Patients who don't have a family doctor on Vancouver Island now have access to a new resource to get a cancer screening.
CanScreen, a virtual cancer-screening clinic started in 2023 by two doctors out of Victoria, is now expanding to the rest of the Island.
To get screened, people can go to www.canscreenbc.com to book their test. The results are then sent to Dr. Cal Shapiro or Dr. Stuart Bax, who call the patient to report the findings. If needed, a follow-up will be scheduled with a clinician in Port Alberni, Comox or Nanaimo.
Bax told the News Bulletin the reason for starting the virtual clinic was to address the challenges of booking screenings without a family doctor.
"Many people don't realize the cancer screening services, although they are available under MSP funding, you do need to have a provider to actually access them because they have to be seen by doctors who will have to go through the reports," he said. "We wanted to make that process as easy as possible and actually be a one-stop-shop."
Aside from the challenges in making bookings, Bax said patients without a family doctor also often miss the preventative aspect, only seeing the doctor when they are knowingly ill.
"That's what we really wanted to address, was [to] get to people before they are sick, then hopefully they'll have better outcomes, and the place to start was cancer screening. This is obviously something most people worry about."
Since starting this service, almost 2,500 patients have been assessed and the doctors have offered more than 2,000 screening tests. Out of this, 17 cancer cases were detected. Overall, Bax said mammograms represent the largest portion.
"We do follow-up on all results mainly because we want to make sure nothing is ever lost in the system. Sadly, we do see patients that don't have family doctors, results sometimes go to the wrong place, they may go to the last retired doctor, they may go to the last walk-in clinic. for example…" he said. "We use the opportunity to discuss other tests they might be eligible for and likewise the next screening guidelines as well."
Bax cautioned that the screening service should not be confused with a cancer diagnostic testing. Screenings are for testing for cancer before symptoms present. If the patient already has symptoms, they should immediately see a medical professional without waiting for a screening.
"What we never want to see happening is people with symptoms waiting for a screening test. Sadly we have seen people with breast lumps for example, think they're doing the right thing, they're booking a screening mammogram assessment, waiting six weeks for an appointment … Symptoms always need follow-up there and then."
The program was funded in part by the Shared Care Committee, a partnership between Doctors of B.C. and the Ministry of Health, as well as the 'spread quality improvement initiative' through Island Health.
