Canadian cancer patients were referred to Bellingham, but so far few have been treated
In May, British Columbia’s Ministry of Health announced it would be sending cancer patients across the border to receive radiation treatments in Bellingham.
“To ensure every effort is being made to get cancer patients the treatment they need, we are temporarily referring patients to clinics across the border. This immediate action will support patients while we expand cancer services and hire more cancer care staff throughout the province,” Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, wrote in a news release.
Two Bellingham cancer clinics — PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center and North Cascade Cancer Center — were expected to treat up to 50 additional radiation patients each week beginning May 29.
But while 87 Canadian cancer patients have been referred by their oncologist for radiation treatment in Bellingham, as of June, 13, only 38 Canadian cancer patients have actually booked travel for treatment in Bellingham. Nine of these patients have received a radiation consultation, and just two have started treatment in Bellingham, according to Dix in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
Dix explained the difficulties patients may face while trying to get to Bellingham to receive care.
“Patients are in various stages of planning their travel — this involves input from patients who may need to organize childcare, or their companion may need to organize days off work. [It] also involves booking their flights, hotel, etc. While this is occurring patient medical records are being sent to the teams in Bellingham who are reviewing them and planning the treatment,” Dix wrote.
There may be other obstacles to contend with, Dix wrote.
“As expected, not all referrals move forward to treatment, for multiple reasons. For example, some patients choose to continue care in B.C., or were not eligible to travel, or have a companion who was not eligible to travel,” Dix wrote.
Barbara Nicholson-Sambuceto, director of PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center, weighed in on how treatment is going for the Canadian patients.
“It’s going well from our perspective, but our role is relatively simple: We welcome these patients as do we those from our own community with compassion and a deep understanding of the challenges they face with their diagnoses,” Nicholson-Sambuceto wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
“Fortunately, we have adequate resources to care for both Canadian and local patients. We’ve been clear that meeting the needs of those requiring radiation therapy from our own community is a top priority, and so far we’ve had no trouble meeting that commitment,” Nicholson-Sambuceto wrote.
The treatment options for Canadian patients in the U.S. are expected to last a while.
“Out-of-country travel for BC cancer patients is an interim solution that will likely be required for two years, during which time radiation therapy treatment services in B.C. will continue to be expanded,” Dix wrote in the email.
This story was originally published June 17, 2023 at 4:00 AM.
