Dr. Paul M.’s Story
My name is Dr. Paul M. and I live in Kamloops, B.C.
As a family physician who works in Kamloops and our surrounding communities, I am aware of how difficult it can be for patients with cancer to access radiotherapy. In 2023, I experienced this challenge first-hand.
When my wife and I learned I needed radiotherapy following surgery for prostate cancer, we had hoped it could start as soon as possible, both to speed my recovery and to avoid traveling to Kelowna during winter.
As a physician who works around the province, a significant challenge for me was that uncertainty around the treatment schedule meant that I was unable to work and unable to provide necessary support to other communities. I was also only able to offer limited days to physicians in Kamloops as I didn’t know when radiation would start.
With the various systematic delays, the 28 days of treatment did not begin until the end of November. For the first two weeks, I was feeling well enough that I could have done some work in Kamloops had the radiation been available there. The need to travel and the fact that I only received each week’s schedule on the preceding Thursday meant I could not book any work.
While the staff at the BC Cancer Agency (BCCA) Kelowna were professional, helpful, and accommodating, this did not obviate some of the extra challenges faced by those of us having to travel for this treatment; my wife and I were lucky compared to many. We had friends provide a place for us to stay for the duration and my wife was able to take time off to be with me as I would have been unable to drive myself back and forth from our accommodation to the hospital.
We overheard several stories in the waiting room that further support the need for treatment in Kamloops, including someone from Ashcroft having to stay in Kelowna for the weekend because their partner was unable to pick them up.
The radiotherapy staff at BCCA Kelowna estimate that 60-70% of their patients travel in from outside the region; this is a significant number of patients enduring extra burden for their treatment, and one that research has shown leads to poorer outcomes. The addition of radiotherapy to Royal Inland Hospital will help reduce this burden for many.
- Dr. Paul M., Cancer Survivor and Physician in Kamloops B.C.