Survivors urge swift, equal access to breakthrough treatments for all Canadians facing breast cancer
For Canadians facing breast cancer, every day waiting for treatment can mean the difference between hope and uncertainty.
The Ontario government’s new Fast Access to Specialized Therapies (FAST) program aims to change that reality by reducing wait times for breakthrough cancer treatments and ensuring timely access to potentially life-altering therapies.
Across Canada, more than 30,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, with nearly half of those cases in Ontario.
Despite ongoing advances in research and treatment, many patients still encounter lengthy delays—on average, over 12 months—from drug approval to public availability.
These delays can have significant consequences for those navigating a breast cancer diagnosis.
“For people facing breast cancer, waiting is not an option,” says Kimberly Carson, CEO of Breast Cancer Canada. She describes the FAST program as “a critical step forward, ensuring patients can access breakthrough treatments without unnecessary delays.”
Carson also highlights Ontario’s leadership in lowering the recommended breast cancer screening age to 40 last October, recognizing the importance of early detection.
By prioritizing both timely access and screening, she notes, Ontario is driving systemic change and setting a strong example for the rest of the country.
Survey data from Breast Cancer Canada underscores the urgency of these issues.
Ninety-seven percent of Canadians believe breast cancer patients should have timely access to the same new treatments available in other countries.
Eighty-seven percent believe that where you live in Canada significantly affects access to quality breast cancer care, and 97 percent say there is still progress to be made in breast cancer care.
Natalie Wilson, a three-time breast cancer survivor, shares, “As a three-time breast cancer survivor, it’s impossible not to think about recurrence and wonder if one day another diagnosis might come.”
She emphasizes that “every day counts when facing breast cancer,” and warns that delays in accessing the latest, most effective treatments can affect quality of life, available treatment options, risk of recurrence, and the chance of survival.
Wilson stresses that no Canadian should face barriers to access, and that factors such as location or cultural background should never determine the care received.
She believes that “every breast cancer diagnosis deserves the very best treatments available, for each and every Canadian.”
While the FAST program addresses some of the current gaps, Breast Cancer Canada continues to advocate for a coordinated, national approach to ensure equitable access to cancer treatments across all provinces and territories.
The organization maintains that faster, fairer access and early detection should not depend on a postal code or private insurance, but must be standard for every Canadian facing breast cancer.
