Pond Inlet residents at risk for colorectal cancer wait over a year for colonoscopies: MLA
Health Department screened people in community for the disease in March
Tununiq MLA Karen Nutarak says her constituents in Pond Inlet have to wait up to a year and a half for a colonoscopy after being screened at high risk for colorectal cancer. Nutarak’s statement follows a pilot program for colorectal screening that occurred in March in Pond Inlet, Gjoa Haven and Arviat. (File photo)
People in Pond Inlet deemed to be at risk for colorectal cancer are facing long waits for followup colonoscopies, says Tununiq MLA Karen Nutarak, who raised the issue in the legislative assembly Wednesday.
Health-care workers from the Department of Health visited Pond Inlet, Gjoa Haven and Arviat in March as part of a pilot project to screen people for colorectal cancer.
“Some patients were informed that they may be at risk and would require a colonoscopy, but it may take up to one and a half years for the procedure,” Nutarak said.
She asked Health Minister John Main to explain why the colonoscopy backlog is so lengthy.
Main said backlogs exist across the country due to pent-up demand from restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said his department has looked to southern provinces to provide colonoscopies, but those jurisdictions are dealing with their own backlogs.
“We are looking at where we could find opportunities to shorten the timelines,” Main said.
Nutarak asked what other supports are available for people who have to wait for a colonoscopy.
“It is quite stressful to be told you are at risk and you need a diagnostic test, but that you have to wait for a very long time,” she said.
Main listed a variety of mental health programs available to anyone in Nunavut, including in-person or remote counselling.
He said colorectal cancer has been the second-most prevalent type of cancer in Nunavut, accounting for 19 per cent of the cancers diagnosed in the territory from 1999 to 2011.
Nunatsiaq News asked the Department of Health for the percentage of Nunavummiut who were screened and determined to be at risk for colorectal cancer, and to confirm wait times to receive a colonoscopy.
Representatives from the department did not respond in time for publication.
These wait times are nuts. How can people whom are at risk be made to wait a year and a half to get a procedure done. And to be told oh metal health services is available. what a joke. This NU government has to do more and if they have to search outside of Canada to get the expertise then do so. This procedure can be done at any Health Centre in Nunavut.
Minister Main, what would be your answer if your spouse was to be told to wait a year for screening? Would you recommend your spouse to seek counseling also?
I know firsthand of a friend who died from colon cancer and left her children at a very young age as the nurse’s wouldn’t screen her stating that it might just be hernia that she has for her symptoms. By the time she was screen she was told it was stage 3, which was too late for her at the end.
These issues shouldn’t have to be waited to be seen and screen, we are in 2023 and still yet Nunavut is having issue’s with keeping health care professionals in Nunavut or either they aren’t screen here.
Minister Main has been in Health long enough and needs to be replaced. We all can see nothing is being done with Management to be losing nurses in communities.
QGH is fully capable of addressing this backlog. There was a project several years ago where it was a full week of colonoscopies. However, planning to repeat this even twice a year will run into the issue of adequate staffing since other surgeries could not be delayed. It isnt difficult to plan, they only need motivation and leadership to go through with it.