B.C. cancer patient in Vancouver unable to return home due to Prince Rupert ER closures

As the Prince Rupert region grapples with emergency room closures, a cancer patient getting treatment in Vancouver says the situation is preventing him from returning to the home he loves.

Rod Henry is from the remote community of Lax Kw’alaams, formerly known as Port Simpson, and is a member of the Ts’msyen (Tsimshian Nation).

The town of around 1,000 residents is located about 45 kilometres northwest of Prince Rupert, which has the closest emergency department, about an hour away by drive and ferry.

Henry has been receiving immunotherapy treatment at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver for stage-three Mesothelioma lung cancer since January and will have to stay in the city until at least June.

“I miss my family, I miss being able to eat fresh seafood that’s all coming in right now. I miss the ocean, I miss the herring. Salmon is starting soon,” said Henry, who works as a firefighter, first responder, and coast guard auxiliary. “Time has flown by, I can’t believe it’s the end of March. I missed my mom’s birthday last week. It’s all the little things.”

He tells CityNews his doctors have warned him he needs to be near a fully functional ER at all times, in case of complications from the first few rounds of treatment. Given the ongoing ER closures in Prince Rupert, he says his doctors are not confident he will be able to receive timely treatment if an issue arises.

“My doctor says even if I’m here in Vancouver and I have a reaction, it might be severe enough to damage vital organs. I might live but it would be the end of the treatment. My treatment is scheduled for the rest of my life,” Henry explained.

“I don’t feel sick. I’m lucky, but the potential for the reactions and how fast they come on is really scary.”

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Henry will have to stay in Vancouver for a total of 26 weeks for four treatment cycles due to the risk of complications.

“Doctors told me there’s a small chance that I could have an extreme reaction that could be fatal or turn fatal quickly. What they have me doing here is taking my temperature two to three times a day,” he said.

“If it reaches 38°C I have to be in an emergency room that’s capable of handling my situation in a timely manner and adequately. My fear is Prince Rupert doesn’t have the manpower. That’s my biggest fear,” he told CityNews.

The Prince Rupert Regional Hospital has been plagued by ER closures caused by nurse and physician shortages, Northern Health has said.

Overnight service in the ER has been disrupted at least seven times in March alone.

Henry says his symptoms began with a coughing fit in November and quickly worsened. However, he adds it took a long time to get diagnosed because he doesn’t have a family doctor.

Given he’ll likely need treatment for the rest of his life, Henry says he longs to be around his community and support system.

“Family is so far away. We see someone once in a while and they take us for dinner and hockey games and that’s all fun, but it’s not home. I love walking around Vancouver and seeing the sights but it’s not home,” said Henry.

“I have my nephew, my godson, my dog. My wife and I go to the park just to look at dogs here. That makes me so happy.”

But staying in Vancouver comes with its own challenges. Henry says his patient travel funding to stay in the city is about to be cut and has been cut multiple times. While he has launched an appeal, he says it has only further complicated his situation.

“When you don’t have a family doctor, you’re in limbo. It’s so frustrating,” he said.

In a statement to CityNews, the Provincial Health Services Authority says it cannot comment on specifics but adds it is aware of Henry’s case and will meet with him directly to discuss options.

“It is always our goal to approach each patient case with compassion and care, and in a culturally sensitive manner that recognizes the individual needs of the patient and what care path might be best suited for them,” the statement reads.

“We also recognize the added stress that travel can place on an individual undergoing cancer care, as well as the toll extended absences from community and loved ones can have.

“As a provincial system of care, there are times when patients are required to travel to different parts of British Columbia in order to ensure they have access to the best-possible specialized care they need and this may look different for every patient depending on the experience and expertise of their care providers based upon the patient’s type of cancer,” the authority continued.

The PHSA says it also works in collaboration with health authority partners to ensure continuity of care between patients being treated and cared for at BC Cancer regional centres, and supports that are offered in their home communities.