Who we are
OCATS is a patient driven group with an independent vision for patient care in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer in Saskatchewan. Motivated daily by treating a life threatening disease, gynecologic cancers, we struggle to save others and improve their experience in the Saskatchewan health care system. To work cooperatively while maintaining our vision and focus on urgent issues, we have initiated meetings with every Saskatchewan organization possible. The survival rate for early-diagnosed ovarian cancer is almost 80%, but when this disease is diagnosed in late stages as it is mainly now, this trend is almost reversed with many patients dying within the first two years. Putting lives at risk due to multiple misdiagnoses is completely unacceptable.
Just think about what would change if women were more aware of symptoms and reported them openly, without judgment from their doctors? What if doctors were aware of symptoms and had the necessary diagnostic tools on hand? What if women were referred to the appropriate specialists and had surgeries by expert cancer surgeons now here in Regina and Saskatoon? Changing the life and death reality of gynecologic cancers can happen through education. In so doing, this is what will change: women’s lives will be saved.
Challenging the status quo is never an easy task. The statistics for us are so critical; we don’t know how much time we have left to do this. Grateful for the time we are blessed with, we have survived for a reason we intend to honour. To become educated self-advocates, we share information that all women have a right to know. We are raising awareness for Saskatchewan people, about Saskatchewan issues, by Saskatchewan patients.
Women need proper medical care through a gynecologic oncology program with units in Regina and Saskatoon. This requires more specialists, adequate surgical time, gyne-oncology trained nurses, proper diagnostic and treatment equipment and supplies, examining rooms and offices in a hospital setting. The Saskatchewan government has now agreed to provide these things in principle. The talking continues, but action is required on urgent issues surrounding the current working conditions of our specialists pending the development of a program designed to meet the needs of our province. We must move forward quickly to ensure the retention of our current specialists and recruit others to complete this program.
Our board consists of 20 people province-wide and is composed of patients and supporters. These supporters are people who rescued us at diagnosis, surgery, and treatment. Membership exceeds 100 and continues to grow beyond Saskatchewan’s borders. Support to new patients is provided by OCATS in a variety of ways including one-on-one, via telephone, e-mail, at the hospital, in the patient’s home, and at group meetings.
In Saskatchewan, gynecologic cancer patients and families can access support from at least three organizations. These organizations are diverse groups: each group has unique perspectives and varying methods to deal with gynecologic oncology issues. Like us, most groups are cooperative and respectful of our shared goals – supporting patients, raising awareness and ensuring early diagnosis and best treatments for all.