Northern Cancer Control Strategy Programs

Cancer prevention programs throughout the North will be improved so that so we can help local residents learn more about how to lower their risks for cancer. Through the Northern Cancer Control Strategy, these programs will be strengthened and complementary through partnership between the BC Cancer Agency and Northern Health. This partnership will ensure there is no duplication of service and that all programs are complimentary. Currently, BC Cancer Agency prevention programs include Stop Smoking Before Surgery, Healthy Living Schools and Sun Awareness Programs. Northern Health prevention programs include Healthy Eating Active Living, Environmental Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Tobacco Cessation Programs.

To help save lives, the BC Cancer Agency runs cancer screening programs across BC. Cancer screening programs include cervical, breast mammography, hereditary and colorectal cancer screening programs. As a part of the Northern Cancer Control Strategy, we are also working to bring hereditary screening to the North through the use of videoconferencing to connect residents with a genetic counselor in Vancouver. This BC Cancer Agency screening program includes education and genetic testing for people at high risk of developing a cancer that runs in their family.

Due to the construction of the BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North, demand for services at the University Hospital of Northern BC in Prince George, such as lab work and medical imaging, will increase. The new centre will need to provide additional specialized diagnostic tests and related equipment. More trained physicians and technologists will also be needed at the hospital.

It is very important for clients to have access to exams in a timely and appropriate manner. Improving access to procedures will lead to earlier treatment. In response to this need, renovations such as enhancements to equipment and space are also taking place at community cancer clinics across the North.

A diagnosis of cancer is traumatic for the person diagnosed as well as their family. Staff are available to offer counseling for a wide range of services including individual, marital, family and group counseling. Also, the staff offer regular patient support programs. For example, the Frankly Speaking About Your Cancer Treatment workshop gives information to patients and family currently going through treatment. The Cancer Transitions program helps people transition people from active treatment to active living. Communities throughout the North can also connect with the staff either by phone, telehealth or email.

Oncology nutrition helps patients with weight loss or weight gain, provides symptom management for changes to taste, mouth sores, nausea, and food aversions. The dietitian can also answer questions about ‘what to eat during treatment?, answer questions about natural health products and discuss recipe ideas. Based out of Prince George, the dietitian also provides these services on a regional basis through telemedicine and telephone support. This approach provides access to oncology nutrition services for patients who would otherwise not have this availability.

The Navigation service is offered throughout the North and provides support to cancer patients throughout their cancer journey. The Navigator guides the patient through the journey, connecting them to next steps in their care. The navigator assists with counseling sessions, and as a patient educator, they also help cancer patients understand their disease and care options. The navigator has recently mapped out the breast cancer journey and is working on the colorectal cancer journey map. This exercise provides improved, streamlined services to patients and their caregivers.

The Northern BC region is a very big area with often large distances between communities. This can make access to a full range of cancer services quite challenging. Often, patients must travel outside their community to access the services they need. With the introduction of telemedicine, patients can receive the care they need closer to home. The types of telemedicine services available include psychosocial (such as counseling), nutrition and pharmaceutical support, patient follow-up visits, consultations, education and navigation support.

Telemedicine sites have been established in 12 communities throughout the North, which will improve the links between the community cancer centres, Prince George, and Vancouver/Kelowna centres.

Approximately 30% of the population in the North are Aboriginal. Most of this population live in rural, remote, and/or isolated communities and live throughout Northern BC. Access to health care is an ongoing concern and efforts are being made to address these concerns through working with communities. Hearing what their needs are and how they would like to have their needs addressed is important in building relationships throughout the North between community needs and the regional services that will be offered through the future BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North.

Aboriginal communities have been involved in the planning and implementation of the Northern Cancer Control Strategy through the Aboriginal Health Improvement Committees. These committees have been very supportive in participating in the planning of the prevention programs and providing feedback on all other parts of the strategy. This partnership between the Northern Cancer Control Strategy and Aboriginal communities will ensure communities are effectively engaged and will promote ongoing relationships with communities.

Radon, a naturally occurring odorless gas, is responsible for approximately 10% of lung cancers around the world and has been identified as a concern in the North. To address this issue, a Radon strategy has been developed. To date, over 250 radon test kits have been sold in Northern Health and are also being promoted regionally in Smithers, Terrace, Prince George, Vanderhoof, Quesnel, Dawson Creek and Fort St. John. This project is just one of the prevention programs that have been enhanced through the existing Northern Health population prevention programs.