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Huron Expositor, 2006-11-29, Page 11News The Huron Expositor • November 29, 2006 Page 11 Wait times for cancer patients need improvement Jennifer Hubbard Cancer care is improving in south- western Ontario, but there's still quite a bit of work to do, according to Harry Milne of the Southwest Regional Cancer Services Alliance (RCSA). Milne, regional operations manag- er for the RCSA, shared the group's 2005 community consultation "report card" with about a dozen interested area residents earlier this fall. In 2004, Cancer Care Ontario — the provincial government's advisor on cancer issues — was reorganized and the responsibility for the deliv- ery of cancer services through the network of regional cancer centres in Ontario was transferred to the host hospitals. To support this new mandate, the Ontario Cancer Plan was developed. One of six priorities named in the plan was the creation of regional partnerships — Regional Cancer Programs — which are now forming in each of the province's 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs). The partnership in the Southwest LHIN has been dubbed the Southwest RCSA. "The good news is the results show a 60 per cent survival rate for cancer," Milne commented, adding survival rates are higher for breast and prostate cancers, but lower for esophagus and stomach.cancers. Looking to radiation treatment statistics, Milne said there is room for improvement locally. "Starting in 2002 we were gener- ally going in the right direction, but we hit a little bump in 2004-05 at seven weeks," Milne said. "We've got a ways to go to get to the provincial average of about four weeks." As for chemotherapy and systemic treatment, an oncologist shortage, has the wait times for 2004-05 sit- ting around six weeks., However, Milne was hopeful those Municipality of Huron East FINAL TAXES Property owners are reminded that the due date for the final installment of property taxes is November 30'h, 2006 B. Knight Treasurer- Finance Manager wait times would decrease now that treatments are being offered at Stratford, Wingham and Owen Sound hospitals. As a new reported indicator of care, there is still plenty of work to do in the area of cancer surgery wait times, Milne explained. From August 2005 to January 2006, 50 per cent of cancer surgery patients were seen in under four weeks. An additional 40 per cent waited up to 12 weeks, while 10 per cent still hadn't been seen. Donna McTavish, a breast cancer survivor and local Canadian Cancer Society board president, was sur- prised by the wait time statistics. "I'm a little surprised that the graphs were not a little lower, that we weren't getting patients through quicker," she said. Milne also reported that the num- ber of in-hospital deaths are increasing in virtually every region and more people are accessing clini- cal trials. Further results reinforced the link between cancer and obesity and smoking. More than 35 organizations have joined the local RCSA, including area health units, community care access centres, hospitals, the Canadian Cancer Society and the London Regional Cancer Program. The Southwest RCSA covers the referral catchment area of the London cancer program- Oxford, Elgin, Middlesex, Huron, Perth, Grey, Bruce, Lambton and Chatham -Kent — which has a popu- lation of 1.2 million. "We have 34 different sites, but our single. vision is to ensure that patients — regardless of where they live — have timely access to the care they need," said Lynn Strugnell, vice president of clinical programs for the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance. Chemotherapy is currently offered at hospitals in Stratford and Wingham, but patients must travel :Are you a landowi�t e tegioi i.o, , on llt .ox West 'erth?, There are grants available from the Canada -Ontario Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) for stewardship projects. By attending a workshop and having your work hook peer reviewed and deemed appropriate, you are eligible for 36 different categories of funding. Register now for this FREE EFP workshop! December 12'h 10 am - 3 pm December 19'h 10 am - 3 pm Daynard Hall, Hihbert United Church, Staffs Please call Mary McIntosh for more information or to register at 519.393.6232. Registration deadline is December 5, 2006. Lunch will be provided. Landowners outside of the Sinkhole Region may register if space available. to London for radiation treatment. Milne said some local patients also choose to receive treatment at the Grand River cancer centre in Kitchener, which is not within the Southwest RCSA boundaries. Concerns about patients going south of the border for treatment, Ontario's doctor shortage, drug cov- erage and education regarding available services, dominated much of the discussion. We're Opening Our Doors to Malce it Easier for You to Get Outiloors. When you've got the hottest products in outdoor recreation, you want to show them off.That's why we're having an open house, to shine the spotlight on Ski -Doo® snowmobiles, and Can -Am M ATVs. Come on in to see what the excitement is. all about. M Saturday, December 2nd, U 9:00 amto4:00pm No GST or PST on clothing and accessories. Free snacks and refreshments. 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