Lymphovenous
Canada: Treatment Programs in British Columbia
The British Columbia Ministry of Health funds medically required hospital treatment if the individual has been referred by a physician. Hospital-based physiotherapy is available at some facilities and requires referral from a physician.
The services of physiotherapists in private practice are not a benefit of the Medical Services Plan (MSP). Some private medical plans may reimburse their members for a portion of the cost of these services.
Physiotherapy, along with chiropractic, naturopathy, massage therapy and non-surgical podiatry, is a "supplementary benefit" that is limited to beneficiaries in receipt of MSP premium assistance. British Columbians receiving premium assistance are eligible to have MSP pay $23 per private visit towards a combined annual limit of 10 visits each calendar year. Effective April 1, 2008, acupuncturist services were included among the choice of services available. In addition, recipients of income assistance may qualify for an additional 12 visits through the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance.
For patients who have received a full mastectomy and who have paid the relevant deductibles, Pharmacare will cover most of the cost of:
- breast prosthesis and two bras within 6 months of surgery;
- breast prosthesis every two years; and
- compression sleeves and gauntlets
Although B.C. does not have an Assistive Devices Program, some financial assistance may be provided on a sliding scale basis to purchase extremity pumps through the Ministry of Human Resources. The multiple compression pump treatments necessary for lymphedema control are provided at no cost in a cancer clinic or hospital setting. The Medical Services Plan of B.C. does not cover the cost of manual lymph drainage (MLD) or complex decongestive therapy (CDP).
Click here for information on the B.C. Cancer Agency Lymphedema Control Program.
Physiotherapy Lymphedema Programs in B.C.
For up to date information, consumers are encouraged to contact:
The BC Cancer Agency Library (information on this organization is found below), or
Dr. Brian Kunimoto, dermatologist, at the Vancouver General Hospital Wound Healing Clinic, 711 West 12th Avenue at:(604) 875-5255
A special thank you to the BC Cancer Agency for providing us with this latest
version of the list.
- Burnaby: Burnaby General Hospital Tel:(604)434-4211 local 4840; Fax: (604)412-6305
- Campbell River: Campbell River Hospital Tel:(250)286-7045 Fax:(250)286-7092
- Chilliwack: Chilliwack General Hospital Tel:(604)795-4141 local 282 Fax:(604)795-4110
- Cranbrook: Cranbrook Regional Hospital Tel: (250)489-6435
- Creston: Creston Valley Hospital Tel: (250)428-8962 Fax: (250)428-4061
- Hope: Fraser Canyon Hospital Tel:(604)869-7703 Fax:(604)869-7710
- Kamloops: Royal Inland Hospital Tel:(250) 314-2458 Fax:(250)314-2339
- Kelowna: Kelowna General Hospital Tel: (250)862-4210 Fax: (250)862-4207
- Kooteney: Kooteney Lake Hospital Tel:(250)352-3111
- Langley: Langley Memorial Hospital Tel:(604) 533-6407 Fax:(604)533-6449
- Nanaimo: Nanaimo General Hospital Tel:(250) 755-7689 Fax:(250)755-7684
- New Westminster:
Royal Columbian Hospital Tel:(604) 520-4425 Fax:(604)520-4861
St. Mary's Hospital Tel:(604)527-3236 Fax:(604)521-0371
- North Vancouver: Lion's Gate Hospital Tel:(604) 984-5809
- Pemberton: Pemberton Health Centre Tel:(604)894-6939 Fax:(604)894-6918
- Penticton: Penticton Regional Hospital Tel:(250)492-4031 Fax:(250)492-9056
- Pitt Meadows: Private Clinic Tel:(604)465-8733
- Port Moody: Eagle Ridge Hospital Tel:(604)469-3167 Fax:(604)461-9972
- Powell River: Powell River Hospital Tel:(604)485-3211
- Prince George: Prince George Regional Hospital Tel:(250) 565-2265 Fax:(250)565-2584
- Richmond: Richmond Hospital Tel:(604)244-5140 Fax:(604)244-5517
- Salmon Arm: Shuswap Health Services Tel:(250)833-3636 Fax:(250)833-3618
- Squamish: Squamish Hospital Tel:(604)892-6023 Fax:(604)892-9417
- Surrey: Surrey Memorial Hospital Tel:(604)588-3344 Fax:(604)585-5568
- Terrace: Mills Memorial Hospital Tel:(250)638-4019 Fax:(250)635-7639
- Trail: Trail Regional Hospital Tel: (250)364-3430 Fax:(250)364-3420
- Vancouver:
BC Cancer Agency: Tel:(604)877-6000 Fax:(604)872-4596
MacDonald's Pharmacy (nurse-based): Tel:(604)872-5496
Children's Hospital: Tel:(604)875-2123 Fax:(604)875-3220
St Paul's Hospital: Tel:(604)806-8115 Fax:(604)806-8529
- Vanderhoof: St. John Hospital Tel:(250)567-2211 local 18 Fax:(250)567-9713
- Vernon: Vernon Jubilee Hospital Tel:(250)558-1200 local 1424 Fax:(250)558-1232
- Victoria: Royal Jubilee Hospital Tel:(250)370-8000
- White Rock: Peace Arch Hospital Tel:(604)535-4509 Fax:(604)541-5849
The BC Cancer Agency Lymphedema Control Program, Vancouver Cancer
Centre
600 West 10th Ave., Vancouver B.C. V5Z 4E6
Web site: http://www.bccancer.bc.ca
e-mail: webmaster@bccancer.bc.ca
Telephone (604) 877-6000
FAX (604) 872-4596
The BC Cancer Agency Lymphedema Control Program began in Sept. 1987. Compression garments, education and exercises are integral components of the program. The program assesses and treats arm or leg limb lymphedema secondary to cancer conditions including Breast Cancer. Their publication, "Management of Breast
Cancer Related Lymphedema" can be requested in pamphlet form the Cancer Information Service at: or the BCCA library at:
(604) 675-8001 phone
1-888-675-8000, local 8001 (only in B.C. and the Yukon)
(604) 675-8009 fax
library@bccancer.bc.ca
www.bccancer.bc.ca
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Last revised April 8, 2008.