This summer, as President and CEO of the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation (FCSQ), I went to meet people affected by breast cancer and the organizations that work for them in order to listen to their stories and see how the FCSQ could support them, concretely.
Posted at 12:00 p.m.
It is no coincidence that I am sharing my findings today, October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And what a good time to state loud and clear my wishes following the provincial elections.
After this regional tour, the observation is clear: the lack of accessibility to care and services for women affected by breast cancer is a serious issue that must be tackled quickly and is largely responsible for the staggering cancer statistics. breast.
In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that breast cancer was now the most diagnosed cancer in the world.
In 2022, in Quebec, it is estimated that 6,900 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,350 the number of women who will die of it.
Did you know that currently, the Quebec breast cancer screening program (PQDCS) begins at age 50? This means that all women aged 49 and under who wish to be screened after having detected an anomaly must wait 3 to 17 weeks to obtain their diagnosis.
The lack of resources is the main cause of these inconceivable delays. We must be able to do better and offer an established and accessible screening trajectory for all people who suspect a symptom.
Eight hour drive
Did you know that there are still inequalities in services between regions today? I was shocked to find that a Gaspé woman who had suffered from breast cancer had to drive eight hours to have access to her radiotherapy treatments in Rimouski, the nearest center. Same scenario for women from the Côte-Nord or Chaudière-Appalaches. This is also the case for post-cancer care, such as physiotherapy services, access to nutritionists, oncologists or social workers. These are essential services to help survivors regain control of their lives, yet they are not accessible everywhere. In my opinion, traveling several kilometers in order to obtain essential care is far from being an example of accessibility.
The FCSQ develops and finances support programs throughout Quebec in order to compensate for the lack of services and accessibility.
We believe that helping organizations in the field is the solution to help Quebec women affected by breast cancer. However, we need allies.
Knowing that two-thirds of our annual budget is invested in research, we cannot be the only resource to support these provincial organizations. If our decision-makers offered them the necessary support, it would significantly improve the lives of the 6,900 Quebec women who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
Breast cancer makes no difference between a financially well-off woman, a woman who lives in the region or a 39-year-old woman. He attacks all women equally, no matter who they are. Our health care system should do the same. Care and services must be universally accessible, within a reasonable time, everywhere, at all times. Together, let’s reverse the trend, and above all, the statistics.
* The author is supported by Mitsou Gélinas and Sarah-Maude Beauchesne, spokespersons for the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation