Cancer Society calls for 'urgent action' as lung cancer screening left out of P.E.I. budget
CBC
The Canadian Cancer Society says it will continue to push for a timeline and firm budgetary commitment from the P.E.I. government to implement a lung cancer screening program.
Such a program was at the top of the charity's list of submissions before the province drew up its operating budget for this fiscal year.
Based on budget debates in the legislature, however, the government appears to have no plans to roll out such a program this year.
"This is an ask that the Canadian Cancer Society has made for many budget cycles," said Heather Mulligan, the charity's manager of advocacy for Atlantic Canada.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women in P.E.I., where the incidence rate is above the national average.
Earlier detection significantly improves survival rates, Mulligan said, while also reducing demands on the health care system that come from detecting the illness at a late stage — which is usually the case currently, without a screening program.
The Canadian Cancer Society estimates 160 Islanders will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year. For more than two-thirds of them, the disease will likely be fatal.
"Cancer screening saves lives," said Mulligan. "This requires urgent action."
P.E.I. has screening programs for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer.
Last year the province released a cancer action plan, which included a commitment to implement a lung cancer screening program. But the pledge had no timeline attached.
During budget debate April 2, Health Minister Mark McLane deferred to Health P.E.I.'s chief financial officer, Kellie Hawes, as the expert to field questions on the health budget.
Hawes said planning for such an initiative "has been underway for some time and continues as we prepare a phased-in approach over the next few years."
She said "no specific start date has been determined, but that is the work that will follow."
In an earlier 2016-2019 cancer action plan, released under the previous Liberal government, the province promised to "identify what is needed to prepare for lung cancer screening of those who are of high risk."
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