In the UK they would have multi disciplinary meetings where cancer cases would be discussed.. They would usually include surgeons, medics, radiologists etc etc so yes cases would be discussed with peers.. I'm sure it must be the same here..

Maybe Gerd should be getting a lawyer and sueing the smock off the quack who sent him home to die then. That's what malpractice insurance is for.

If you are talking about purely about cancer cases-as Tirytory says, there are multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss most of these cases. If however you are talking generally about physicians, as GPs, I certainly often discuss cases with my colleagues as sometimes it is very valuable to get another opinion. I think that the patient's certainly appreciate this and working in offices with several physicians like mine is very helpful and hopefully ensures that we come up with the most accurate diagnosis and treatment for the patients.

Having had personal experience of cancer, and interactions with the Cancer Agency here in BC, both for myself, OH and 2 close relatives .............

I can say that here there are multi-disciplinary meetings, although sometimes not face to face ............ BC is so big, there are 6 main Cancer Clinics under the aegis of the BC Cancer Agency, and centres in smaller towns that are designated as able to give chemo treatment, with video much used for conferences.

For example, the Bulkley Valley Regional Hospital provides chemo treatment under direction from one of the Cancer Clinics, but the patient has to to go to Prince Rupert, Terrace, Prince George or even Vancouver for scans. During the chemo treatment, there are continuous video conferences between the Hospital doctors, the patient and experts elsewhere.

Personally, I think BC is one of the best places to have cancer, if one has to have it! That seems strange to say, but there are first rate doctors, surgeons, oncologists here, and top class research going on at BC Cancer Agency.

I have been lucky on both occasions of having breast cancer, I have not had to have chemo or radiation. But there was a possibility last time that taking tamoxifen could be of benefit. Two oncologists conferred over the matter ........ the risks of taking tamoxifen for me equalled the risk of recurrence of the cancer (5%). They finally decided that it would be fine for me not to take the drug.


I think Gerd actually fell through the cracks.

The report that I heard said that he had an appointment with an oncologist at the BC Cancer Agency, arrived for it only to find that the appointment had been cancelled. He was told that there would be another appointment made "for 3 weeks time". THAT did not happened.

The last bit of the report that I heard was that the BCCA was conducting an investigation to find out what had happened, saying that appointments are sometimes, but rarely, cancelled but they need to find out why it was and why the second appointment was not made.

Sedation is often used for this very handy side effect.. It's why they say don't sign legal documents etc after having it.[/QUOTE]
I'm through admitting and an hour or less away from a gastroscope and I'm going to ask if they'll skip the drugs so I can drive this afternoon. We'll see if the Dr goes for it.

I'm through admitting and an hour or less away from a gastroscope and I'm going to ask if they'll skip the drugs so I can drive this afternoon. We'll see if the Dr goes for it.[/QUOTE]

Crikey they should do....patient choice and all that. It won't be pleasant, but it won't be or shouldn't be long depending on why you're having it done of course (which is none of my business I might add)! Hope it goes well!

Crikey they should do....patient choice and all that. It won't be pleasant, but it won't be or shouldn't be long depending on why you're having it done of course (which is none of my business I might add)! Hope it goes well![/QUOTE]
No problems, gagged a couple of times and it is a touch less comfortable than with sedation, but the most unpleasant bit is still the freezing they spray in your throat. Removed a duodenal polyp, secured with 2 clips and took a lot of deep biopsies. Nobody had to go out of their way to pick me up and I'm cleared to drive which is what I was shooting for.

No problems, gagged a couple of times and it is a touch less comfortable than with sedation, but the most unpleasant bit is still the freezing they spray in your throat. Removed a duodenal polyp, secured with 2 clips and took a lot of deep biopsies. Nobody had to go out of their way to pick me up and I'm cleared to drive which is what I was shooting for.[/QUOTE]

Ah glad it went ok... I always thought that whilst it was unpleasant, it wasn't for long and much better to be able to get on with life afterwards..

So, I have a patient who recently had an X-Ray which suggests a very suspicious finding suggestive of a malignant tumour/cancer and the radiologist has sensibly suggested a CT scan (CAT scan) to further assess the patient. Our local hospital waiting times for urgent CT scans is 3-10 weeks. I checked with our neighbouring larger hospital and they suggested that the patient would have to wait until 2016.. I kid you not! I am told that CT technicians are somewhat thin on the ground. Not much point in making an early likely diagnosis with these crazy waiting times. Perhaps everything is not so rosy in the Canadian healthcare system as has been suggested. Things are often very different on the ground compared to observations made from some distant Ivory tower.

What's the wait like in Spokane?

Huh? That is 6 hours away and no U.S. Insurance coverage

Jeepers.... 3-10 weeks is bad enough... 2016??? Are they hoping there will be one less patient to treat?

It is a case that certainly wouldn't top any league tables! I would agree with you- a bit of a harsh way of cutting spending in BC though!

I guess we are lucky in this area, it's usually pretty quick to get a CT scan in Whistler, mine wasn't urgent but they got me in 4 days after the refferal was sent.

Granted Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton don't have huge populations, so that may have something to do with the lack of waiting.

Anything else though always seems to have a few months to a year wait.

My wife was referred to a specialist and not a huge wait, but still 5 months from referral to appointment, longer then the GP is comfortable with, but what can you do?

Sometimes CT scans in the US can be not as bad as you'd think if paying cash, but again you need the cash to access it.

I have a friend with a mouth abscess, he is always in pain, its always causing issues, the ER doctors just give more pain killers, he is on a wait list for some sort of oral surgery, but best case scenario is sometime in mid 2016 he has been told.

He is going to Seattle to have it done, time from referral to surgery booked, 1 week of course it is costing him a few thousand out of pocket.

I have no real issue with basic care, but it does concern me the stories coming out of the waits people are going through with more serious issues.

I've driven there, 6 hrs from Kelowna is making really good time. In other provinces it isn't unheard of for patients to go to neighbouring provinces or to the US for procedures or tests which aren't available at home or which aren't covered here anyway . Some things the province pays for and some they don't. For a lot of people the prospect of getting an early diagnosis might make the trip worthwhile. When my cousin became convinced the BC health system had failed him he spent a fortune getting treatment at the best oncology centres in the US, Europe and in Beijing but he was too far gone. The $2000 or whatever a 2 day trip to Spokane and a scan might cost (may as well stay 48 hrs and bring beer back) probably wouldn't cover 1 day in Johns Hopkins or the place he went in Texas. I'd take out a loan for the CT scan if I thought it might help save my life.
Edit: I'd forgotten about the Rock Creek connector (#33). My travel time was different because leaving from Oliver I naturally went straight south and entered at Oroville.