Cancer crisis looming in GTA
Report predicts 46% increase in next 10 years
Agency estimates cost will be in the `tens of millions'
The Greater Toronto region faces a 46 per cent increase in cancer cases in the next decade and will need a massive injection of health resources to cope with it, a report warns.
By 2014, the region will have 33,544 new cases of cancer a year, up from 23,023 this year, because of its growing and aging population, says the report by Cancer Care Ontario, obtained by the Star. The region also faces an 18 per cent increase in the number of people living with cancer.
"This slow glacier of cancer growth is absolutely certain," Dr. Terry Sullivan, chief operating officer of the cancer agency, said in an interview.
In the most comprehensive look yet at the state of cancer care in the region, the agency lays out a picture of a system characterized by "wide variations in activity, duplications, perceived gaps, unco-ordinated care and the lack of consistent quality and safety standards. These problems will become more severe in the face of continuing demands for cancer services." The GTA 2014 Cancer Report presents 76 recommendations in a wide-ranging plan to regionalize cancer services across the GTA, improve prevention and screening as well as diagnostic services, and increase the number of specialized doctors, nurses, technicians and therapists to cope with the growing load.
"This document gives us a plan and highlights where we need to improve," Sullivan said.
It's a plan that will cost tens of millions of dollars to implement, at a time when the provincial Liberal government is cutting back. But both the provincial and federal governments have vowed to tackle health care.
"The Premier (Dalton McGuinty) and the Prime Minister (Paul Martin) have both put a huge stake in the ground on waiting times," said Alan Hudson, CEO and president of the cancer agency. "They ran on it. This is a very significant promise they've made.
"But wait times are not a switch you're going to turn up or down," he said. "This is an extremely complicated business."
Waiting lists for cancer treatment first became a problem in the early 1990s. A decade later, there is a median five-week wait for radiation and chemotherapy across the province, with surgery waits of four to nine weeks.
Cancer is growing more rapidly than other diseases because the population is aging and growing.
The report, given to Health Minister George Smitherman this week, is the first in a series of 12 regional cancer plans that will be pulled together into an overall provincial plan to be completed in October.
Until then, the agency says it can't attach dollar figures to the needs in the system, but "we're talking about monumental costs, tens of millions over the next few years, multiple tens of millions, but not hundreds of millions," said Dr. Bob Bell, a surgical oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital and member of Cancer Care Ontario's steering committee.
"It's a question of more effectively provided care, not just about more. We can do better without more, but more is critical," he said.
Ontario spends about $2 billion a year on cancer care.
"How much more is needed is a shot in the dark,
Saturday, July 03, 2004
Cancer crisis looming in GTA,predicts 46% increase
Cancer crisis looming in GTA
Report predicts 46% increase in next 10 years
Agency estimates cost will be in the `tens of millions'
The Greater Toronto region faces a 46 per cent increase in cancer cases in the next decade and will need a massive injection of health resources to cope with it, a report warns.
By 2014, the region will have 33,544 new cases of cancer a year, up from 23,023 this year, because of its growing and aging population, says the report by Cancer Care Ontario, obtained by the Star. The region also faces an 18 per cent increase in the number of people living with cancer.
"This slow glacier of cancer growth is absolutely certain," Dr. Terry Sullivan, chief operating officer of the cancer agency, said in an interview.
In the most comprehensive look yet at the state of cancer care in the region, the agency lays out a picture of a system characterized by "wide variations in activity, duplications, perceived gaps, unco-ordinated care and the lack of consistent quality and safety standards. These problems will become more severe in the face of continuing demands for cancer services." The GTA 2014 Cancer Report presents 76 recommendations in a wide-ranging plan to regionalize cancer services across the GTA, improve prevention and screening as well as diagnostic services, and increase the number of specialized doctors, nurses, technicians and therapists to cope with the growing load.
"This document gives us a plan and highlights where we need to improve," Sullivan said.
It's a plan that will cost tens of millions of dollars to implement, at a time when the provincial Liberal government is cutting back. But both the provincial and federal governments have vowed to tackle health care.
"The Premier (Dalton McGuinty) and the Prime Minister (Paul Martin) have both put a huge stake in the ground on waiting times," said Alan Hudson, CEO and president of the cancer agency. "They ran on it. This is a very significant promise they've made.
"But wait times are not a switch you're going to turn up or down," he said. "This is an extremely complicated business."
Waiting lists for cancer treatment first became a problem in the early 1990s. A decade later, there is a median five-week wait for radiation and chemotherapy across the province, with surgery waits of four to nine weeks.
Cancer is growing more rapidly than other diseases because the population is aging and growing.
The report, given to Health Minister George Smitherman this week, is the first in a series of 12 regional cancer plans that will be pulled together into an overall provincial plan to be completed in October.
Until then, the agency says it can't attach dollar figures to the needs in the system, but "we're talking about monumental costs, tens of millions over the next few years, multiple tens of millions, but not hundreds of millions," said Dr. Bob Bell, a surgical oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital and member of Cancer Care Ontario's steering committee.
"It's a question of more effectively provided care, not just about more. We can do better without more, but more is critical," he said.
Ontario spends about $2 billion a year on cancer care.
"How much more is needed is a shot in the dark,
Report predicts 46% increase in next 10 years
Agency estimates cost will be in the `tens of millions'
The Greater Toronto region faces a 46 per cent increase in cancer cases in the next decade and will need a massive injection of health resources to cope with it, a report warns.
By 2014, the region will have 33,544 new cases of cancer a year, up from 23,023 this year, because of its growing and aging population, says the report by Cancer Care Ontario, obtained by the Star. The region also faces an 18 per cent increase in the number of people living with cancer.
"This slow glacier of cancer growth is absolutely certain," Dr. Terry Sullivan, chief operating officer of the cancer agency, said in an interview.
In the most comprehensive look yet at the state of cancer care in the region, the agency lays out a picture of a system characterized by "wide variations in activity, duplications, perceived gaps, unco-ordinated care and the lack of consistent quality and safety standards. These problems will become more severe in the face of continuing demands for cancer services." The GTA 2014 Cancer Report presents 76 recommendations in a wide-ranging plan to regionalize cancer services across the GTA, improve prevention and screening as well as diagnostic services, and increase the number of specialized doctors, nurses, technicians and therapists to cope with the growing load.
"This document gives us a plan and highlights where we need to improve," Sullivan said.
It's a plan that will cost tens of millions of dollars to implement, at a time when the provincial Liberal government is cutting back. But both the provincial and federal governments have vowed to tackle health care.
"The Premier (Dalton McGuinty) and the Prime Minister (Paul Martin) have both put a huge stake in the ground on waiting times," said Alan Hudson, CEO and president of the cancer agency. "They ran on it. This is a very significant promise they've made.
"But wait times are not a switch you're going to turn up or down," he said. "This is an extremely complicated business."
Waiting lists for cancer treatment first became a problem in the early 1990s. A decade later, there is a median five-week wait for radiation and chemotherapy across the province, with surgery waits of four to nine weeks.
Cancer is growing more rapidly than other diseases because the population is aging and growing.
The report, given to Health Minister George Smitherman this week, is the first in a series of 12 regional cancer plans that will be pulled together into an overall provincial plan to be completed in October.
Until then, the agency says it can't attach dollar figures to the needs in the system, but "we're talking about monumental costs, tens of millions over the next few years, multiple tens of millions, but not hundreds of millions," said Dr. Bob Bell, a surgical oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital and member of Cancer Care Ontario's steering committee.
"It's a question of more effectively provided care, not just about more. We can do better without more, but more is critical," he said.
Ontario spends about $2 billion a year on cancer care.
"How much more is needed is a shot in the dark,
Cancer crisis looming in GTA,predicts 46% increase
Cancer crisis looming in GTA
Report predicts 46% increase in next 10 years
Agency estimates cost will be in the `tens of millions'
The Greater Toronto region faces a 46 per cent increase in cancer cases in the next decade and will need a massive injection of health resources to cope with it, a report warns.
By 2014, the region will have 33,544 new cases of cancer a year, up from 23,023 this year, because of its growing and aging population, says the report by Cancer Care Ontario, obtained by the Star. The region also faces an 18 per cent increase in the number of people living with cancer.
"This slow glacier of cancer growth is absolutely certain," Dr. Terry Sullivan, chief operating officer of the cancer agency, said in an interview.
In the most comprehensive look yet at the state of cancer care in the region, the agency lays out a picture of a system characterized by "wide variations in activity, duplications, perceived gaps, unco-ordinated care and the lack of consistent quality and safety standards. These problems will become more severe in the face of continuing demands for cancer services." The GTA 2014 Cancer Report presents 76 recommendations in a wide-ranging plan to regionalize cancer services across the GTA, improve prevention and screening as well as diagnostic services, and increase the number of specialized doctors, nurses, technicians and therapists to cope with the growing load.
"This document gives us a plan and highlights where we need to improve," Sullivan said.
It's a plan that will cost tens of millions of dollars to implement, at a time when the provincial Liberal government is cutting back. But both the provincial and federal governments have vowed to tackle health care.
"The Premier (Dalton McGuinty) and the Prime Minister (Paul Martin) have both put a huge stake in the ground on waiting times," said Alan Hudson, CEO and president of the cancer agency. "They ran on it. This is a very significant promise they've made.
"But wait times are not a switch you're going to turn up or down," he said. "This is an extremely complicated business."
Waiting lists for cancer treatment first became a problem in the early 1990s. A decade later, there is a median five-week wait for radiation and chemotherapy across the province, with surgery waits of four to nine weeks.
Cancer is growing more rapidly than other diseases because the population is aging and growing.
The report, given to Health Minister George Smitherman this week, is the first in a series of 12 regional cancer plans that will be pulled together into an overall provincial plan to be completed in October.
Until then, the agency says it can't attach dollar figures to the needs in the system, but "we're talking about monumental costs, tens of millions over the next few years, multiple tens of millions, but not hundreds of millions," said Dr. Bob Bell, a surgical oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital and member of Cancer Care Ontario's steering committee.
"It's a question of more effectively provided care, not just about more. We can do better without more, but more is critical," he said.
Ontario spends about $2 billion a year on cancer care.
"How much more is needed is a shot in the dark,
Report predicts 46% increase in next 10 years
Agency estimates cost will be in the `tens of millions'
The Greater Toronto region faces a 46 per cent increase in cancer cases in the next decade and will need a massive injection of health resources to cope with it, a report warns.
By 2014, the region will have 33,544 new cases of cancer a year, up from 23,023 this year, because of its growing and aging population, says the report by Cancer Care Ontario, obtained by the Star. The region also faces an 18 per cent increase in the number of people living with cancer.
"This slow glacier of cancer growth is absolutely certain," Dr. Terry Sullivan, chief operating officer of the cancer agency, said in an interview.
In the most comprehensive look yet at the state of cancer care in the region, the agency lays out a picture of a system characterized by "wide variations in activity, duplications, perceived gaps, unco-ordinated care and the lack of consistent quality and safety standards. These problems will become more severe in the face of continuing demands for cancer services." The GTA 2014 Cancer Report presents 76 recommendations in a wide-ranging plan to regionalize cancer services across the GTA, improve prevention and screening as well as diagnostic services, and increase the number of specialized doctors, nurses, technicians and therapists to cope with the growing load.
"This document gives us a plan and highlights where we need to improve," Sullivan said.
It's a plan that will cost tens of millions of dollars to implement, at a time when the provincial Liberal government is cutting back. But both the provincial and federal governments have vowed to tackle health care.
"The Premier (Dalton McGuinty) and the Prime Minister (Paul Martin) have both put a huge stake in the ground on waiting times," said Alan Hudson, CEO and president of the cancer agency. "They ran on it. This is a very significant promise they've made.
"But wait times are not a switch you're going to turn up or down," he said. "This is an extremely complicated business."
Waiting lists for cancer treatment first became a problem in the early 1990s. A decade later, there is a median five-week wait for radiation and chemotherapy across the province, with surgery waits of four to nine weeks.
Cancer is growing more rapidly than other diseases because the population is aging and growing.
The report, given to Health Minister George Smitherman this week, is the first in a series of 12 regional cancer plans that will be pulled together into an overall provincial plan to be completed in October.
Until then, the agency says it can't attach dollar figures to the needs in the system, but "we're talking about monumental costs, tens of millions over the next few years, multiple tens of millions, but not hundreds of millions," said Dr. Bob Bell, a surgical oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital and member of Cancer Care Ontario's steering committee.
"It's a question of more effectively provided care, not just about more. We can do better without more, but more is critical," he said.
Ontario spends about $2 billion a year on cancer care.
"How much more is needed is a shot in the dark,
Monday, June 07, 2004
If detected early, it is 95% preventable
Hocky stars Colorectal Cancer Campaign
FORMER Maple Leaf captain Darryl Sittler considered how his wife's death might have been prevented, as participants ran and walked yesterday to raise funds and awareness for colorectal cancer.
Sittler, whose wife Wendy succumbed to the disease, has spearheaded events like the annual Body 'n' Soul Walk/Run for the "silent killer" that is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Canada.
"If she had a colonoscopy there's a good possibility that she'd still be here today," said Sittler, co-chairman of the National Colorectal Cancer Campaign.
95% PREVENTABLE
Sittler was joined by Ken Dryden, his wife and Leaf alumni Stu Gavin and Jim McKenny.
In 2003, colorectal cancer claimed about 8,300 lives. If detected early, it is 95% preventable.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/TorontoSun/News/2004/06/07/489001.html
FORMER Maple Leaf captain Darryl Sittler considered how his wife's death might have been prevented, as participants ran and walked yesterday to raise funds and awareness for colorectal cancer.
Sittler, whose wife Wendy succumbed to the disease, has spearheaded events like the annual Body 'n' Soul Walk/Run for the "silent killer" that is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Canada.
"If she had a colonoscopy there's a good possibility that she'd still be here today," said Sittler, co-chairman of the National Colorectal Cancer Campaign.
95% PREVENTABLE
Sittler was joined by Ken Dryden, his wife and Leaf alumni Stu Gavin and Jim McKenny.
In 2003, colorectal cancer claimed about 8,300 lives. If detected early, it is 95% preventable.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/TorontoSun/News/2004/06/07/489001.html
Thursday, May 06, 2004
McDonald's new CEO underwent successful colorectal cancer surgery
McDonald's said on Wednesday its new chief executive, Charlie Bell,43 underwent successful colorectal cancer surgery earlier in the day, only two weeks after his predecessor died of a heart attack at age 60.
McDonald's Corp. stock slipped Thursday, a day after the company's announcement that new chief executive Charlie Bell had undergone surgery for colorectal cancer. McDonald's, still recovering from the April 19 death of Bell's predecessor, Jim Cantalupo, had no further comment beyond its statement late Wednesday that Bell underwent successful surgery earlier in the day. It said in that announcement that his recovery is expected to be brief, but did not elaborate.
"We will make information available as appropriate," spokesman Walt Riker said Thursday. He said earlier the company would not disclose further details about Bell's condition out of respect for his privacy.
company says Bell will remain president and CEO during his recuperation.
Riker said Bell had not been diagnosed with colon cancer when he was appointed, indicating that surgery quickly followed initial detection. Medical experts say the survival rate is high when the cancer is detected early.
McDonald's was lauded for swiftly carrying out its succession plan last month, naming the 43-year-old Bell as CEO within six hours of Cantalupo's death from an apparent heart attack. But Bell has not yet identified a No. 2 on his management team, which could leave some investors uneasy in light of the latest news.
McDonald's Corp. stock slipped Thursday, a day after the company's announcement that new chief executive Charlie Bell had undergone surgery for colorectal cancer. McDonald's, still recovering from the April 19 death of Bell's predecessor, Jim Cantalupo, had no further comment beyond its statement late Wednesday that Bell underwent successful surgery earlier in the day. It said in that announcement that his recovery is expected to be brief, but did not elaborate.
"We will make information available as appropriate," spokesman Walt Riker said Thursday. He said earlier the company would not disclose further details about Bell's condition out of respect for his privacy.
company says Bell will remain president and CEO during his recuperation.
Riker said Bell had not been diagnosed with colon cancer when he was appointed, indicating that surgery quickly followed initial detection. Medical experts say the survival rate is high when the cancer is detected early.
McDonald's was lauded for swiftly carrying out its succession plan last month, naming the 43-year-old Bell as CEO within six hours of Cantalupo's death from an apparent heart attack. But Bell has not yet identified a No. 2 on his management team, which could leave some investors uneasy in light of the latest news.
Saturday, May 01, 2004
UK health service NIGHTMARE!
What is wrong with the UK health service for a horrific result like this?
I think of my big zipper scar on my belly,and how long it took to recover,it seemed to be 3-4 months before I could lie comfortably on my side.
...........................
Man's stomach 'fell out' after op
Mr Sternat had undergone a stomach operation
A man recovering from a stomach operation had to be rushed back into hospital after his innards "fell out" when his wound burst.
George Sternat, of Cairns, Australia, had just had surgical staples removed from his abdomen.
Cancer patient Mr Sternat was relaxing in his garden when he screamed out in pain, the AFP news agency reported.
His partner Cheryl Orme said he shouted: "Get the ambulance, my stomach fell out."
When his wound burst open, Mr Sternats wrapped a towel around himself to hold his stomach in while his partner called an ambulance.
A spokeswoman for the Royal College of Surgeons of England told BBC News Online: "Operations should be carried out so that does not happen."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3673031.stm
I think of my big zipper scar on my belly,and how long it took to recover,it seemed to be 3-4 months before I could lie comfortably on my side.
...........................
Man's stomach 'fell out' after op
Mr Sternat had undergone a stomach operation
A man recovering from a stomach operation had to be rushed back into hospital after his innards "fell out" when his wound burst.
George Sternat, of Cairns, Australia, had just had surgical staples removed from his abdomen.
Cancer patient Mr Sternat was relaxing in his garden when he screamed out in pain, the AFP news agency reported.
His partner Cheryl Orme said he shouted: "Get the ambulance, my stomach fell out."
When his wound burst open, Mr Sternats wrapped a towel around himself to hold his stomach in while his partner called an ambulance.
A spokeswoman for the Royal College of Surgeons of England told BBC News Online: "Operations should be carried out so that does not happen."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3673031.stm
Sunday, April 25, 2004
Patients Die as Doctors Fear Malpractice:shameful failure of US health system
Iv been in Palm Beach,it has an awesome vulgar display of wealth,gated
mansions,more luxury yaughts than anyone needs, yet malpractice
insurance is preventing MDs from saving lives!
shameful failure of US health system
Patients Die as Doctors Fear Malpractice
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,118049,00.html
Last month, 53-year-old Barbara Masterson was rushed to a Palm
Beach County, Fla., hospital suffering a stroke and in need of
life-or-death care.
Jim Masterson said his wife was left untreated for five hours and
eventually died while doctors searched for an out-of-county physician
who'd operate. Not a single local neurosurgeon would come in, Masterson
said.
"If you have a stroke in this part of the country then you're in deep
trouble because the doctors won't see you," Masterson said.
Some neurosurgeons (search) aren't disputing his claim, saying they
can't afford malpractice insurance and are afraid of being wiped out by
lawsuits, so they reduce their risks by refusing emergency patients.
"It makes me feel very bad that I can't take care of a lot of
patients... That I have to send them on and I can't take care of them —
can't accept that risk," said Dr. Jacques Farkas, a neurosurgeon in
Palm Beach County (search).
Last month in Tallahassee, Fla., physicians blamed frivolous lawsuits
for sky-high medical insurance and pushed for caps on malpractice
attorney fees.
But some trial lawyers say there is no malpractice crisis and that
patients are dying because doctors are playing the blame game instead
of doing their job.
"I think its criminal," said trial attorney Marvin Kurzban. "I think
its dereliction of duty. I think that's malpractice also."
mansions,more luxury yaughts than anyone needs, yet malpractice
insurance is preventing MDs from saving lives!
shameful failure of US health system
Patients Die as Doctors Fear Malpractice
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,118049,00.html
Last month, 53-year-old Barbara Masterson was rushed to a Palm
Beach County, Fla., hospital suffering a stroke and in need of
life-or-death care.
Jim Masterson said his wife was left untreated for five hours and
eventually died while doctors searched for an out-of-county physician
who'd operate. Not a single local neurosurgeon would come in, Masterson
said.
"If you have a stroke in this part of the country then you're in deep
trouble because the doctors won't see you," Masterson said.
Some neurosurgeons (search) aren't disputing his claim, saying they
can't afford malpractice insurance and are afraid of being wiped out by
lawsuits, so they reduce their risks by refusing emergency patients.
"It makes me feel very bad that I can't take care of a lot of
patients... That I have to send them on and I can't take care of them —
can't accept that risk," said Dr. Jacques Farkas, a neurosurgeon in
Palm Beach County (search).
Last month in Tallahassee, Fla., physicians blamed frivolous lawsuits
for sky-high medical insurance and pushed for caps on malpractice
attorney fees.
But some trial lawyers say there is no malpractice crisis and that
patients are dying because doctors are playing the blame game instead
of doing their job.
"I think its criminal," said trial attorney Marvin Kurzban. "I think
its dereliction of duty. I think that's malpractice also."