Listen Live
HomeNewsArea mom advocating for better access to cancer care

Area mom advocating for better access to cancer care

An area volunteer and cancer care advocate is back home from calling on the Federal government to improve cancer care.  

North Bay’s Renee Meyer is also a caregiver for her daughter Ava who was diagnosed with a brain tumour.  

She was in Ottawa this week taking part in advocacy work on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society and says the trip was all about trying to get better access to cancer care.  

“It’s everything from prevention all the way up to palliative care. We know that there are many gaps within the healthcare system, especially in more remote areas that don’t necessarily have the big hospitals,” she says. “We want to make sure that everyone dealing with cancer can have the same quality care.”  

- Advertisement -

Meyer says the reception was amazing.  

“We got to have breakfast with the MPs,” she says. “Then about ten groups of us went off to meet about 50 MPs in Parliament. We got to go to all the different buildings and provide them with a package and ask them for their support.”  

Meyer says learning more about how the provinces will be spending federally allotted healthcare money is key.  

“We want to make sure this money is going to where it needs to go,” she says. “We know that when it comes to cancer early detection is the best way to fight it. The earlier we catch it the better chance people have. With the wait times that are happening all across Canada, people are not getting their cancer detected as early as needed.” 

When asked what’s next, Meyer says she’d love to meet with provincial politicians at Queen’s Park to find out where they plan on spending the healthcare money.

- Advertisment -
- Advertisment -
- Advertisement -

Continue Reading