- An
estimated one in three British Columbians will experience cancer sometime
in their lives.
- More
than 20,000 British Columbians will be newly diagnosed this year with
cancer. This is expected to increase by 15 per cent to more than 23,000
new cases in 2012.
- The
Province is working for a cancer-free society through the BC Cancer
Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority.
- The
BC Cancer Agency is considered a world-leader in providing
comprehensive cancer control program for the people of B.C., including
prevention, screening and early detection programs, research and
education, and care and treatment.
- The
BC Cancer Agency’s emphasis is on translational research – that is, bench-to-bedside
research. One of the BC Cancer Agency’s unique strengths is the close
working relationship between lab and clinical researchers, which allows
the Province to bring new therapies from the lab bench to clinical
application as quickly as possible.
- The
$95-million BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, one of Canada’s most
advanced cancer research facilities, opened in 2005.
- Construction
continues on the province’s fifth cancer centre, the BC Cancer Agency’s
Abbotsford Centre at the $355-million Abbotsford Regional Hospital,
opening in 2008.
- Plans
for a sixth cancer centre in Prince George were announced in September
2007 by Premier Gordon Campbell as part of a multifaceted strategy to
ensure northern British Columbians receive the best possible cancer care.
- Through
government investments in prevention, treatment and research, B.C. has
created a cancer-care system recognized as a model for other provinces.
- According
to annual statistics from the Canadian Cancer Society, B.C. has
some of the most favourable outcomes in North America, including:
- Some
of the best cancer outcomes in the world and some of the shortest wait
times for care in the country;
- Some
of the lowest overall mortality rate for all cancers in Canada and the
second lowest overall incidence rate of cancer; and,
- According
to the Cancer Advocacy Council, B.C. has the best funded and most timely
access to cancer drugs in Canada.
·
The BC
Cancer Agency has made a significant and growing investment in cancer treatment
drugs. The overall drug budget for the BC Cancer Agency increased from $37.5
million in 2000/01 to more than $114 million in the most recent fiscal year.
Thirty thousand patients in B.C. receive cancer drug therapy annually.
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