Future Health Quebec | Groups require oncology manager

Faced with a huge increase in the number of Quebecers being diagnosed with cancer, several cancer control groups are calling on the provincial government to develop a cancer action plan with measurable goals and allocated funds.

The Quebec Cancer Foundation, the Society for Cancer Research, Leucan and PROCURE presented their opinion on Friday morning entitled: “Cancer does not wait: the future agency of Santé Québec must act! »

The Quebec Cancer Foundation estimates that 67,548 Quebecers will be diagnosed with cancer in 2023, or 185 new cases per day. This number has been increasing for several years and this trend is likely to continue, in particular due to the aging population, we indicate in a joint press release.

The foundation estimates that 22,500 people died from cancer in the province last year, or 62 deaths per day.

The groups are repeating their request, made last October, for a costed cancer action plan. On Friday they gave the Legault government eight clear recommendations to act as quickly as possible.

First, they asked him to appoint a vice-president responsible for the cancer axis in the future Santé-Quebec agency. They also want Quebec to set a numerical goal to reduce cancer-related deaths in the province by 2035.

“Today we call on (Health) Minister Christian Dubé to work together to make a difference in the lives of Quebecers affected by cancer, as well as the lives of their loved ones,” Marco Deselles, CEO, said in a press release. Quebec Cancer Foundation.

“Our recommendations are the fruit of the work we do every day on the ground, and we hope that they will be taken into account in the creation of the future Santé Québec agency and in the government’s action plan,” he continues.

Among other recommendations, we argue that a budget should be allocated for basic and clinical cancer research, and that measures to combat rare cancers should be included in Quebec’s cancer action plan.

In addition, computer systems must be standardized and cancer patient data centralized to reduce wait times for results and allow for better monitoring throughout treatment.

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