In a healthcare system strained to its limits, Manitobans facing life-threatening illnesses are making the difficult choice to leave their home province for treatment. Karen Anderson, a 57-year-old Winnipeg resident diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in February, recently joined the growing number of patients seeking medical care elsewhere after encountering what she describes as “unacceptable delays” in Manitoba’s cancer treatment system.
“When the doctor told me I’d have to wait another three months for surgery, I felt like I’d been handed a second death sentence,” Anderson told CO24 News in an exclusive interview. “Every day waiting feels like gambling with my life.”
Anderson’s experience highlights a troubling trend in Manitoba’s healthcare system, where patients report extensive delays for critical cancer treatments. After her diagnosis, she waited six weeks for her first oncology appointment, only to learn she would face an additional 12-week wait for surgery—a timeline her oncologist acknowledged was “far from ideal” for her aggressive form of cancer.
The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that treatment for most cancers should begin within four to eight weeks of diagnosis, depending on the type and stage. For Anderson and others like her, Manitoba’s current wait times fall significantly outside these guidelines.
Dr. Michael Chen, an oncologist not involved in Anderson’s case, explains the potential consequences of such delays. “Cancer treatment timing is critical. Extended waits can lead to disease progression, reduced treatment effectiveness, and ultimately, poorer outcomes for patients,” he told CO24.
Faced with potentially life-altering delays, Anderson made the difficult decision to seek treatment in Ontario, where a surgical oncologist could see her within three weeks. This decision came with significant financial burden—approximately $30,000 in medical costs, plus travel and accommodation expenses—none of which will be reimbursed by Manitoba Health.
Manitoba’s Minister of Health, when contacted by CO24 News, acknowledged the system’s challenges: “We recognize that our healthcare system is facing unprecedented pressures. We’ve initiated a $200 million healthcare improvement plan that includes targeted funding to reduce surgical and diagnostic backlogs.”
However, for patients like Anderson, these future improvements offer little comfort. “I shouldn’t have to choose between waiting for potentially life-saving treatment or going into debt to get care in another province,” she said.
Anderson’s case is not isolated. According to data obtained through freedom of information requests, over 300 Manitobans sought out-of-province cancer care in the past year—a 40% increase from pre-pandemic levels. Advocacy groups point to chronic understaffing, inadequate infrastructure, and pandemic-related backlogs as contributing factors.
Donna Harrison, director of the Manitoba Cancer Patient Advocacy Network, argues that the situation constitutes a crisis. “When cancer patients are forced to leave their province, their support networks, and often empty their savings accounts to receive timely care, we’re looking at a fundamental failure of our healthcare promise to Canadians,” Harrison stated.
As Anderson prepares for her upcoming surgery in Toronto, she worries about other patients who may not have the resources to seek alternatives. “I’m one of the lucky ones who could afford to go elsewhere. What happens to everyone else? How many Manitobans are watching their cancer progress while sitting on a waiting list?”
The question now facing Manitoba’s political leadership is whether temporary funding increases will be enough to address what appears to be a systemic issue in cancer care delivery—and whether solutions will come quickly enough for patients whose lives depend on timely treatment.
