Sask. NDP says too many women have to travel out-of-province for breast cancer care

As a new cancer centre is scheduled to open in Regina this month, the Saskatchewan NDP says too many breast cancer patients are still forced to seek out-of-province care.

On Friday, NDP MLA Brittney Senger said the Saskatchewan Party government has failed to provide basic breast cancer care in the province.

She cited numbers released earlier this month from the province's standing committee on human services, which indicated that 472 Saskatchewan women have travelled to Calgary to receive breast cancer diagnostics. Meanwhile, a statement from the government Friday said about 515 patients had been sent to Calgary for diagnostics.

In late 2023, the government announced it would send some people waiting for diagnostic testing for breast cancer to the Alberta clinic, as Saskatchewan continued to deal with medical imaging backlogs.

"These aren't routine appointments. When you're referred for breast cancer diagnostics, you're facing the terrifying possibility of a cancer diagnosis," Senger said at a news conference on Friday.

"Many of these women are sick. All of them are scared. They deserve care close to home, when and where they need it."

The women all used a private clinic in Calgary run by the Clearpoint Health Network, receiving mainly mammograms and biopsies.  

During the committee meeting, Saskatchewan Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill stated that the flat rate for those procedures, billed to the Saskatchewan government, was $2,000 each.

According to Senger, the procedure would cost no more than $1,200 if performed in Saskatchewan.

"Frankly, we should never be in this position," the Opposition MLA said. "We need to make sure that we're investing in Saskatchewan health care and that Saskatchewan taxpayer dollars are staying here."

Regina Breast Health Centre opening this month

The province has previously said the new Regina Breast Health Centre, set to have an opening ceremony on April 14 and begin treating patients on April 23, will treat 1,600 patients each year.

It will function as a central resource for women who are being evaluated for, or have been diagnosed with, breast cancer, providing diagnostic imaging, consultation with specialists and surgeons, patient education and support and navigation, the province has said.

"We understand the anxiety waiting for breast cancer diagnosis can cause a patient," the Ministry of Health said in an emailed statement on Friday afternoon.

The ministry said it has spent more than $8.5 million on the new Regina facility. It said there are "approximately 13 new positions" at the centre on top of some workers being transferred over from the breast assessment centre at Pasqua Hospital.

The ministry also said it has temporarily expanded imaging capacity in Saskatoon and Moose Jaw, spent more on lab resources and technology, and hired two new breast radiologists in Regina.

The province has also previously said it would reimburse travel costs up to $1,500 for each patient and a support person going to the Calgary clinic, in addition to covering the medical costs.

As of Jan. 1, the Saskatchewan government lowered the eligibility for breast cancer screening to women as young as 47. The previous cutoff was 50.

That age minimum will be lowered again as of June 1 to 45, and will be lowered to 40 by mid-2026, according to the government.