Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program

12/18/2025

Are you a woman who has been diagnosed with cancer?

We're inviting you to share your stories and experiences of grief and loss as part of a research study. By sharing your story, you can help us better understand the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis. Your insights can improve future support services for women going through similar experiences.

Learn more or join this study by:

∙ Scanning the QR code, or
∙ Following this link: https://survey.ucalgary.ca/jfe/form/SV_5w2sYSOFslu2Bds

If you’re eligible and have a few minutes, your contribution would greatly support this research. Your input truly makes a difference.



[ Taegen McPhee ]

12/17/2025

Due to increased respiratory illness in the province, Nova Scotia Health will require masking when entering our facilities starting Dec. 18. This measure is for the safety of our patients and visitors. Signs will be posted at entrances and masks will be made available.

We thank you for your understanding and doing your part to keep everyone safe.

12/16/2025

12/12/2025

When a routine home screening test for colon cancer flagged an abnormal result, one Nova Scotian faced the possibility of major surgery. Thanks to an innovative procedure called endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), they avoided it.

This story is a powerful reminder: colon cancer screen saves lives – even when there are no symptoms. To read more, visit our website: https://www.nshealth.ca/news-and-notices/new-procedure-offers-nova-scotians-less-invasive-option-rectal-polyp-removal



📷 Photo of (L-R) of a patient with Dr. Harrison Petropolis.

[ Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program ]

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12/03/2025

Dr. Karen Howlett and Dr. Karma Murphy are general practitioners in oncology (GPOs) and key members of the community cancer care team at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital.

Though GPOs work in both cancer centres and in community cancer care, they have been described as “the quarterbacks for community cancer care”, enabling more patients to receive cancer care closer to where they live.

Read the full story here and learn about the positive impact GPOs like Karen and Karma are having on cancer care in Nova Scotia: https://www.nshealth.ca/news-and-notices/general-practitioners-oncology-quarterbacks-community-cancer-care

General practitioners with interest in on-the-job training to become a full or part-time GPO, are invited to visit our recruitment website: https://morethanmedicine.ca/search?keywords=general+practitioner+in+oncology



📸 Photo of (L-R) Tressa Bower, patient, with Karen Howlett, GPO.

11/07/2025

Welcome to the Cancer Care Program, Julie!

Julie Kraus joined Nova Scotia Health’s Cancer Care Program as manager of Cancer System Quality at just the right time in her life. With a young family, the pull to be closer to her Nova Scotia roots was strong. Plus, "the new position excites me," says Julie, "as quality is at the heart of everything we do in healthcare."

She and her husband Scott lived in Ontario for nine years, where Julie worked at Ontario Health in cancer prevention, screening and radiation treatment. Now, she and her team are planning how to make cancer care even better here at home.

Read Julie’s full story on our website: https://www.nshealth.ca/news-and-notices/meet-julie-kraus-manager-cancer-system-quality



📸 Photo of Julie Kraus.

10/06/2025

We rely on Canada Post to deliver Colon Cancer Home Screening Kits, please see this important update.

Important Notice: Canada Post Service Disruption and Colon Cancer Home Screening Kits

The Colon Cancer Prevention Program depends on Canada Post to deliver home screening kits to Nova Scotians.

Due to the Canada Post service disruption:

- Mailouts will resume once Canada Post service is fully operational.
- Nova Scotians who have a home screening kit, but have not yet completed it, should wait until the Canada Post strike is over.
- If you mailed your home screening kit and it did not reach the lab in time to be analyzed, a new home screening kit will be sent to you once mail service resumes.

For more information about the Colon Cancer Prevention Program, please visit https://www.nshealth.ca/clinics-programs-and-services/colon-cancer-prevention-program

08/27/2025

Thank you to all who have reached out about donations.

Thank you to the many Nova Scotians who generously share their talents to quilt, knit or crochet blankets and lapghans for patients receiving treatment at the QEII Cancer Centre. 👏

Because of your generosity, our storage room is full! 🥰

We are putting a temporary pause on accepting any more blankets. We will reach out again when we are in need of more blankets.

Thank you again!

08/14/2025

The Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre will reopen on Friday, Aug. 15.

Any Friday appointments already rescheduled or relocated at other sites will remain at those new times and locations. All other activity Friday and beyond will continue as originally scheduled at Bayers Lake.

Patients unable or uncomfortable attending appointments at the outpatient centre should let that service know so their appointment can be rescheduled.

We thank our patients, staff and physicians for their flexibility this week.

05/26/2025

Check out this video on the newly reopened Sunshine Room. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19Rd4hDymZ/