VANCOUVER, BC -
The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is urging political party leaders to make cancer a priority this provincial election. With nearly 1 in 2 British Columbians expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, cancer won’t stop being a life-changing and life-threatening disease during a global pandemic. By adopting the recommendations outlined in CCS’s 2020 BC election platform, candidates can help eradicate cancer and improve quality of life for people living with cancer during the pandemic and beyond.
“COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of continuing our efforts to improve early detection and prevention and provide access to critical support programs. We’ve heard from people with cancer and their caregivers who are worried their needs are being forgotten,” says Dr Stuart Edmonds, Executive Vice President of Mission - Research and Advocacy at the Canadian Cancer Society. “Now more than ever, the next provincial government must show their commitment to the cancer cause.”
CCS released three specific recommendations to directly support people living with cancer and to prevent more people from ever needing to be diagnosed:
- Ensure equitable access to transportation to and from cancer care through the Travel Treatment Fund.
- Add coverage of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to the Medical Services Plan, when ordered by a physician to bring B.C. in line with 8 other provinces that already provide this.
- Implement an annual fee on the tobacco industry to recover the $25 million annual cost of the B.C. Ministry of Health provincial tobacco control strategy.
“These are issues that will make a real difference when it comes to preventing cancer and supporting those living with the disease, and we can’t lose sight of them,” says Edmonds. “Investing in transportation to appointments, expanding access to early detections and ensuring long-term investments in tobacco control will benefit British Columbians now and in the years ahead, long after the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us.”
The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is the only national charity that supports Canadians with all cancers in communities across the country. No other organization does what we do; we are the voice for Canadians who care about cancer. We fund groundbreaking research, provide a support system for all those affected by cancer and shape health policies to prevent cancer and support those living with the disease.
Help us make a difference. Call 1-888-939-3333 or visit cancer.ca today.
For more information, please contact:
Nuala McKee
Manager, Advocacy Communications
Canadian Cancer Society
Phone: 416-219-7281