A Regina resident, Lindsay Rogers, has been waiting for several months for a biopsy to find out if she has breast cancer. Her worry and frustration are increasing day by day, especially due to her family’s breast cancer.

Lindsay Rogers, 35, first discovered a lump in her left breast last April. On June 16, her doctor discovered another lump, this time in her right breast.

He immediately requested an ultrasound scan, which took place on August 17th.

When asked about this long wait, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) says screening tests have fallen behind schedule due to the pandemic and it is difficult to make up for these delays.

In the days following the exam, results showed that Lindsay Rogers would need a biopsy of her right breast due to the growth of the lump and a family history of cancer.

On August 23, his doctor referred him for a biopsy to find out whether the lump was cancerous or not before starting necessary treatments.

Lindsay Rogers was originally scheduled to have a biopsy within two weeks of her doctor’s referral. However, the wait quickly lengthened to four weeks, then to several months.

When she saw her doctor again on September 21, he again provided a referral for a biopsy and emphasized the urgency of the situation. The lump in her right breast had grown significantly since her appointment in August.

For Lindsay Rogers, patience has given way to worry as she now has to wait until at least the third or fourth week of November for the biopsy.

At first I was more in denial. Now I want to stay in the anger phase because acceptance means stopping fighting.

The more I hear the stories of others going through similar situations, the more I tell myself that I have to fight even harderShe adds.

Clarifications requested from the SHA

Five weeks after the ultrasound, Lindsay Rogers contacted the Department of Health for an explanation about the long wait.

The ministry said the Breast Health Assessment Center at Pasqua Hospital in Regina was still processing consultation requests made at the end of July. She was also advised that if she had her biopsy performed outside of the province, travel costs and the procedure would not be covered.

However, Lindsay Rogers doesn’t blame healthcare workers for the longer wait times.

Contacted by CBC, the SHA says between 1,028 and 1,028 breast biopsies were performed^um January and June 30, 2023. For comparison: 1,255 biopsies were carried out between January 1st^um January and December 31, 2019.

There SHA However, could not provide any information about waiting times during these periods.

For his part, Health Minister Everett Hindley explains that these waiting times are partly due to the lack of medical radiation technologists and specialist radiologists who can carry out breast examinations such as ultrasound and biopsy.

In Saskatoon, all breast radiologist positions are filled, but there are three vacancies in Regina SHA.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority says service hours have been extended and additional hours are being worked to catch up with the backlog. She remembers that recruiting is an important part of the workforce plan.

The Department of Health says it is exploring solutions to address this staffing shortage.

With information from Laura Sciarpelletti