The governments of Canada and the US are both closely involved in the delivery of health care. The main difference between the two is health insurance. In Canada, the federal government is committed to providing funding support. In the US health insurance must be paid for privately or is provided by the person's employer.
There are many uninsured Americans. I was lucky that I had a good insurance plan with my job. After my cancer diagnoses I didn't have to wait very long for appointments and medical procedures.
An article I read states that "American doctors and hospitals are more likely than their Canadian counterparts to purchase new and expensive devices and technologies. An American patient is more likely to be rapidly treated by a specialist with the most up to date equipment. Canadians are more likely to be treated by their GP and cared for over a period of time in the hospital."
The article also states "The two greatest problems with the current Canadian system are waiting lists and shortage of sophisticated diagnostic machines."
I'm not knocking Canadian care, however I know for me that I do not want to wait months for an appointment after I know that I have cancer. I rather be here in the United States getting care but only because I have good health insurance. If I didn't have any health insurance than Canadian health care seems better because it's free.
Jen Martyn who is a fellow breast cancer survivor and Canadian has a few things she would like to address. Jen says that a lot people she knows thinks she has it great in Canada because her health care is free. She says that not everyone knows that she had to wait over three months after diagnoses to even see an oncologist. She even says that time of three months is actually good and she knows some who have waited six months for an appointment.
The only way that Jen could get the treatment she wanted was by entering in a clinical trial and crossing her fingers that she got the right arm of the trial that she thought was the best treatment option for her.
There's more - Jen also says there is no chance for dose dense chemotherapy in Canada, something they are routinely doing here in the United States. It is next to impossible to get a second opinion and it takes months and months to book scans.
What is the best model to be followed? Any comments?
Thanks to Jen Martyn for the information and tip she provided for this post
1. I am living in Canada - northern Alberta in a city of only about 43,000. We are very fortunate to have a cancer clinic as part of our only hospital. I was diagnosed with IDC on May 22nd. Had my mastectomy May 31st, all staging tests and scans done in July and started chemo July 26th. I keep hearing about waiting lists and horrible medical service in the media but I for one have never had that experience. My gp, surgeon, oncologist, the nurses at the cancer clinic, the techs doing the scans - everyone has been super proffesional, efficient and kind. My mother was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer in February of 2005 and our experience then was the same - no waits, no complaints.
I was hospitalized after my 2nd chemo due to low white counts and an infection. The only bed available was on the maternity ward but it worked for me plus I had the added bonus of babies crying (a joy)- much better than old folks moaning!
My mother-in-law was diagnosed with inflamatory breast cancer 14 years ago and I know that she received dose-dense chemo even then. They gave her the option and she chose to get hit with the strongest concoction that they could come up with. Following that she was sent to Edmonton, which is 5 hours away for her radiation treatments. Although it may be a hardship for some to have to travel for the radiation, the cancer clinic there provided lodging and there is government financial aid available for those that need to travel far from home for treatment. Dispite a terrible prognosis my mother-in-law is still with us today and no signs of recurrance! (I requested and received her doctor- yay!)
I would hope that everyone whether they are living in the US or Canada, small town or big city, is treated as well and as efficiently as we have been.
Posted at 7:22PM on Sep 2nd 2006 by Liane