Imagine discovering a lump in your breast, only to be caught in a healthcare system that moves at a snail’s pace. For Sara Gillooly, this wasn’t a hypothetical scenario—it was her reality. Her story sheds light on the alarming delays in cancer diagnostics in British Columbia, a problem far more widespread than most realize.
Just two weeks after a hysterectomy last May, Gillooly found herself back in the hospital, not only dealing with post-surgical bleeding but also a newly discovered lump in her breast. She was swiftly sent for a mammogram, and an ultrasound and biopsy were scheduled. But here’s where it gets frustrating: the process dragged on. The ultrasound didn’t happen for weeks. During the procedure, Gillooly glanced at the screen—a decision she later regretted. ‘I could see the network of veins feeding the tumor,’ she recalled. ‘It was terrifying.’ The technician’s advice? ‘You shouldn’t go through this alone.’
On July 2, the call came: it was cancer. Surgery was scheduled for July 28. But Gillooly, a 40-year-old mother of two, wasn’t satisfied with just the basics. Her family was in panic mode, and she wanted answers. She considered flying to Turkey for faster, more comprehensive testing, especially since younger women are more prone to aggressive forms of breast cancer. Ultimately, she stayed in B.C. to remain close to her family, but her quest for more information continued.
She asked her doctor about the Ki-67 proliferation index test, a common procedure in the U.S. and Europe that assesses the aggressiveness of breast cancer. The response? ‘We don’t do that here.’ This is where it gets controversial: Why are tests standard in other countries not available in Canada?
After her tumor was removed on July 28, Gillooly pushed for immediate imaging and an Oncotype score test, which predicts the likelihood of cancer recurrence. But she was told to wait for an oncologist appointment. Despite being assured her prognosis was good, the uncertainty weighed heavily on her. ‘Advocating for myself is exhausting, especially when you’re already emotionally drained,’ she admitted.
It wasn’t until September 29 that she finally saw an oncologist, who ordered the Oncotype test. The catch? Her sample had to be sent to California, adding more weeks of waiting. The results were alarming: a score of 45 out of 100, indicating a high risk of recurrence. Further tests revealed the cancer had metastasized to her bones and lungs.
And this is the part most people miss: Gillooly’s story isn’t an isolated incident. On January 21, she stood alongside her friend, Independent MLA Amelia Boultbee, at the B.C. legislature to share her experience. Boultbee called the delays ‘unreasonable’ and pointed to broader systemic issues. According to SecondStreet.org, over 4,600 people died on waitlists in B.C. last year alone.
Gillooly doesn’t blame her doctor, who she says treated her with kindness and compassion. But she feels let down by the system. ‘The wait times were what really frustrated me,’ she said. She contrasts B.C.’s approach with other jurisdictions, where more information is prioritized, and action is taken swiftly to determine cancer’s aggressiveness.
In 2023, B.C. launched a 10-year cancer care action plan to improve diagnosis and treatment timelines, focusing on staffing and rural access. At one point, the province even funded patients to travel to Washington for radiation treatment. Premier David Eby acknowledged the ‘huge strain’ on the system due to an aging population and longer treatment durations. ‘We’ll identify the gaps and address them,’ he promised.
But for Gillooly, time is of the essence. She doesn’t know how much she has left, though she hopes for another decade or even a declaration of no evidence of disease—a rare outcome in her case. The stark reality? Only 25% of people with her type of metastatic breast cancer survive five more years.
Here’s the question that lingers: Would earlier testing have made a difference for Sara? And more importantly, what can be done to prevent others from facing the same delays?
Black Press Media reached out to the Ministry of Health, the Provincial Health Service Authority, and BC Cancer for answers but received no response by publication time. The conversation, however, is far from over. What’s your take? Do you think B.C.’s healthcare system is failing patients like Sara? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
