Longer lives seen in new target

ON BOARD: Richard Thurlow says the initiative will improve survival rates.

A faster target for first-time cancer treatments could increase survival rates over time, says Waipuna Hospice chief executive Richard Thurlow.

The faster target of a maximum 62-day wait before a patient's first cancer treatment was announced by Health Minister and Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall yesterday. Dr Thurlow welcomed the initiative.

"I think it will have an impact on survival rates and ultimately people will live longer, although that will be decades in the future."

Dr Thurlow said the success of the new target would depend on whether there were "enough hands on deck", but as the Government had been investing in more specialty nurses in oncology departments around the country, that might may not be an issue. For a patient, the wait to get a confirmed cancer diagnosis could be lengthy and stressful and faster first treatments would have a positive impact on patients' quality of life, Dr Thurlow said.

Waikato/Bay of Plenty division of Cancer Society of New Zealand communications manager Rachael Mounsey said it was common for new clients of the society to be highly anxious, some after receiving their diagnosis and others still waiting for final results. "Any changes like decreasing wait times for cancer treatment would be of benefit to these clients.

"However, that said there is always going to be a period of time where people are required to wait for their treatment and this may come down to a number of different reasons.

"It is over this time that the Cancer Society can step in and provide support to those that need it." Mrs Mounsey said once treatment began, more often than not there were still questions and concerns which the society's liaison nurses could provide help with.

Labour Tauranga candidate Rachel Jones said she was surprised the target was 62 days.

"It still seems like a long time to wait for cancer treatment to me. Labour is focusing mostly on primary health and prevention such as early bowel screening, and preventing diseases before they come along."

Mr Ryall said the new target was broader than the current cancer health target, which focused on how long patients waited to start chemotherapy and radiotherapy when ready to treat. The current cancer target did not include surgery, which was often the first treatment step for patients, or the time patients waited to see a cancer specialist and have tests done.