Surrey prostate cancer patient seeks treatment in Ontario, calls B.C. system ‘flawed’ | 24CA News

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

Surrey resident Dan McMurdo, 69, has been battling prostate most cancers for greater than six years.

He mentioned the prostate most cancers therapy system with B.C. is flawed as he was introduced with solely two choices by medical professionals. He both had to decide on to get his prostate eliminated or to get full radiation therapy.

“They say all the right stuff on the news and I’ve heard the health minister bring it up over and over again saying ‘we are doing this and we are doing that.’” McMurdo informed Global News.

“It’s not being done. There is no way I should have to go to (Ontario) to get an MRI. They can do an MRI (there) with a maximum wait time of one month and the same for a biopsy — it could be a year before I get a biopsy (here).”

McMurdo mentioned after performing some analysis, he determined not to decide on both therapy possibility provided in B.C. — he mentioned the unwanted side effects of both possibility weren’t one thing he needed to undergo.

He then discovered an alternate therapy named high-intensity focal ultrasound therapy, or HIFU for brief.

“Basically, what they do is they use a sonablate machine and a high-intensity beam of light targets the tumour,” he mentioned.

Unfortunately, HIFU therapy for McMurdo was not lined by B.C. medical. He paid out of pocket and had it performed in Toronto in 2020.

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The severity of prostate most cancers is tracked by medical doctors via a blood check known as Prostate-Specific Antigen check or PSA for brief.

McMurdo mentioned earlier than he began his HIFU therapy, his PSA degree was round 10.6.

After three months of HIFU therapy, he mentioned his PSA dropped to 2.9 — a drastic enchancment.

HIFU therapy is extraordinarily costly, and McMurdo mentioned he paid greater than $20,000 for the procedures.

Fast ahead to 2023, and McMurdo mentioned his PSA ranges are steadily climbing once more. He might want to go to Ottawa to obtain Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy to handle his rising ranges.

“With cancer, you can’t wait on it,” McMurdo mentioned. “You have to act on it, you have to find out from the MRI and biopsy.”

On Wednesday, Global News requested well being minister Adrian Dix for remark.

“We do provide substantial treatment for prostate cancer here. Our researchers and teams at BC Cancer are leaders in Canada in terms of prostate cancer research. They are always looking for new ways to avoid side effects and to provide better care.

“I can’t talk about the specific case. It may be the patient wants treatment they aren’t providing, but BC Cancer provides excellent care and that’s what we are going to continue to offer.”

According to the B.C. Health Ministry, 90 per cent of prostate surgical procedures are accomplished inside 27 weeks.

BC Cancer referred to Adrian Dix’s feedback when requested for an interview but additionally did reply with an emailed assertion.

“BC Cancer is committed to providing patients access to timely, high-quality and person-centered cancer care,” employees mentioned.
“We do not publicly discuss the specific details of individual cases due to patient privacy, however, our medical staff regularly work with patients to discuss all available treatment options and develop a care plan taking into account patient needs and preferences.”

Murdo, nonetheless, refutes the notion that B.C. is offering wonderful look after prostate sufferers. He mentioned he believes HIFU needs to be an possibility for British Columbians.

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