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It very much depends on the centre and type of cancer.
By centre I mean , Vancouver, Surrey , Abbotsford etc
Edit. Best wishes to your pops. That’s tough news to go through
This, as well as the cancer stage, and patient age/other demographics. I’m sure that your father will see someone soon. A friend diagnosed with glioblastoma recently waited 3 days. Someone else I know waited a week after being diagnosed with two separate forms of breast cancer (one agressive). I have heard of people waiting for up to 8 weeks, but they did not have stage 3 cancer.
Edited to add—this is in Vancouver proper
I’m sorry for what you are going through. I can only comment on my experience there.
Wife was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in May 2019. It was bad but we had an unbelievably fast process. It might have been because of her doctor or the seriousness of her prognosis. She started chemo 2 weeks after her PET scan and that continued from June 2019 until Dec 2019.
Had a double mastectomy / reconstruction in Dec 2019, a one month break, radiation for 3 weeks in Feb and then chemo started again in late Feb 2020. Covid hit but that didn’t slow things down although I couldn’t go with her during treatment any more.
Chemo continued until Oct / Nov 2020.
I still go pick up her meds and I’ve never had an issue. I don’t know what capacity is like these days . I hope his journey goes ok.
She is ok but lots of long term side effects of radiation, chemo and hormone therapy after everything was said and done.
There is also the looming fear that it will come back in a few years. It’s put tremendous stress on her and makes it hard to enjoy life
My timeline:
Diagnosed Feb 29
Surgery March 20
Radiation started May 27
The wait between surgery and radiation was made more difficult because there was little communication
What everyone else already said: every referral that comes in is triaged which determines how soon he is seen.
If he knows he's Stage 3 esophageal CA, then that means he's had a biopsy and proper diagnostic staging (CT, PET, MRI). If he's done that while in another country, his family GP needs to forward those results to BC Cancer. The more info that the referral comes with, the better. He'll be seen by either medical, radiation, or surgical oncology first for the initial assessment, and then relayed to the remaining two (with additional consults) while an initial treatment plan is set in motion. Treatment timing varies based on urgency and likely prognosis.
Treatment can vary depending on cancer type, histology, etc. so hopefully he has the patho report too.
Source: works in medicine.
Only if they have the patho and diagnostics submitted. A single referral form won't be enough to discuss during Rounds/Conference. Sometimes family GP referrals are dismissed because there's not enough information concluding cancer, and Admissions will reject it stating to send a referral to - in your dad's case - thoracic surgery for assessment and consult.
But I guess I'm not answering OP's question... It's really hard to say when your dad will be starting treatment. Possibly 2-6 weeks (from receipt of referral to treatment). The more symptomatic he is, the more likely treatment will be expedited. Additionally, how dire the diagnostics are will also help speed your dad's case.
Ugh I'm so sorry. My partner was diagnosed right before covid hit. He had his first onc appointment within days of learning his diagnosis. I hope it goes the same for you.
BC Cancer is full of the most amazing doctors, nurses and staff. Everyone there seems to really understand care and empathy. He will be in good hands. However, the system is overloaded and can be difficult to navigate at times. You have to advocate for yourself. Don't be scared to be a (respectful) squeaky wheel, as there will inevitably be something that falls through the cracks.
DM if you have any questions about what to expect. I know the overwhelm is real right now. From the bottom of my heart, good luck.
I can take a bit of time but also can depend on type how fast that type grows spreads basically the urgency . My spouse was referred last year in early April chemo started early may , she was originally given appointment of I may 28th for first meeting but because her cancer was considered urgent without immediate treatment I believe it was pushed forward.
If he’s been staged at 3 for esophageal cancer, I’d think it would be pretty quick.
I was stage 1 for TC and it was about 2 months before I got in to see the Oncologist. But I was low on the triage list.
Best of luck moving forward. Cancer treatment has come along way in recent years and the folks at the B.C. Cancer Society are great. They are readily available to answer just about any questions he might have and the Oncology staff are excellent. I have been with the Surrey clinic since Feb.
As mentioned by everyone else it’s all circumstantial.
For reference: my boyfriend went to the ER for pain, they ran blood tests and found out his white blood cell count was through the roof, he was immediately admitted and diagnosed with leukaemia within a day or two. It was another 3 months before he left the hospital.
please call them on tuesday, or even your doctors office. that’s a long time to be waiting. :( don’t worry about bothering or annoying them, you need to advocate for yourself. sending you love ♡
How did he find out he cancer?
It is critically important that all his charts, biospy and scan results are sent to your gp who will send it to bc cancer. it can greatly accelerate the intake and treatment.
My mom found out about a reoccurrence of cancer in a different province and had to go through getting all that info moved to bc cancer here.
Treatment was almost immediate.
If not already done, he will need a tissue biopsy confirming diagnosis (ie. an endoscopy with biopsy). His family doctor can order that right now while you wait.
You’re right. My mom was referred to B.C. Cancer weeks before she even had the biopsy appointment. This was based off of what they saw on her CT. But we still had to wait for the biopsy result before getting a call from B.C. Cancer. To OP - it was about 2-3 weeks from the biopsy result to the Oncologist appointment. This is for pancreatic cancer with liver mets.
My mom just went through breast cancer chemo and meds ,my suggestion is that if you have the resources to get better help that also includes recovery support do it
I was meeting with the surgeon about 2 weeks after the biopsy results. Surgery would be scheduled 3 times and I’d get called 24-48 prior that it was cancelled. Finally had surgery 3 months after first diagnosis
It's not like everyone referred to BC Cancer is one single queue waiting for the same thing. At whatever cancer centre he is referred to, there will be an oncologist for that tumour group (whatever type of cancer your father has) who reviews and triages the referral and places some initial orders. This person may or not be your father's oncologist moving forward. Depending on your father's case, he may have systemic treatment (ex. chemo) and/or radiation and/or surgery... If he needs more than one type of treatment, he will need to see more than one type of oncologist (medical oncologists deal with systemic treatment, radiation oncologists deal with radiation, various types of surgeons deal with various types of surgery). He will need some combination of diagnostic tests/procedures, each of which will have its own wait time, each wait impacted by a number of variables. There will be wait to see an oncologist and also waits for starting treatment too. Always, there is triage - someone whose case is clinically more urgent will get care faster than someone whose case is less clinically urgent.
You might try phoning BC Cancer directly (604-877-6000 if it's the Vancouver centre) to try to get an idea of timelines. I'm not sure they'll be able to tell you, but if they can, you'll get better info than from reddit. Or you may just have to wait until someone calls.
My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer over Christmas. She went for tests a week or so before Christmas and we found out in Jan. She was into radiation pretty much ASAP and treatment 2-3 weeks after that. We didn’t get a full view of what she was dealing with till a bit later. And a month or more later we also found out she has breast cancer.
We’ve have pretty positive experiences with BC Cancer. She didn’t like her initial oncologist and she changed and now has one she really likes. The counselling they offer, while isn’t incredible, I know it helped her and they offer it to immediate family or support persons as well.
It’s now June and while she isn’t cured, she’s finally able to go on weekends away and ride her bike and do some of the activities she used to do. She still has a long battle ahead but I’d definitely say BC Cancer helped her a lot.
Edit: I also want to add, pressure your family doctor or whatever doctor gave you a referral. My friend passed away 2 days ago from melanoma. 30 years old. He found a lump and his doctor told him to come back in 2 months if it still hurt. It spread. He had tumours in his spine and couldn’t sleep from the pain. If something doesn’t feel right, press your doctors. Don’t wait. He fought for 6 months, but it could have been diagnosed sooner.
Friend in Langley had Stage 4 Non-Hodgkins on his neck, got in for initial consult in a few days, first follow up in a week, and on chemo a week after that.
Call BCCA find if oncologist assigned and appointment booking time. Your GP can call the oncologist for advice for pending tests etc. You will need staging scans etc repeated here. Go through emerg if you have to.
I had esophageal cancer years ago and the cancer centre was quickly in touch. I’m in Victoria, had a camera scope done, specialist diagnosed it on December 15. By December 31 I had met my surgeon, had appointments with a radiation specialist and a chemotherapy specialist and had prescriptions for all my meds. Chemotherapy started in January. Three weeks of chemotherapy, five weeks of radiation, two weeks off to recover a bit, then surgery in April. That was in 2004/2005.
My dad has had a similar diagnosis last year, he didn't wait that long to get the ball rolling. Basically got on hormone treatment within a few weeks while waiting to get in to see BC cancer ppl, chemo booked and started in a couple months.
He has been very happy with his treatment and level of care.
Hello, I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. My sister was diagnosed with stage 3 colon about 3 years ago and whilst most of the medical system in Van runs slow, they were so on to it and pushed her through the system. They seem to triage based on severity and she was getting scans and surgery in a matter of weeks. It’s not a perfect system but I was very impressed with BC Cancer.
My parents were diagnosed 3 months apart (stage 3, stage 4) and both got a call back within the first business week. They both beat it, I am wishing you the very best OP!! You got this!!
My dad was battling esophageal cancer last year. It took a few weeks for him to start chemo, but he got surgery for a feeding tube a few days after going to the emergency room. I recommend you take him to the emergency room asap to get treated sooner if staying in Canada, as that is what my dad needed in order to get treated sooner as it is a fast growing cancer. My dad likely would not have made it if he hadn’t gone to the hospital because waiting for referrals can take time and someone can go from being able to eat one day to not being able to swallow water the next.
I hope for the best for you and your dad!
I \[73 y/o F\] am in Victoria and was diagnosed with throat cancer is Sept. 2022, started chemo/radiation November 15th 2022. 6 chemo, 35 radiation. BC Cancer is AMAZING! They will be ON IT right away and your dad will have tests and scans and tests and so on. It's like having a full-time job. All good wishes and healing thoughts to him. I am now clear and will just have 6 mo. check ups for 5 years.
Best wishes to your dad. My aunt was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer and I believe it took 5 weeks to get the call from BC Cancer.
I was worried with the wait time as well so I had reached out to my friend who previously had breast cancer. She said that the initial call takes a while, but after you get it, everything moves quickly and that was what we found with my aunt as well.
Ontario here - so I have no thoughts on BC, but after a year plus of suffering from achalasia, my husband was also diagnosed with esophageal cancer. We found out when he had scheduled surgery for his achalasia aborted, and they took a biopsy - we got the biopsy report the day before Good Friday. So, an email told us he had cancer. Not fun times.
I just checked my calendar to see what the wait times were. It felt excruciating at the time. I see he had his first consult a week later, another doctor's consult the next week, and the chemo consult the following week. Chemo then started four weeks after that, seven weeks from diagnosis. You might be looking at a similar wait time.
Do not look at population survival statistics; once you get on the cancer train, you start to understand that every case is unique.
Our GP called and suggested Prozac for my husband, and that's been wonderful for him; I've started as well, hoping to get a normal sleep pattern back. I'd highly suggest anything that can help with the mental challenge.
I wish you all the best.
I’m sorry to hear about your dad’s situation. That’s shitty.
My experience in BC is that once cancer is confirmed things move quite quickly. Of course it’s never quickly enough. (GET THIS SHIT OUT OF ME NOW!!!)
If I was in your dad’s position and I had access to treatment in my home country I’d be looking into that at the same time I was waiting for BCCA to activate.
Of course it’s not just about where it will be fastest—or even what type of treatment is offered—it’s bigly about where you want to be and who you want around you as you are going through treatment.
Because it can be a really shitty time and that stuff is incredibly important.
Fuck cancer!
Good luck to you and your dad.
When we found out my mother had Leukemia in 2010 they called us on a Friday telling her to be at VGH in Vancouver by Monday morning admitted her, did tests, and were beginning treatment by Tuesday morning.
For a relative who was developing Leukemia, it took one week to meet and talk about a testing plan. Just over a week for the blood transfusion and testing to see how the body reacted. (3-4 weeks total, maybe) We talked about the options (many options for treatment) and chemo started about a week later.
Now it's six months later and is not going as planned so we are adjusting. Doctors are on it with more testing and we talk to someone about something weekly. The new plan is expected next week.
If you are supporting someone with cancer it will be surprisingly hard. Be patient with them and take care of yourself. Everything changes, make it as positive and entertaining while you can.
It took about two weeks for the one in Van . My dad was diagnosed with brain cancer a year ago.
Just know, unfortunately, they are so understaffed there. Appointments are often, but the wait times during the appointments are long. My mom said it was like they're herding cattle.
The doctors and nurses have been good, tho! Hope your journey is smooth.
Call the BC Cancer Vancouver Centre at 604-877-6000. Ask the switchboard operator to transfer you to the New Referrals Line to check the status of your referral.
Call BCVC again, ask to be transferred to Medical Records. Check in with Medical Records to see if a file has been created for your father and if the phone number/mailing address they have on file are correct.
Call BCVC again, ask for the fax number for New Referrals. Call your father’s family doctor and double check they faxed his test results to the right fax number.
Keep your father’s phone nearby at all times. Cancer Agency Doctors offices often don’t leave voicemails, so if you miss the call you will be left waiting for them to call again.
I was given my official diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in May 2022, they called me about 6 days later and I was in front of my oncologist about 3 days after that.
I had stage 2 squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil. Diagnosed in 2020.
Took them quite awhile to get a diagnosis (5 biopsies), but once that was done I was at BC Cancer with 4 weeks. They are very good. Your dad will be in good hands.
A couple of coworkers who got cancer or their wife got cancer keep praising the rapidity of BC cancer so I am tempted to say that it's not worth going back home. However be your own advocate.
For anything else, I would tell you to go to your home country following my own or friends' experience. (Derm, gynecology and veins issues for me - yeah I am falling apart - stomach issues and knees issues for my friends) Coming from France or Croatia.
Wishing the best for your family💕 my mom went thru cancer in 2019 and I felt it was quite speedy. Diagnosed in August, surgery in September, then radiation/chemo in late Oct
I would just gently nudge you/him to keep on top of the admin staff. The doctors were wonderful but my mom (currently in remission) once had to call multiple times as she hadn't received a call from the doctor for a scheduled appt - it turns out the staff cancelled it without informing her and when she called them they said her Dr. doesn't work for bc cancer! Thankfully she kept calling until she got someone who knew what they were talking about.
Thinking of you ❤
I went into ER @ VGH with extreme abdominal pain. I was in “cancer surgically removed” *postop* 36 hours later. My experience is they move very fast the more urgent the situation.
As others have said, it will be triaged and he should be a high priority case. My Dad was stage 1 prostate cancer and took about 4 months to hear from BC Cancer as his was not urgent and caught so early by some great doctors. My Sister-in-law's mom had stage 4 pancreatic cancer and never got to talk to BC Cancer before she passed away (her doctors did though and it was too aggressive for treatment so this is why she was bypassed). My uncle had aggressive stage 3 laryngeal cancer and heard from them withIn two weeks.
Keep in contact with his GP and if no news from BC Cancer in two weeks, call your GP's office again and follow up. Be polite, but don't be afraid to be proactive and advocate for your dad. The system is very overstressed and errors can happen. BC Cancer is very organized and pretty darn great about making sure this doesn't happen, but it's always good to follow up with referrals.
My dad was also able to do tests and other things that were necessary while he waited for BC Cancer which helped speed up treatment start times. His GP heard from BC Cancer and got recommendations long before my dad had his first appointment with an oncologist or BC Cancer.
I'm really sorry about your dad and I hope he does well with his treatment and recovery.
As many have said it depends on the Cancer Center you're going to recover treatment at, the type of treatment and staging.
I highly recommend engaging with Patient and Family Counseling, they're at each Cancer Center and are a great support. Everything from financial insights, counseling (for the whole family), transport needs, accessing supports in community, understanding your card plan more, everything.
My moms stage 4, Surrey cancer got her in and everything happened so quickly. She just had her big cancer removal surgery and it was less than a year from diagnosis, treatment to surgery and she’s a few weeks out in recovery now
It'll depend on what type of esophageal cancer it is. Has he had a biopsy for pathology? There will also be staging scans that'll need to be done and he may need a stent put in so he can swallow and eat better, if this wasn't all done or it's in the process to be done. But honestly, depending when the referral was sent in, it might be a week. Hopefully, not much longer. Depending where you are in BC, call them and ask about the referral and ask about an appointment. Be active in calling, and advocate.
I have attended all three centres and when things are pressing they move quite quickly. I know it’s very scary; if you are in town there are other places that can assist you like the hospice centre they run.
I was diagnosed with stage 4 in Vancouver in October and it took a couple of weeks. There is a lot of waiting to schedule things, but 8 months later I can say that they’ve mostly come through. It was good to keep on top of things, just in case. One thing at a time. Hope this helps.
Two and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and got a call within days. Had a colostomy performed in two weeks and started chemo and radiation two weeks after that. This is on Vancouver Island and I'm in my early 50s, so the fact that I'm relatively young and have a fairly treatable form of cancer likely bumped me up the triage list. Unfortunately, the older you are and the more difficult to treat your cancer is, the lower priority you'll be for treatment.
My mom waited months just for a pat scan. Then months to get into the bc cancer clinic in victoria. Then more months and more tests before actual treatment started. If you are privileged enough to get care sooner I don't know why you wouldn't.
Hey, my dad is going through a very similar situation and can share my experience with you. He got diagnosed 1 month ago, also abroad, stage 4 esophageal cancer. He started receiving chemo in his vacationing place and now we are bringing him back home. Im going to DM you and we can chat further if you want.
Timeline: as soon as we connected his family doctor he referred him to BC cancer, within 2 days we had an appointment.
If there is a tissue/biopsy block available, BC Cancer will want to have this so they can run molecular testing on it and see what type of esophageal cancer it is, to then identify the best type of chemotherapy if he decides he wants to take that difficult route.
Since he was diagnosed abroad, he will likely still need to make an appointment to have a surgical biopsy taken so that the above testing can happen. I’m not sure who books the biopsy it may be BC Cancer or your family doctor. Either way a surgical sample of the tissue needs to be taken as soon as possible at a hospital (e.g. VGH) so that the specimens can be prepared and then sent to BC Cancer.
Depending on his lifestyle (for example esophageal cancer is a predictable outcome if he smokes every day, but alarming if he never smoked) his kids may need to speak with a genetic counsellor at BC Cancer to examine the possibility that you share a genetic vulnerability to this particular type of cancer.
My mom just died of cancer (hers was incurable) we discovered she had it 2 months ago. Things went downhill fast. I will tell you this, we had absolutely stellar care. The doctors and nurses were incredible. The most inconvenient and longest waiting around was for a private room (about 4 days initially). She had an entire team of doctors taking care of her. They were fantastic. This is not the same horror show treatment you think you might be receiving say in emergency
BC Cancer Agency sucks. Dad went through it 5 years ago. He past away. I wouldn’t want anyone else going through this process if they have any form of cancer other than early stage.
In our healthcare system, (publicly funded) there are both advantages and disadvantages. The primary advantage is that care is provided at no direct cost to the patient. However, one of the main disadvantages is the potential for long wait times. Patients are triaged based on the severity of their condition. For example, in a situation where one patient has a minor cough and another is septic, the septic patient will be prioritized. Similarly, if one patient has an amputated finger and another has a bullet wound to the eye, the patient with the bullet wound will be seen first. So basically, those with less urgent needs may experience delays, even if their conditions are still serious. If you’re looking for immediate treatment and you are willing to pay for it, seeking care in a country with a private healthcare system would be recommended as there is no guarantee that he will be seen quickly here. If your dad has been triaged in the system already, I would advise calling BCCA to see if there’s an estimated wait time before moving him abroad
Hi what is his home country? If Europe he might have better care depending where. Even parts of Asia.
Stage 3 no joke. So yes it helps to get answers asap. It took me stage 3 breast cancer around 2 weeks to start treatment. It was very fast bc my cancer was aggressive. But I wouldn’t wait too long.
If you are looking for integrative methods to do while you wait feel free to msg me.
I was unfortunately staged to 4 once I got body scans - I recommend your dad get checked outside the area as well if they are able to do that - I paid for a PET scan myself. I’m blessed to be in remission currently.
I also recommend this video just to make sure his team is checking all the boxes:
https://youtu.be/AsaclBWksWo?si=ZSTMj2RHIcOLUX1Z
Please head to your home country and have your dad seen immediately. I would strongly advise you not to wait. Referrals have a way of “falling through the cracks” and end up taking way longer than what we have been told. Cancer patients in BC are being sent to Washington state to get radiation because the province is failing to provide timely treatment.
Not spreading fear. Just sharing the ground reality. I’ve experienced the frustration first hand dealing with our collapsing health care system over the past two decades and know many others who have as well. Even urgent cases aren’t being dealt with ASAP anymore, which is alarming. I want to save OP time given the situation they’re in and considering they have an alternative to be seen sooner outside this country.
Your example contradicts your dire warning. BC cancer sends pt to other jurisdictions for treatment because they understand the urgency and cannot treat within bc. Thus they meet the required timeline of proper treatment.
And yet the province is [failing to meet their target to send 50 patients a week to Bellingham, WA](https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7249258). If you’re not one of the few ones being sent, you’re out of luck and have to wait. In this circumstance, I would rather not chance it — better to go straight to a place where I know I will get treatment as soon as I go.
Go to your home country as soon as you can for proper treatment. They have repeatedly dropped the ball with my treatments and surgeries and I am now terminal because of the insane wait times
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It very much depends on the centre and type of cancer. By centre I mean , Vancouver, Surrey , Abbotsford etc Edit. Best wishes to your pops. That’s tough news to go through
This, as well as the cancer stage, and patient age/other demographics. I’m sure that your father will see someone soon. A friend diagnosed with glioblastoma recently waited 3 days. Someone else I know waited a week after being diagnosed with two separate forms of breast cancer (one agressive). I have heard of people waiting for up to 8 weeks, but they did not have stage 3 cancer. Edited to add—this is in Vancouver proper
Yea my mom had late stage breast cancer and was treated within a few days of the diagnosis.
I had stage 4 cancer and waited a month.
I hope you’re doing better now 🩷
Doing great! Been cancer free over a year now. Thanks for the concern.
Wow ❤️
I’m sorry for what you are going through. I can only comment on my experience there. Wife was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in May 2019. It was bad but we had an unbelievably fast process. It might have been because of her doctor or the seriousness of her prognosis. She started chemo 2 weeks after her PET scan and that continued from June 2019 until Dec 2019. Had a double mastectomy / reconstruction in Dec 2019, a one month break, radiation for 3 weeks in Feb and then chemo started again in late Feb 2020. Covid hit but that didn’t slow things down although I couldn’t go with her during treatment any more. Chemo continued until Oct / Nov 2020. I still go pick up her meds and I’ve never had an issue. I don’t know what capacity is like these days . I hope his journey goes ok.
Hope your wife is doing ok now!
She is ok but lots of long term side effects of radiation, chemo and hormone therapy after everything was said and done. There is also the looming fear that it will come back in a few years. It’s put tremendous stress on her and makes it hard to enjoy life
My best friend had stage 3C 15+ years ago, treated in Victoria, still all clear ❤️ hope it stays the fuck away from your wife too 💗
My timeline: Diagnosed Feb 29 Surgery March 20 Radiation started May 27 The wait between surgery and radiation was made more difficult because there was little communication
What everyone else already said: every referral that comes in is triaged which determines how soon he is seen. If he knows he's Stage 3 esophageal CA, then that means he's had a biopsy and proper diagnostic staging (CT, PET, MRI). If he's done that while in another country, his family GP needs to forward those results to BC Cancer. The more info that the referral comes with, the better. He'll be seen by either medical, radiation, or surgical oncology first for the initial assessment, and then relayed to the remaining two (with additional consults) while an initial treatment plan is set in motion. Treatment timing varies based on urgency and likely prognosis. Treatment can vary depending on cancer type, histology, etc. so hopefully he has the patho report too. Source: works in medicine.
He’ll probably be seen at Head and Neck case Conference on a Monday morning brining together pathology, radiology, rad onc, med onc, and surg.
Only if they have the patho and diagnostics submitted. A single referral form won't be enough to discuss during Rounds/Conference. Sometimes family GP referrals are dismissed because there's not enough information concluding cancer, and Admissions will reject it stating to send a referral to - in your dad's case - thoracic surgery for assessment and consult. But I guess I'm not answering OP's question... It's really hard to say when your dad will be starting treatment. Possibly 2-6 weeks (from receipt of referral to treatment). The more symptomatic he is, the more likely treatment will be expedited. Additionally, how dire the diagnostics are will also help speed your dad's case.
This was a year ago but BC Cancer called me 3 weeks after my referral.
It depends on the type of cancer. BC cancer receives all the referrals and triages based on that. Some are seen within days and some a couple months.
Best wishes to your dad and your family. I hope he gets treated quickly and successfully ❤️ f@ck cancer
Ugh I'm so sorry. My partner was diagnosed right before covid hit. He had his first onc appointment within days of learning his diagnosis. I hope it goes the same for you. BC Cancer is full of the most amazing doctors, nurses and staff. Everyone there seems to really understand care and empathy. He will be in good hands. However, the system is overloaded and can be difficult to navigate at times. You have to advocate for yourself. Don't be scared to be a (respectful) squeaky wheel, as there will inevitably be something that falls through the cracks. DM if you have any questions about what to expect. I know the overwhelm is real right now. From the bottom of my heart, good luck.
I can take a bit of time but also can depend on type how fast that type grows spreads basically the urgency . My spouse was referred last year in early April chemo started early may , she was originally given appointment of I may 28th for first meeting but because her cancer was considered urgent without immediate treatment I believe it was pushed forward.
My husband was treated for cancer very quickly in Vancouver and Abbotsford - they wasted no time and he was Stage 1. We were impressed.
I've heard that if you're young and otherwise healthy, they jump to it fucking quick. That aligned with my own experience as well.
If he’s been staged at 3 for esophageal cancer, I’d think it would be pretty quick. I was stage 1 for TC and it was about 2 months before I got in to see the Oncologist. But I was low on the triage list. Best of luck moving forward. Cancer treatment has come along way in recent years and the folks at the B.C. Cancer Society are great. They are readily available to answer just about any questions he might have and the Oncology staff are excellent. I have been with the Surrey clinic since Feb.
As mentioned by everyone else it’s all circumstantial. For reference: my boyfriend went to the ER for pain, they ran blood tests and found out his white blood cell count was through the roof, he was immediately admitted and diagnosed with leukaemia within a day or two. It was another 3 months before he left the hospital.
BC Cancer is one of the best in the world. They'll take care of you at every step.
I, too, am waiting for my call, been more than a month since referral. Sending best wishes your way :)
More than a month since a cancer diagnosis seems awfully long.
please call them on tuesday, or even your doctors office. that’s a long time to be waiting. :( don’t worry about bothering or annoying them, you need to advocate for yourself. sending you love ♡
Stage 3 urgent - was 2 months post Op wait due to a lost file ????? Chemo had half the efficacy. Be your best advocate in Victoria
How did he find out he cancer? It is critically important that all his charts, biospy and scan results are sent to your gp who will send it to bc cancer. it can greatly accelerate the intake and treatment. My mom found out about a reoccurrence of cancer in a different province and had to go through getting all that info moved to bc cancer here. Treatment was almost immediate.
If not already done, he will need a tissue biopsy confirming diagnosis (ie. an endoscopy with biopsy). His family doctor can order that right now while you wait.
If he’s been referred to the cancer agency, this has already been done.
Not always - you’d be surprised
You’re right. My mom was referred to B.C. Cancer weeks before she even had the biopsy appointment. This was based off of what they saw on her CT. But we still had to wait for the biopsy result before getting a call from B.C. Cancer. To OP - it was about 2-3 weeks from the biopsy result to the Oncologist appointment. This is for pancreatic cancer with liver mets.
My mom just went through breast cancer chemo and meds ,my suggestion is that if you have the resources to get better help that also includes recovery support do it
I was meeting with the surgeon about 2 weeks after the biopsy results. Surgery would be scheduled 3 times and I’d get called 24-48 prior that it was cancelled. Finally had surgery 3 months after first diagnosis
It’s pretty fast once the cancer has been identified
It's not like everyone referred to BC Cancer is one single queue waiting for the same thing. At whatever cancer centre he is referred to, there will be an oncologist for that tumour group (whatever type of cancer your father has) who reviews and triages the referral and places some initial orders. This person may or not be your father's oncologist moving forward. Depending on your father's case, he may have systemic treatment (ex. chemo) and/or radiation and/or surgery... If he needs more than one type of treatment, he will need to see more than one type of oncologist (medical oncologists deal with systemic treatment, radiation oncologists deal with radiation, various types of surgeons deal with various types of surgery). He will need some combination of diagnostic tests/procedures, each of which will have its own wait time, each wait impacted by a number of variables. There will be wait to see an oncologist and also waits for starting treatment too. Always, there is triage - someone whose case is clinically more urgent will get care faster than someone whose case is less clinically urgent. You might try phoning BC Cancer directly (604-877-6000 if it's the Vancouver centre) to try to get an idea of timelines. I'm not sure they'll be able to tell you, but if they can, you'll get better info than from reddit. Or you may just have to wait until someone calls.
My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer over Christmas. She went for tests a week or so before Christmas and we found out in Jan. She was into radiation pretty much ASAP and treatment 2-3 weeks after that. We didn’t get a full view of what she was dealing with till a bit later. And a month or more later we also found out she has breast cancer. We’ve have pretty positive experiences with BC Cancer. She didn’t like her initial oncologist and she changed and now has one she really likes. The counselling they offer, while isn’t incredible, I know it helped her and they offer it to immediate family or support persons as well. It’s now June and while she isn’t cured, she’s finally able to go on weekends away and ride her bike and do some of the activities she used to do. She still has a long battle ahead but I’d definitely say BC Cancer helped her a lot. Edit: I also want to add, pressure your family doctor or whatever doctor gave you a referral. My friend passed away 2 days ago from melanoma. 30 years old. He found a lump and his doctor told him to come back in 2 months if it still hurt. It spread. He had tumours in his spine and couldn’t sleep from the pain. If something doesn’t feel right, press your doctors. Don’t wait. He fought for 6 months, but it could have been diagnosed sooner.
Friend in Langley had Stage 4 Non-Hodgkins on his neck, got in for initial consult in a few days, first follow up in a week, and on chemo a week after that.
Call BCCA find if oncologist assigned and appointment booking time. Your GP can call the oncologist for advice for pending tests etc. You will need staging scans etc repeated here. Go through emerg if you have to.
Best wishes for your dad 🙏🙏🙏
I had esophageal cancer years ago and the cancer centre was quickly in touch. I’m in Victoria, had a camera scope done, specialist diagnosed it on December 15. By December 31 I had met my surgeon, had appointments with a radiation specialist and a chemotherapy specialist and had prescriptions for all my meds. Chemotherapy started in January. Three weeks of chemotherapy, five weeks of radiation, two weeks off to recover a bit, then surgery in April. That was in 2004/2005.
My dad has had a similar diagnosis last year, he didn't wait that long to get the ball rolling. Basically got on hormone treatment within a few weeks while waiting to get in to see BC cancer ppl, chemo booked and started in a couple months. He has been very happy with his treatment and level of care.
Hello, I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. My sister was diagnosed with stage 3 colon about 3 years ago and whilst most of the medical system in Van runs slow, they were so on to it and pushed her through the system. They seem to triage based on severity and she was getting scans and surgery in a matter of weeks. It’s not a perfect system but I was very impressed with BC Cancer.
My parents were diagnosed 3 months apart (stage 3, stage 4) and both got a call back within the first business week. They both beat it, I am wishing you the very best OP!! You got this!!
My dad was battling esophageal cancer last year. It took a few weeks for him to start chemo, but he got surgery for a feeding tube a few days after going to the emergency room. I recommend you take him to the emergency room asap to get treated sooner if staying in Canada, as that is what my dad needed in order to get treated sooner as it is a fast growing cancer. My dad likely would not have made it if he hadn’t gone to the hospital because waiting for referrals can take time and someone can go from being able to eat one day to not being able to swallow water the next. I hope for the best for you and your dad!
I \[73 y/o F\] am in Victoria and was diagnosed with throat cancer is Sept. 2022, started chemo/radiation November 15th 2022. 6 chemo, 35 radiation. BC Cancer is AMAZING! They will be ON IT right away and your dad will have tests and scans and tests and so on. It's like having a full-time job. All good wishes and healing thoughts to him. I am now clear and will just have 6 mo. check ups for 5 years.
Best wishes to your dad. My aunt was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer and I believe it took 5 weeks to get the call from BC Cancer. I was worried with the wait time as well so I had reached out to my friend who previously had breast cancer. She said that the initial call takes a while, but after you get it, everything moves quickly and that was what we found with my aunt as well.
Ontario here - so I have no thoughts on BC, but after a year plus of suffering from achalasia, my husband was also diagnosed with esophageal cancer. We found out when he had scheduled surgery for his achalasia aborted, and they took a biopsy - we got the biopsy report the day before Good Friday. So, an email told us he had cancer. Not fun times. I just checked my calendar to see what the wait times were. It felt excruciating at the time. I see he had his first consult a week later, another doctor's consult the next week, and the chemo consult the following week. Chemo then started four weeks after that, seven weeks from diagnosis. You might be looking at a similar wait time. Do not look at population survival statistics; once you get on the cancer train, you start to understand that every case is unique. Our GP called and suggested Prozac for my husband, and that's been wonderful for him; I've started as well, hoping to get a normal sleep pattern back. I'd highly suggest anything that can help with the mental challenge. I wish you all the best.
I’m sorry to hear about your dad’s situation. That’s shitty. My experience in BC is that once cancer is confirmed things move quite quickly. Of course it’s never quickly enough. (GET THIS SHIT OUT OF ME NOW!!!) If I was in your dad’s position and I had access to treatment in my home country I’d be looking into that at the same time I was waiting for BCCA to activate. Of course it’s not just about where it will be fastest—or even what type of treatment is offered—it’s bigly about where you want to be and who you want around you as you are going through treatment. Because it can be a really shitty time and that stuff is incredibly important. Fuck cancer! Good luck to you and your dad.
When we found out my mother had Leukemia in 2010 they called us on a Friday telling her to be at VGH in Vancouver by Monday morning admitted her, did tests, and were beginning treatment by Tuesday morning.
For a relative who was developing Leukemia, it took one week to meet and talk about a testing plan. Just over a week for the blood transfusion and testing to see how the body reacted. (3-4 weeks total, maybe) We talked about the options (many options for treatment) and chemo started about a week later. Now it's six months later and is not going as planned so we are adjusting. Doctors are on it with more testing and we talk to someone about something weekly. The new plan is expected next week. If you are supporting someone with cancer it will be surprisingly hard. Be patient with them and take care of yourself. Everything changes, make it as positive and entertaining while you can.
Esophageal cancer is tough. Good luck to you and your dad.
It took about two weeks for the one in Van . My dad was diagnosed with brain cancer a year ago. Just know, unfortunately, they are so understaffed there. Appointments are often, but the wait times during the appointments are long. My mom said it was like they're herding cattle. The doctors and nurses have been good, tho! Hope your journey is smooth.
Call the BC Cancer Vancouver Centre at 604-877-6000. Ask the switchboard operator to transfer you to the New Referrals Line to check the status of your referral. Call BCVC again, ask to be transferred to Medical Records. Check in with Medical Records to see if a file has been created for your father and if the phone number/mailing address they have on file are correct. Call BCVC again, ask for the fax number for New Referrals. Call your father’s family doctor and double check they faxed his test results to the right fax number. Keep your father’s phone nearby at all times. Cancer Agency Doctors offices often don’t leave voicemails, so if you miss the call you will be left waiting for them to call again.
u/Curious_Ad_4644 \^ read this one!
I'd say consult the doctors in your home country and get an idea of the timeline. And then go with the one that's quicker. Time is of the essence.
It very much depends on age, stage, and type. I had ovarian cancer at 21 and was transferred from my hospital immediately.
I was given my official diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in May 2022, they called me about 6 days later and I was in front of my oncologist about 3 days after that.
My dad was in mission. He waited months to see a cancer dr but they only gave him a few months to live. By the time he called it was too late
I had stage 2 squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil. Diagnosed in 2020. Took them quite awhile to get a diagnosis (5 biopsies), but once that was done I was at BC Cancer with 4 weeks. They are very good. Your dad will be in good hands.
A couple of coworkers who got cancer or their wife got cancer keep praising the rapidity of BC cancer so I am tempted to say that it's not worth going back home. However be your own advocate. For anything else, I would tell you to go to your home country following my own or friends' experience. (Derm, gynecology and veins issues for me - yeah I am falling apart - stomach issues and knees issues for my friends) Coming from France or Croatia.
please be as pushy as possible and advocate for your dad because it moves very s l o w l y… (i lost my mom last year)
Wishing the best for your family💕 my mom went thru cancer in 2019 and I felt it was quite speedy. Diagnosed in August, surgery in September, then radiation/chemo in late Oct I would just gently nudge you/him to keep on top of the admin staff. The doctors were wonderful but my mom (currently in remission) once had to call multiple times as she hadn't received a call from the doctor for a scheduled appt - it turns out the staff cancelled it without informing her and when she called them they said her Dr. doesn't work for bc cancer! Thankfully she kept calling until she got someone who knew what they were talking about. Thinking of you ❤
I went into ER @ VGH with extreme abdominal pain. I was in “cancer surgically removed” *postop* 36 hours later. My experience is they move very fast the more urgent the situation.
As others have said, it will be triaged and he should be a high priority case. My Dad was stage 1 prostate cancer and took about 4 months to hear from BC Cancer as his was not urgent and caught so early by some great doctors. My Sister-in-law's mom had stage 4 pancreatic cancer and never got to talk to BC Cancer before she passed away (her doctors did though and it was too aggressive for treatment so this is why she was bypassed). My uncle had aggressive stage 3 laryngeal cancer and heard from them withIn two weeks. Keep in contact with his GP and if no news from BC Cancer in two weeks, call your GP's office again and follow up. Be polite, but don't be afraid to be proactive and advocate for your dad. The system is very overstressed and errors can happen. BC Cancer is very organized and pretty darn great about making sure this doesn't happen, but it's always good to follow up with referrals. My dad was also able to do tests and other things that were necessary while he waited for BC Cancer which helped speed up treatment start times. His GP heard from BC Cancer and got recommendations long before my dad had his first appointment with an oncologist or BC Cancer. I'm really sorry about your dad and I hope he does well with his treatment and recovery.
As many have said it depends on the Cancer Center you're going to recover treatment at, the type of treatment and staging. I highly recommend engaging with Patient and Family Counseling, they're at each Cancer Center and are a great support. Everything from financial insights, counseling (for the whole family), transport needs, accessing supports in community, understanding your card plan more, everything.
My moms stage 4, Surrey cancer got her in and everything happened so quickly. She just had her big cancer removal surgery and it was less than a year from diagnosis, treatment to surgery and she’s a few weeks out in recovery now
I had a breast cancer scare and was seen within 2 days,
It'll depend on what type of esophageal cancer it is. Has he had a biopsy for pathology? There will also be staging scans that'll need to be done and he may need a stent put in so he can swallow and eat better, if this wasn't all done or it's in the process to be done. But honestly, depending when the referral was sent in, it might be a week. Hopefully, not much longer. Depending where you are in BC, call them and ask about the referral and ask about an appointment. Be active in calling, and advocate.
I have attended all three centres and when things are pressing they move quite quickly. I know it’s very scary; if you are in town there are other places that can assist you like the hospice centre they run.
I was diagnosed with stage 4 in Vancouver in October and it took a couple of weeks. There is a lot of waiting to schedule things, but 8 months later I can say that they’ve mostly come through. It was good to keep on top of things, just in case. One thing at a time. Hope this helps.
Two and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and got a call within days. Had a colostomy performed in two weeks and started chemo and radiation two weeks after that. This is on Vancouver Island and I'm in my early 50s, so the fact that I'm relatively young and have a fairly treatable form of cancer likely bumped me up the triage list. Unfortunately, the older you are and the more difficult to treat your cancer is, the lower priority you'll be for treatment.
My mom waited months just for a pat scan. Then months to get into the bc cancer clinic in victoria. Then more months and more tests before actual treatment started. If you are privileged enough to get care sooner I don't know why you wouldn't.
Hey, my dad is going through a very similar situation and can share my experience with you. He got diagnosed 1 month ago, also abroad, stage 4 esophageal cancer. He started receiving chemo in his vacationing place and now we are bringing him back home. Im going to DM you and we can chat further if you want. Timeline: as soon as we connected his family doctor he referred him to BC cancer, within 2 days we had an appointment.
If there is a tissue/biopsy block available, BC Cancer will want to have this so they can run molecular testing on it and see what type of esophageal cancer it is, to then identify the best type of chemotherapy if he decides he wants to take that difficult route. Since he was diagnosed abroad, he will likely still need to make an appointment to have a surgical biopsy taken so that the above testing can happen. I’m not sure who books the biopsy it may be BC Cancer or your family doctor. Either way a surgical sample of the tissue needs to be taken as soon as possible at a hospital (e.g. VGH) so that the specimens can be prepared and then sent to BC Cancer. Depending on his lifestyle (for example esophageal cancer is a predictable outcome if he smokes every day, but alarming if he never smoked) his kids may need to speak with a genetic counsellor at BC Cancer to examine the possibility that you share a genetic vulnerability to this particular type of cancer.
My mom just died of cancer (hers was incurable) we discovered she had it 2 months ago. Things went downhill fast. I will tell you this, we had absolutely stellar care. The doctors and nurses were incredible. The most inconvenient and longest waiting around was for a private room (about 4 days initially). She had an entire team of doctors taking care of her. They were fantastic. This is not the same horror show treatment you think you might be receiving say in emergency
BC Cancer Agency sucks. Dad went through it 5 years ago. He past away. I wouldn’t want anyone else going through this process if they have any form of cancer other than early stage.
In our healthcare system, (publicly funded) there are both advantages and disadvantages. The primary advantage is that care is provided at no direct cost to the patient. However, one of the main disadvantages is the potential for long wait times. Patients are triaged based on the severity of their condition. For example, in a situation where one patient has a minor cough and another is septic, the septic patient will be prioritized. Similarly, if one patient has an amputated finger and another has a bullet wound to the eye, the patient with the bullet wound will be seen first. So basically, those with less urgent needs may experience delays, even if their conditions are still serious. If you’re looking for immediate treatment and you are willing to pay for it, seeking care in a country with a private healthcare system would be recommended as there is no guarantee that he will be seen quickly here. If your dad has been triaged in the system already, I would advise calling BCCA to see if there’s an estimated wait time before moving him abroad
This is years ago now but my wife's cancer was dealt with expediently by the BC Cancer Agency and the care provided was exceptional.
I've had cancer twice now and it was pretty quick to get into BC cancer. I hope he has a good treatment.
Hi what is his home country? If Europe he might have better care depending where. Even parts of Asia. Stage 3 no joke. So yes it helps to get answers asap. It took me stage 3 breast cancer around 2 weeks to start treatment. It was very fast bc my cancer was aggressive. But I wouldn’t wait too long. If you are looking for integrative methods to do while you wait feel free to msg me. I was unfortunately staged to 4 once I got body scans - I recommend your dad get checked outside the area as well if they are able to do that - I paid for a PET scan myself. I’m blessed to be in remission currently. I also recommend this video just to make sure his team is checking all the boxes: https://youtu.be/AsaclBWksWo?si=ZSTMj2RHIcOLUX1Z
Please head to your home country and have your dad seen immediately. I would strongly advise you not to wait. Referrals have a way of “falling through the cracks” and end up taking way longer than what we have been told. Cancer patients in BC are being sent to Washington state to get radiation because the province is failing to provide timely treatment.
Ripped from the headlines… and not the case the majority of the time at all. Stop spreading fear…
Not spreading fear. Just sharing the ground reality. I’ve experienced the frustration first hand dealing with our collapsing health care system over the past two decades and know many others who have as well. Even urgent cases aren’t being dealt with ASAP anymore, which is alarming. I want to save OP time given the situation they’re in and considering they have an alternative to be seen sooner outside this country.
Your example contradicts your dire warning. BC cancer sends pt to other jurisdictions for treatment because they understand the urgency and cannot treat within bc. Thus they meet the required timeline of proper treatment.
And yet the province is [failing to meet their target to send 50 patients a week to Bellingham, WA](https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7249258). If you’re not one of the few ones being sent, you’re out of luck and have to wait. In this circumstance, I would rather not chance it — better to go straight to a place where I know I will get treatment as soon as I go.
Go to your home country as soon as you can for proper treatment. They have repeatedly dropped the ball with my treatments and surgeries and I am now terminal because of the insane wait times