Cancer Care in Canada

Understanding the Canadian Healthcare System

In Canada, healthcare is mandated nationally by the federal government for all Canadian residents to have health insurance coverage for all medical services deemed “necessary” across the country as set forth and defined by the Canada Health Act.  The Act sets out the primary objective of Canadian health care policy, which is "to protect, promote and restore the physical and mental well-being of residents of Canada and to facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers." (courtesy of the Health Canada website)

Each province and northern territories, then takes on the responsibility to categorize and implement on what is decided upon as medically covered services. 

Variability in Medical Coverage across the Country

Across Canada, there can be great variability on what is defined as “medical coverage”.  In part, this is directed based on budget constraints and regulatory boards & committee’s (i.e. who is running the show). This why you can see, for example in cancer care, chemotherapy medicines and various supportive medicine/services can be covered or insured (paid for) by the provincial medical system in one province but may not be covered in another.  This also includes surgical procedures among other treatments.

For example, in BC and the Yukon, there exists a centralized body for cancer care called the BC Cancer Agency (BCCA) which provides a province-wide, population-based cancer control program and sets the standard for subsidized cancer care for the province.  Unfortunately, at times, there are medicines (which include chemotherapy) that fall outside the BCCA guidelines (or do not fall under research criteria) but yet can be found approved for use in other provinces or countries. This is why you may hear news stories about patients who are fundraising for chemotherapy medicines provided in hospitals outside of BCCA sites.

Private Insurance: what you need to know

According to the Cancer Advisory Coalition of Canada, 70% of all new cancers are diagnosed and 82% of cancer deaths occur, after age 60 when most people are no longer covered by private health insurance.  Moreover, 80% of working Canadians lose private plan coverage at retirement, which is at age 62 for the average Canadian.

There are varying degrees of insurance plan coverage. Some insurance plans, for example, can pay up to 80% for chemotherapy medicines not paid for by the provincial government saving people with cancer thousands of dollars monthly (i.e. depending on the treatments).  Moreover, some plans may provide limited coverage for integrative cancer treatments (i.e. acupuncture, exercise programs, massage therapy, naturopathic medicine, etc) that are not part of government-subsidized healthcare.

Private healthcare plans vary and so do coverage plans; thus one of Thrive Alive Foundation’s education goals is to create greater awareness on this subject.

Integrated Cancer Care & CAM

Integrative Cancer Care (ICC) or integrated medicine, also known as complementary and alternative (CAM) medicine, is an area of medicine which receives minimal or zero funding in the Canadian healthcare system.  Ironically, integrative approaches are rapidly growing across the globe and being seriously explored by numerous prominent medical centers outside of Canada.  Statistically, it estimated that more than 80% of patients living with cancer use some form of integrated care, most of which is paid for out of pocket.

There is a growing body of evidence that integrative care and CAM are helping patients manage their cancers better, enhancing quality of life, increasing survival even in advanced cases and saving lives!  Again, this is largely paid for privately and sadly many that could benefit greatly from this form of support have limited funds, access, and awareness.

For those patients who have extended or private healthcare plans, there may be some minimal level of coverage for integrated treatments.  For those that do not, this is a tremendous financial burden (oftentimes resulting in bankruptcy) and continued source of stress. Many people do not have access to this form of care at all.

As approximately 29% of deaths in Canada are related to cancer, integrative cancer care (including palliative care which recently received federal attention) should be available to all Canadians; it is our right, regardless of age and income.

Under the current model of healthcare, spending continues to increase approaching unsustainable levels.  Integrated cancer care, a valuable and cost-effective solution, needs to be explored and included in upper-level Canadian healthcare discussions.

Cancer Stats & Facts

According to the 2010 Canadian Cancer Statistics, every hour about 20 people will be diagnosed with cancer and 8 people will die from the disease.  Approximately 173, 800 new cases of cancer and 76, 200 cancer deaths was estimated for 2010 which are both up from 2009.  Unfortunately, this also includes those of younger age groups.  The 2009 Canadian Cancer Society Statistics shows that cancer incidence in adolescents and young adults (age 15-29) has risen, especially in young woman aged 20-39.

These facts are startling and should urge for immediate exploration of all levels of healthcare, whether ‘conventional’ or ‘unconventional’.

Socioeconomic Status (SES) and cancer

Research shows that a person’s level of socioeconomic status (SES) may have a dramatic impact on their health, including people with a cancer diagnosis.  A recent review published in 2009, looking at patients in BC over a period of 13 years, showed that those with low SES had much higher risks of mortality than those with higher SES.  Estimated risks for mortality jumped by 42% and 62% for each decrease in neighbourhood median income and employment rate.

This study (and others like it especially those comparing care in Canada and the US) does not factor integrative cancer care; one can only imagine the quality of life and survival benefits in these population groups, as we have seen in other integrative cancer care research.

This is the core reason why Thrive Alive Foundation exists – to give everyone an equal opportunity to experience comprehensive and quality cancer care.