"At 51, Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth had been postmenopausal for eight years. So when she started bleeding again in May, the Ottawa family physician knew something wasn't right. In medical school we were taught postmenopausal bleeding is endometrial cancer or uterine cancer until proven otherwise, Kaplan-Myrth told CBC Radio's White Coat, Black Art. But Kaplan-Myrth knew from her own patients' experiences that getting in to see a gynecologist especially one who performs surgery can take six months to a year or more in Ontario."
"Ontario Health, meanwhile, reports average gynecological surgical wait times of up to four months. Ten years ago, that wait used to be about a month and a half, according to a Fraser Institute study. Surgical wait times vary across the country, but a 2020 study from the National Library of Medicine found that a gynecologist consultation alone can take up to four and a half months on average."
At 51, a postmenopausal woman experienced unexpected bleeding and recognized the urgency of diagnosis given the likelihood of endometrial or uterine cancer. Gynecological surgical wait times in Ontario and across Canada have lengthened, with Ontario Health reporting waits up to four months and a 2020 study finding gynecologist consultations can average four and a half months. A Fraser Institute review indicates waits were shorter a decade ago. Long delays stem from systemic underinvestment, constrained operating-room resources, fewer gynecologists performing surgery, and lower prioritization of ovarian procedures. These delays cause prolonged suffering and risk for many women. National efforts aim to improve access to care.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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