Achi news desk-
A New Brunswick cancer survivor is heading to Parliament Hill to advocate for policy changes to make cancer treatment more accessible for Canadians.
Between the cost of medications, access to caregivers, and unpaid sick leave, a cancer diagnosis can come with sticker shock.
Isabel Allan-Label of Boctouche, NB, knows this all too well. She was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2019, and at the time, the financial implications were the last thing on her mind.
“I started treatment right away. I said I would do whatever it took. All I could think about was if I would be there for my son,” she said.
Going through treatment was very difficult and took a physical toll on her in many ways. Still, she considers herself one of the lucky ones because her job covered the costs of the medication.
“Medications that prevent relapse like the ones I’m taking now are very expensive, so it’s important that New Brunswickers have coverage and that’s not the case for everyone right now,” she said.
That’s what compelled her to go to Ottawa next week, as part of a summit organized by the Canadian Cancer Society, to talk to policymakers about the hidden costs of a cancer diagnosis.
According to the company, close to half of Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, prompting it to call on the government to make cancer treatment more accessible.
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Alain-Label will join other patient representatives from around the country, who will share their personal stories.
“We have several advocacy priorities, most of which focus on the patient experience,” said Dylan Buskermolen, a cancer survivor and advocacy specialist with the Canadian Cancer Society.
“(These priorities include) making sure that health services are accessible and affordable for people across the country – implementing things like tax credits for caregivers for people in need.”
Isabel Allan-Label of Boctouche, NB was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019.
Provided/Isabel Allan-Label
Alleyne-Leibel has already met with New Brunswick MLAs in the past to discuss patient concerns, including the issue of sick leave at work.
Currently, New Brunswick employment law only requires employers to provide employees with up to five days of unpaid sick leave per year.
“Five days is definitely not enough and like I said, I was in treatments for a year and a half and then I had to take an oral medication that gave me debilitating fatigue for a year after that,” Alan-Leibel said.
She plans to continue her advocacy after returning from Ottawa.
— with a file from Global News’ Rebecca Lau
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
