Calgary cancer patients lose access to after-hours oncology support line
CBC
A Calgarian living with terminal cancer is calling on health officials in the province to restore access to an after-hours specialist phone line for cancer patients in southern Alberta.
Natalie Kwadrans has been in and out of the hospital since she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2019.
She’s used the on-call oncologist line through the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre (the facility serving all of southern Alberta) when she’s had medical concerns on evenings or weekends a number of times in the past.
But last week , after going home from her latest hospital stay, which included more than 30 hours in the ER, she discovered the option no longer exists.
Cancer patients are now being directed to Health Link for help.
"It's very worrisome because this is something that my life is depending on,” said Kwadrans.
The mother of two had been treated with angioplasty after two enlarged lymph nodes compressed the main vein carrying blood back to her heart from the lower part of her body.
Several days after being sent home she developed concerning symptoms late at night.
Kwadrans was unsure about what to do, so she tried calling the on-call oncologist line listed on an information card she was given through the cancer centre.
But she was unable to get through and was eventually told the service was shut down.
"I'm a little flabbergasted at the fact that this has been removed very quietly,” said Kwadrans, adding the on-call line has saved her several trips to the ER over the years.
In the past, the after-hours oncologists have handled prescriptions that she needed urgently outside of clinic hours, she said.
They’ve helped her determine whether her situation warrants a trip to the emergency room or not, she said, noting there are times she's been advised to remain at home because her symptoms are to be expected.
"I don't have years and years and years ahead of me. I'm going on chemo for life now. My life is much shorter,” she said.
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