Cancer surgeries in Alberta above pre-pandemic levels
EDMONTON, AB – The Government of Alberta is boasting higher numbers of operations being conducted for patients with cancer.
Health Minister Jason Copping says, in the 2021-22 fiscal year, ending March 31, 2022, doctors performed 22,500 cancer surgeries across the province.
That marks an increase of 12.5% compared to the approximately 20,000 cancer surgeries that were completed in 2018-19.
“The surge in cancer surgeries surpassing pre-pandemic levels is a remarkable accomplishment and shows meaningful results from the Alberta Surgical Initiative,” says Copping. “Access to early detection and treatment is vital to improving the odds of overcoming a cancer diagnosis. Knowing wait times for cancer surgeries are decreasing in spite of the pandemic is a relief to patients in the most difficult times in their lives.”