Woman suffering from cancer says long wait times in B.C. may have contributed to her terminal diagnosis

A B.C. mother says that her terminal cancer diagnosis could have been different if she had not to wait two months to see an oncologist.

Sara Gillooly says that the backlog in the province’s health-care system may have contributed to her cancer metastasizing.

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Independent MLA Amelia Boultbee, a friend of Gillooly, has since shared the story to highlight what she calls failures in the system.

According to Boultbee, Gillooly discovered a large lump in her breast and experienced blood loss, prompting her to visit the ER in May of last year.

A mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy were scheduled, but the appointments were weeks apart.

Gillooly says that she left her ultrasound test, suspecting that she had cancer, but she was not diagnosed with breast cancer until July.

Gillooly says that after a successful initial surgery, she was told that she was not a priority and that she could not have an oncology appointment until September.

Tests, among others, to determine the Oncotype score, were not initially performed either.

“I was being asked to be patient without data,” Gillooly told 1130 NewsRadio.

At multiple points throughout that process, she says that she considered leaving Canada.

“I did reach out to different hospitals around the world and wanted to see if things would be faster,” said Gillooly.

Ultimately, she decided to stay with her family in B.C.

“My decision to stay here has definitely made me question if I did the right thing, and if that was wise. I’m still questioning that.”

She says once the tests were finally done in October, her Oncotype score came back with a high risk of recurrence.

CT, PET, and MRI scans, which then followed, revealed that the cancer had progressed to a metastatic disease in her bones and lungs.

“A delay from getting my result on Canada Day, that I had breast cancer, to Nov. 7, when it has metastasized. That’s a really long time to wait, and I feel like the delay could have been prevented,” Gillooly said.

She’s calling on the government to do better for patients, families, and doctors trying to care for too many patients at once, as “lives depend on it.”

“I understand it is expensive, but I do feel like it would have given me better odds,” Gillooly added.

“It’s not only about me surviving. It’s about giving my kids the proper care and being there for them as a mom.”

4,000 patients died on waitlist

Boultbee says that more than 4,000 patients died between April, 2024, and March, 2025, while on a waitlist for treatment.

“Every British Columbian knows that the state of our health-care system is unacceptable,” she said.

“Our system is barely keeping up on all fronts. And when over 4,000 British Columbians are dying on lists waiting for treatment, something has gone horribly wrong.”

In a written statement to 1130 NewsRadio, Health Minister Josie Osborne says that she acknowledges Gillooly’s challenging health-care journey and that any wait feels too long.

“It can be frightening and frustrating, not just for patients but for their families as well, and people deserve timely, compassionate care when they need it most,” said Osborne.

The minister says that the province has implemented investments to strengthen the health-care system. She adds that the government is monitoring wait times for surgeries, treatments, and diagnostic exams.

With files from Srushti Gangdev.