(Twitter NS Cancer Care Program photo)
There was a good turnout yesterday in Yarmouth at two cancer care focus groups.
The sessions are part of an ongoing review of cancer services in the Yarmouth area by the Nova Scotia Health Authority.
It review began after the community lobbied for radiation treatment at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital.
Sandy Dennis, a town councillor, who is also battling cancer, attended the groups and says 30 to 40 people took part.
She says there was good feedback from caregivers, support people and cancer survivors.
“At times it was very emotional for some people who shared their journey with us. Some of the testimonials from people living with cancer or caring for a loved one were really heartbreaking at times.”
Dennis says the review won’t be finished until late spring.
She says it will be a long process and there’s much for the province to consider including the cost of setting up a linear accelerator for radiation treatment.
“It’s also having the people to staff and it’s also whether we have enough people that will use the unit all the time. We also have to see how many patients actually come from this end of the province to Halifax.”
The catchment area is also critical.
Dennis says it could encompass an area from Kings County around to Queens County.
