By an act of legislation, CancerCare Manitoba is provincially mandated as a centre of excellence in cancer control and is committed to the delivery of cancer services to all Manitobans, regardless of their residence. CancerCare Manitoba, working in partnership with the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs), has supported rural communities in establishing Community Cancer Programs (CCPs) for the provision of cancer services within their RHA.

There are sixteen CCPs throughout the province; Boundary Trails (Morden/Winkler), Brandon, Dauphin, Deloraine, Flin Flon, Gimli, Hamiota, Neepawa, Pinawa, Portage, Russell, Selkirk, Steinbach, Swan River, The Pas, Thompson and one CCRSP site in Eriksdale.

Since 1978, CCPs have been growing in both number and responsibility, and have become increasingly involved in providing care across the cancer sprectrum in areas such as:

• prevention
• early detection
• diagnosis
• treatment
• rehabilitation, and
• palliation.

CCP and CCRSP staff working together with CCMB, their local RHA and other interested stakeholders will continue to assist their communities to define cancer needs and to develop solutions for the regions they serve.