September 16th, 2024
September 16th, 2024
QUEENS PARK - For Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, NDP MPP Wayne Gates is calling on the Ford government to pass his motion to have OHIP cover prostate-specific antigen testing for early detection of prostate cancer when referred by a healthcare provider.
“We know that 1 in 8 men in Canada will be diagnosed with prostate cancer over the course of their lifetime”, said MPP Gates. “This year alone, it is estimated that 5,000 men will lose their lives to this devastating disease. But we also know that when prostate cancer is detected early, nearly 100 per cent of men with the disease will survive five years or longer.”
MPP Gates previously introduced his motion in 2019, 2020, and 2023. The motion would extend OHIP coverage for the PSA test when referred by a healthcare provider. Currently, eight other provinces cover the test.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst Canadian men and has disproportionate impacts among Black men, including those of African or Caribbean ancestry, and those with a family history. In 2024, an estimated 27,900 men in Canada, and 10,500 men in Ontario, are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 5,000 men are expected to die of the disease.
The motion is supported by the Canadian Cancer Society, and MPP Gates was joined at the press conference by Dr. Stuart Edmonds from the Canadian Cancer Society, and three patient advocates living with prostate cancer, including Anthony Henry from the Walnut Foundation, Dr. Anthony Dixon, an emergency room physician in Chatham-Kent, as well Pete Ward a constituent.
“This is a common-sense, simple solution that will save our province millions of dollars, and more importantly, save lives”, said Gates. “Let’s come together across party lines and do the right thing by passing this motion. I’m calling on the government and all parties to come together and support.”
QUOTES
Pete Ward, Constituent of Burlington, Ontario
“I almost didn’t take the PSA test. It was offered as an optional add-on to other blood work I was getting – with a big but. “But, there is a $35 fee, do you still want it”. By the time I got my test results, my numbers were off the charts, which reduced my treatment options and plunged me and my family into 10 months of hell and uncertainty. I was asymptomatic. Costs shouldn't be a barrier for men getting tested.”
Dr. Anthony Dixon, Physician, Chatham Kent, Canadian Cancer Society Volunteer Advocate
“As an Emergency Medicine physician I have advocated for many things during my professional career. Since being diagnosed with prostate cancer, none has become so important as advocating for prostate cancer screening to be covered as part of the Ontario Health Insurance Program. Saving lives has taken on a new meaning for me and I am proud to be an advocate for the Canadian Cancer. Together, through a simple and inexpensive blood test, we can prevent men from dying of prostate cancer.”
Anthony Henry, President, The Walnut Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society Volunteer Advocate
“I am one of four in my family impacted by prostate cancer. My dad did not get the PSA test and his disease was discovered at an advanced stage. It was because of this that prompted myself and my other family members to initiate a screening protocol and I started at age 40. We are still here today. At my non-profit, The Walnut Foundation, we advocate for early screening to reduce deaths from prostate cancer. When Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer, we must be a part of the conversation on this disease. We fully support MPP Gates and the Canadian Cancer Society’s call for free PSA testing in Ontario.”
Dr. Stuart Edmonds, EVP, Mission, Research and Advocacy, Canadian Cancer Society
“It is a privilege to advocate on behalf of Canadians living with and beyond cancer, and to continue to support MPP Wayne Gates’ motion to ensure that men who are concerned about their health can decide with their healthcare provider to have the PSA test and have it covered by OHIP. As the burden of cancer grows in Ontario, we need the government to embrace common-sense solutions that benefit people with cancer, with a nearly 100% survival rate if prostate cancer is found early. It’s not only the right thing to do — it’s also great for the government’s budget since finding cancer early when it is easier to treat reduces healthcare costs. After over a decade of support, the time is now to move this forward.”