Sask. breast cancer patient still waiting for surgeon consultation 5 months after finding lump – CBC
Health minister says progress being made to address breast cancer diagnostic, surgical backlogs
Feb 13, 2024
A mother of two from Weyburn, Sask., has known since early December that she has breast cancer. But by the time she sees a surgeon for a consultation, it will have been two and a half months since she got the diagnosis and more than five months since she first found a lump.
Lisa Vick, 48, is one of many women in the province facing bottlenecks in the health-care system due to a shortage of radiologists and surgeons with breast specializations. Vick cannot discuss a treatment plan for her cancer until a surgeon consultation has been completed.
Vick said she has good support from her family, but long wait times and scarce communication have taken a toll on her mental health.
“I’m usually very healthy, but the mental anguish of just not knowing … I got very sick and I had several trips to the emergency room to get treated,” said Vick.
