“Over the past 10 years, rates of gynecological cancer have increased by almost 50%,” said Premier David Eby. “When someone is diagnosed, they need the best possible care, close to home, where they have the support of friends and family. We are establishing new surgical and treatment services in Kelowna and Surrey and further expanding services in Vancouver and Victoria. The expansion of this critical provincial program includes hiring more health-care workers and nearly doubling the number of surgeons providing gynecologic cancer care in B.C.”
The expansion of services and care teams throughout B.C. will significantly improve access to specialized surgical and related cancer treatment for women and people assigned female at birth. Gynecologic cancers include cervical, ovarian, vaginal, endometrial, uterine cervix, vulvar, gynecological sarcoma, Fallopian tube and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.
“Expanding gynecological oncology services, increasing the number of surgical and treatment centres from two to four and hiring additional gynecological oncologists is a significant step forward for female cancer care in British Columbia,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to providing timely and specialized care for women facing gynecologic cancers and is a crucial part of our broader strategy to support cancer patients and their families across the province.”
The new programs will be established in Kelowna and Surrey to address the growing demand for gynecological cancer surgical care throughout B.C. These are in addition to two existing programs in Vancouver and Victoria, which previously delivered gynecological cancer care to people from throughout the province.
“I am very pleased to see gynecologic oncology services expanded in health authorities throughout the province,” said Dr. Sarah Finlayson, division head of gynecologic oncology, Vancouver Coastal Health. “With this much-needed expansion, patients will receive quality care closer to home and we will see improved wait times for cancer surgery.”
Seven new gynecological oncologists will work with cancer-care teams that include as many as 76 full-time equivalents (FTE) of family physician oncologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, clinical pharmacists, unit clerks and other clinical and administrative support staff.
“As a woman from a rural community myself, I know how important it is for patients to have care close to home and to be supported by their loved ones, to have timely access to care and to reduce their financial burden,” said Dr. Joni Kooy, a gynecologic oncologist who is joining the new program in Interior Health. “I and my two surgical colleagues are joining an exceptional team at the cancer centre in Kelowna, and I look forward to getting started.”
The program in Kelowna is expected to start in September 2024, with services provided by three new gynecological oncologists as well as a team of as many as 27 FTEs of new clinical and administrative support staff to provide enhanced pre- and post-surgical support.
The second new program will be located in Surrey and will be staffed by three gynecological oncologists as well as an enhanced pre- and post-surgery support team.
In addition to the two new programs, gynecological oncology services in Victoria will be expanded through the addition of a third gynecological oncologist, as many as 22 FTEs of new clinical and administrative support staff, and increased operating room hours.
The Vancouver program will increase to seven gynecological oncologist FTEs and 20 FTEs of new clinical and administrative support staff. Since January, additional operating-room hours have been added at Vancouver General Hospital to support increased access.
This work is supported through the Province’s recent investments to improve cancer care. As part of Budget 2024, government invested $270 million over the next three years to support B.C.’s 10-year B.C. Cancer Action Plan, which outlines actionable steps to better prevent, detect and treat cancers, delivering improved care for people facing cancer now, while preparing for growing needs.
In January 2024, the Province announced a provincewide cervix self-screening program, Canada’s first at-home screening option. Along with the cancer-preventing HPV vaccine, B.C. could eliminate cervical cancer in a decade. From January to May, more than 50,000 kits were sent to people throughout the province.
Staff recruitment to support the expansion of cancer care in B.C. is part of B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy, which advances 70 actions to retain, recruit and train health-care workers in B.C., while supporting innovative health-system redesign and optimization.
- A gynecological oncologist is a physician who specializes in treating women or people assigned female at birth with reproductive-tract cancers.
- It takes 11 to 12 years of training to become specialized in gynecological oncology.
- In 2023, 2,026 people in B.C. were diagnosed with gynecological cancer, representing an increase of 46% from 2013.
To learn more about B.C.’s 10-Year Cancer Action Plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024HLTH0090-001025
To learn more about B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HLTH0150-001930
A backgrounder follows.
Tania Sallinen, person with cancer who completed ovarian-cancer treatment –
“From our first meeting with Dr. Chan, she made us feel comfortable and confident we were in good hands. After chemotherapy and abdominal surgery, Dr. Chan gave us the news – I’m in remission. We are forever grateful to her, BC Cancer and the surgical team at Vancouver General Hospital for the amazing care. I want other women facing this challenge to know they are not alone.”
Kelli Paddon, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity –
“A diagnosis of gynecological cancer is faced by too many people each year. With these new and expanded programs and dedicated staff, those with gynecological cancer will experience specialized, life-saving care close to their home and loved ones.”
Dr. Penny Ballem, board chair, Vancouver Coastal Health –
“Vancouver Coastal Health is very pleased to support the expansion of gynecologic cancer-surgery and other related cancer-treatment services for women across the province. The addition of staff and more operating-room time will help directly benefit oncology patients at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and other locations throughout the region. We are incredibly grateful to the Ministry of Health, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation and our health-care partners for their ongoing investment in cancer care.”
Angela Chapman, president and CEO, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation –
“As founding partners in the creation of the Ovarian Cancer Research Program in 2000, we are grateful to our donors whose contributions of more than $20 million have allowed made-in-British Columbia discoveries to influence global standards of care. VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation are deeply encouraged to see resources and support continue to grow for people in British Columbia who are facing a gynecological cancer diagnosis.”
Dr. David Byres, president and CEO, Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) –
“The expanding gynecological oncology programs are tangible results made possible through the 10-year Cancer Action Plan, which is laying the foundation for improved access to care and more health-care professionals to deliver that care. Together with the Ministry, BC Cancer, PHSA and our regional health-authority partners, we are committed to improving the care experience for patients with gynecological cancers by ensuring services are available where and when they need them.”
Sarah Roth, president and CEO, BC Cancer Foundation –
“The BC Cancer Foundation and our generous donors look forward to supporting these vital teams as they expand BC Cancer’s provincial network of world-class researchers and clinicians, developing more effective treatments and increasing access to state-of-the-art care for women throughout B.C.”
Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health –
"The introduction of a new gynecological oncology program in Kelowna reflects Interior Health’s commitment to improving community health by providing residents throughout the region with enhanced access to specialized cancer care. This new service will support individuals and families through their cancer journey, reducing the burden of travel for diagnosis and care during an already difficult time.”
Laurie Leith, vice-president Regional Hospitals and Health Services, Fraser Health –
“A cancer diagnosis is a frightening and life-changing event, making access to timely, specialized care essential to ensuring patients receive the support and treatment they need to recover. With the Fraser Health region growing, this investment in gynecological oncology care will improve access to care closer to home and will strengthen our health system to meet both current and future demands.”
Kathy MacNeil, president and CEO, Island Health –
“We know that accessing care as quickly as possible is critical in improving outcomes for people following a cancer diagnosis. The addition of a third gynecological oncologist, more clinical and administrative support staff and increased operating-room hours will mean more people in the Island Health region can get the life-saving cancer care they need more quickly.”
