If you or a loved one is facing cancer, you may be considering or have already sought care outside Manitoba or even outside Canada. People choose to do this for a variety of reasons, such as second opinions, assessment, treatments, and follow-up. The information below is here to help you understand what to expect when you seek care from outside Manitoba and how your care will continue when you return.

Our goal is to help you know what to expect and what to bring back so your care goes smoothly when you return.

Key points

• You will likely have to pay for care outside Canada. Manitoba Health usually does not pay those costs.
• Your care in Manitoba may be different from what is offered elsewhere. Manitoba follows local and national guidelines. Some treatments done elsewhere may not be available or funded here.
• CancerCare Manitoba Physicians can only treat you when you are in Manitoba. We do not generally do virtual (video/phone) visits while you are outside the province.

Before you go

• Tell your CancerCare Manitoba clinic team. Let them know you plan to go. Ask what records would help when you return.
• Request a copy of your CancerCare Manitoba chart. Call Medical Records at 204-784-1663 to request a copy of your chart to take along.
• Request your diagnostic images on a disc. Call Shared Health Diagnostic Images at 204-787-3065 to request a disc with your images to take along, or share your images using the Pocket Health app.

While you are away

• Keep a folder. Put all papers, reports, lab results, prescriptions, and receipts in one place.
• Write down details. Note medicine names, doses, and dates of treatments.
• Request copies. Ask for printed reports after each visit.
• Pathology (biopsy or surgery). Ask the outside clinic to send results to Shared Health Pathology in Manitoba. Give them this phone number so they can arrange it: 204-787-2036.

When you come back to Manitoba

• Bring your papers. Bring all reports and test results from your trip. Bring your list of medicines and treatment dates.
• Bring imaging. Ask the outside clinic to give you a CD with DICOM images (common hospital image format) to bring to CancerCare Manitoba. Other formats often cannot be opened here. If they cannot provide a CD with DICOM images, ask them to send images safely to Manitoba.
• Ask for English documents. If reports will not be in English, please arrange to get them translated by a certified medical translator such as OTS Medical Translations prior to your visit at CancerCare Manitoba.

What might be different here?

• We follow Manitoba and Canadian standards. Your CancerCare Manitoba team will review what you have had elsewhere and discuss the next steps. Some treatments may not be offered or funded here.

Need help? If you have questions about this process, please call your CancerCare Manitoba clinic team, or call CancerCare Manitoba Patient Relations at 204-787-2055 or 204-787-2065. We are here to help.