B.C. woman with terminal cancer says health-care system needs help

Sara Gilooly says delays and limited testing in B.C. contributed to her breast cancer progressing to metastatic disease; an independent MLA called the problem systemic and provincial health officials did not respond by deadline.

Sara Gilooly, a B.C. woman now described as having terminal cancer, spoke publicly about experiencing delays and limited diagnostic testing in the provincial health system. Her cancer was first identified in May and she had surgery and some pathology work afterwards. She says some tests she requested were delayed or not performed while she waited, and later imaging in November showed metastatic disease in her lungs. Gilooly said she sought information from hospitals abroad and local support programmes while navigating care and wait lists. Key known points: - Gilooly's breast cancer was identified in May and she underwent surgery; initial pathology at that time showed clear margins and no lymph node involvement. - She reports that requests for additional tests, including imaging and specific pathology markers, met with delays or were not completed during the waiting period. - In November, CT, PET and MRI scans reported metastatic disease in the lungs. - Independent MLA Amelia Boultbee said the story is not unique and cited people leaving the province for care; the B.C. Health Ministry and BC Cancer did not respond by the deadline. Summary: Gilooly says wait times and limited diagnostics contributed to a later finding of metastatic disease and has left her questioning how earlier testing might have affected her course. Undetermined at this time.