Surrey prostate most cancers affected individual seeks treatment in Ontario, calls B.C. program ‘flawed’

A B.C. man who was diagnosed with prostate most cancers in 2017 is heading out of province to receive what he hopes will be his closing remedies.

Surrey resident Dan McMurdo, 69, has been battling prostate most cancers for a lot more than 6 yrs.

He explained the prostate cancer treatment process with B.C. is flawed as he was introduced with only two solutions by healthcare experts. He possibly had to pick out to get his prostate eradicated or to get total radiation procedure.

“They say all the correct stuff on the information and I’ve listened to the health minister carry it up around and over all over again stating ‘we are executing this and we are performing that.’” McMurdo explained to World wide Information.

“It’s not being carried out. There is no way I need to have to go to (Ontario) to get an MRI. They can do an MRI (there) with a maximum hold out time of one month and the similar for a biopsy — it could be a yr in advance of I get a biopsy (in this article).”

McMurdo stated right after undertaking some study, he made a decision not to opt for either treatment selection offered in B.C. — he mentioned the aspect results of both alternative ended up not anything he preferred to go through.

He then found an substitute cure named high-intensity focal ultrasound remedy, or HIFU for limited.

“Basically, what they do is they use a sonablate machine and a substantial-intensity beam of gentle targets the tumour,” he stated.

Sadly, HIFU remedy for McMurdo was not included by B.C. health-related. He paid out of pocket and experienced it performed in Toronto in 2020.

The severity of prostate most cancers is tracked by medical professionals by a blood test termed Prostate-Certain Antigen test or PSA for small.

McMurdo claimed just before he begun his HIFU procedure, his PSA stage was all over 10.6.

Right after three months of HIFU therapy, he reported his PSA dropped to 2.9 — a drastic improvement.

HIFU therapy is particularly costly, and McMurdo reported he paid out a lot more than $20,000 for the treatments.

Fast forward to 2023, and McMurdo reported his PSA concentrations are steadily climbing again. He will require to go to Ottawa to obtain Stereotactic Physique Radiation Remedy to address his mounting levels.

“With cancer, you simply cannot hold out on it,” McMurdo reported. “You have to act on it, you have to come across out from the MRI and biopsy.”

On Wednesday, International News asked wellness minister Adrian Dix for remark.

“We do provide sizeable treatment for prostate most cancers below. Our researchers and teams at BC Cancer are leaders in Canada in conditions of prostate most cancers exploration. They are constantly wanting for new means to keep away from aspect results and to present better treatment.

“I just cannot talk about the precise circumstance. It could be the patient desires procedure they are not supplying, but BC Cancer gives great treatment and that is what we are going to proceed to supply.”

According to the B.C. Health and fitness Ministry, 90 per cent of prostate surgical procedures are concluded in 27 months.

BC Most cancers referred to Adrian Dix’s feedback when questioned for an interview but also did answer with an emailed statement.

“BC Cancer is committed to supplying sufferers access to timely, large-excellent and person-centered most cancers treatment,” personnel explained.
“We do not publicly examine the certain information of particular person situations because of to client privateness, nevertheless, our clinical team frequently function with sufferers to talk about all out there procedure choices and develop a care system having into account patient requirements and choices.”

Murdo, however, refutes the idea that B.C. is providing great treatment for prostate people. He mentioned he thinks HIFU need to be an option for British Columbians.

&duplicate 2023 International News, a division of Corus Amusement Inc.