A Brandon woman is leading an online push to keep oncology services strong in western Manitoba after a doctor at Westman CancerCare resigned. Lesa Carey, a cancer survivor, started an online petition calling on CancerCare Manitoba and the province to reinstate Dr. Brady Anderson at the facility. “I feel very strongly that myself and other residents of rural Manitoba that are facing a cancer challenge that we don’t just deserve any oncologist. We deserve the best oncologist to help us in the fight … and Dr. Anderson is that person," Carey told CTV News on Wednesday. Carey said Anderson has advocated for more resources at the centre for the past two years. She said he is resigning as of Nov. 13 because he is not getting the support he needs. The petition has gathered more than 3,000 signatures since it launched earlier this week. Carey also wants CancerCare and the province to address Anderson’s concerns, which centre on staffing, equipment and training. “It has fallen on deaf ears. He has now chosen to leave CancerCare because of burnout and several other issues, so I wanted to make people number one aware of it and give them a way to express that we don’t agree with this decision,” she said. In a statement, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said CancerCare has assured Westman patients a replacement for Anderson is lined up to start in December. “They’ve also arranged for a temporary medical oncologist to cover the three-week gap between Dr. Anderson’s last day and our new doctor’s start date,” the statement said in part. Asagwara thanked Anderson for his years of service. A spokesperson for CancerCare Manitoba said it is not in a position to comment on the circumstances surrounding Anderson’s departure. CTV News attempted to reach Anderson for comment but has not been successful.
