Cancer surgeries in Alberta above pre-pandemic levels

Aug 24, 2022 | 2:25 PM

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.”

Copping adds that around 70% of cancer patients this past year received their surgeries within the clinically recommended timeframes. In 2018-19, that number was around 60%.

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Dr. Lloyd Mack, medical lead for Cancer Surgery Alberta, Alberta Health Services, says the number of people being diagnosed every year with cancer is increasing due to the aging population and overall population growth.

“Cancer treatment and care remains one of our highest priorities, and these procedures were prioritized throughout the pandemic to make sure that those who have the most urgent need go first,” says Mack.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many surgeries had to be rescheduled as emergency rooms and intensive care units filled up with COVID patients. This exacerbated the surgical backlog in the province, causing Albertans to wait longer to receive their operations.

Since then, the province has taken steps to reduce the backlog, such as allowing chartered facilities to conduct eye surgeries.

by David Opinko