In May of 1998, the Canadian Cancer Society, PEI Division identified a need to bring together stakeholders concerned about cancer control and surveillance in Prince Edward Island. A number of provincial and national events acted as catalysts to stimulate these discussions, including the National Cancer Institute Canada’s definition of cancer control, the cancer control report care released by Cancer Care Ontario, and the Schabas Report which provided the
framework to look at cancer control in Canada.
With leadership from the Canadian Cancer Society, a number of meetings were held over the next 18 months to determine priority issues in PEI. A stakeholder survey provided a platform for stakeholders to contribute to identifying issues and priorities of concern. This initial stakeholder group from the Canadian Cancer Society, government, and community formed the initial PEI Cancer Control Committee. The purpose was to promote a comprehensive approach to cancer control and assessment of the capacity already available on Prince Edward Island.
After a number of funding proposals were not successful, and aware that a national cancer control strategy was being developed, PEI decided to wait until the national framework was fleshed out so that PEI could be positioned well to move on.
During the ensuing years, the PEI Cancer Control Committee continued to monitor and advocate in PEI to move a PEI control strategy that was in line with the developing national strategy. In early 2001, the national strategy needed commitment from the provinces to move it forward.
PEI’s background work had positioned it well to be one of the first provinces to have government support to produce a PEI cancer control strategy, which was announced in the speech from the throne in November 2001.
An advisory committee was formed in May of 2002 to provide guidance to develop a provincial cancer control strategy to be integrated with the national work. Membership was drawn from a previous cancer working group and included representation from the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre, the Canadian Cancer Society, cancer survivors, the provincial representative on the national council, PEI Medical Society, UPEI School of Nursing and representatives from the PEI Department of Health and Social Services. Membership has since expanded to include
representation from the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of PEI; Diagnostic Imaging Department of the PHSA; the PEI Cancer Registry; and other cancer survivors and family members.
As well as having multi-sectoral guidance, strategy development has been cost-shared by the PEI Department of Health and Social Services and the Canadian Cancer Society, PEI Division.
Advisory committee members have given careful consideration and guidance to all facets of the strategy’s development, sharing their expertise and resources. The committee has also drawn upon the input of experts who contributed to this discussion through subcommittees formed to focus discussion on specific topics, or through extensive interviews conducted while preparing an inventory of supportive resources. The resulting strategy reflects their collective knowledge and advice on how to reduce the burden of cancer in Prince Edward Island.
The PEI Cancer Control Strategy has concentrated recommendations on five areas of the cancer experience: prevention, screening and diagnosis, treatment and supportive care, palliation and end-of-life care, and survivorship.
In areas affecting the delivery of medical services, similar issues were continuously encountered, including access to primary care, recruitment of medical and technical staff, commitment of adequate financial resources, coordination of care and access to medications. These issues have an enormous impact on cancer diagnosis and care, although in most cases, solutions are well beyond the mandate of this committee. The committee has made several over-arching recommendations to address these major concerns. These are noted separately.
The process of developing a strategy has already made several contributions to controlling the burden of cancer in PEI, including:
• Creation of a provincial forum through which a wide range of stakeholders can work together to identify and meet the needs of cancer patients, sharing information about cancer from a variety of sectors, disciplines, regions, and perspectives.
• Creation of four subcommittees to identify existing resources, strategies, needs and gaps within specific areas of cancer care: prevention, screening and diagnosis, treatment and supportive care, and palliative and end-of-life care.
• Compilation and dissemination of information to advisory committee members and their organizations concerning the existing cancer burden in PEI: risk factors, major issues, and national and international literature about best practices in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, palliation and survivorship.
• Increased awareness of the different perspectives, programs, and capacities of member organizations. This has facilitated collaboration between member organizations on specific projects to enhance support for cancer patients and their family members in Prince Edward Island, such as the patient and family resource centre at the Cancer Treatment Centre, furnished and stocked by the Canadian Cancer Society, PEI Division.
• Compilation of an inventory of resources that offer support to cancer patients in all areas of the province, including practical, emotional, and palliative care and dissemination to advisory committee members and their organizations.
• Information-sharing and increased understanding among a wide range of professionals and volunteers throughout the province, including assessment of issues faced by cancer patients at local levels and provincial challenges.
• Sharing of background information with other provincial agencies with an interest in cancer issues.
6World Health Organization (2002). National Cancer Control Programmes: Policies and Managerial Guidelines; World Health Organization, Geneva, 2002.