of British Columbia’s recent investment to improve access to ovarian cancer care, and thanks The Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, for his commitment to patients across the province. As gynecological oncology surgical services are established in Kelowna and Surrey, and expanded in Vancouver and Victoria, we will continue to listen to our community and monitor the impact made on lengthy wait times, treatment and care of ovarian cancer patients.

About the service expansion

Prior to this announcement, B.C. had only 8 gynecological oncologists to serve 5.5 million people. With this service expansion, B.C. will double the number of surgical treatment centres to 4 and increase the number of gynecological oncologists to 15.

• Kelowna – new program: With an expected start date in September 2024, 3 new gynecological oncologists and a team of 27 full-time clinical and administrative support staff will provide patients with enhanced pre- and post-surgical support. “I and my two surgical colleagues are joining an exceptional team at the cancer centre,” says Dr. Joni Kooy, one of the new gynecological oncologists in Kelowna. “I look forward to getting started.”
• Surrey – new program: 3 new gynecological oncologists and an enhanced pre- and post-surgery support team will be treating patients.
• Victoria – expanded program: The number of gynecological oncologists will increase to 3, up to 22 new full-time clinical and administrative support staff and increased operating room hours.
• Vancouver – expanded program: The number of full-time gynecological oncologists will be 7 along with 20 full-time clinical and administrative staff.

Ovarian Cancer Canada met with B.C. Ministry of Health Executives and Dr. Sarah Finlayson to get answers to our patient community’s top priorities, including:

• Lengthy wait time for referral appointments and surgeries
• The shortage of gynecological oncologists in B.C.
• Access to gynecological oncologists and treatments, a particular challenge for patients outside of the Lower Mainland.

We thank B.C. Ministry of Health Executives for listening to patients, Dr. Sarah Finlayson for everything she has done to make this expansion a reality, and ultimately our community of clinical partners and ovarian cancer patients for fiercely demanding change that will transform lives.

This much-needed expansion is a step towards ensuring that everyone born with ovaries in B.C. can access specialized surgical and related treatments for gynecologic cancers, including ovarian cancer.

What’s next for Ovarian Cancer Canada

While we celebrate this expansion of cancer care in B.C., we know that the best thing we can do to save lives today is prevent ovarian cancer diagnoses.

There is no effective early detection test for ovarian cancer, and women’s symptoms are often dismissed. This means that patients often receive a diagnosis when it is too late; the cancer is so advanced that current treatments aren’t effective long-term. The best way we can save lives today is to identify people at high risk, due to an inherited genetic mutation and prevent ovarian cancer from developing entirely.

As the only national health charity focused on ovarian cancer, we help Canadians understand their risk of the disease and demand the change needed to save women’s lives.

• We’re investing in research that will help doctors diagnose patients earlier and faster, improve treatments for cancer patients and ultimately eradicate ovarian cancer.
• We’re bringing Canadian experts in cancer care together with patients to identify gaps in our knowledge, prioritize patient needs, and pursue areas that hold the greatest potential to save lives.
• We’re advocating to government on behalf of patients for the change necessary to save lives.