LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A cancer patient says the ongoing strike by Kaiser Permanente workers has disrupted his chemotherapy treatments, leaving him worried about delays.
Tom Bicknell, who is living with esophageal cancer, said two of his chemo appointments were recently canceled as Kaiser employees continue picketing.
His patient advocate, Rev. L.M. Sebastian, said any lapse in treatment poses a serious risk.
“In an arena where, with Kaiser, 50% of the patients with his diagnosis are gone in the first two years, and he’s now well into year five,” Sebastian said. “So that’s how important continuing the chemo was.”
Bicknell was diagnosed at age 72. The following year, he was told he likely had eight to 18 months to live.
Now nearing 78, he said he is grateful to have defied expectations, but remains determined to keep fighting.
“Yea, I can’t do the really active things that I used to do like bicycle riding and hiking,” he said. “I can hike on a flat path.”
After working four decades as a systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Bicknell now enjoys sports, fishing and staying as active as he can. He said he worries that patients like him may fall to the bottom of the priority list during the strike.
“Ones like me that are already past their expiration date and getting palliative care,” Bicknell said. “We may be low on the ranking as far as getting chemo.”
In a statement sent to Eyewitness News last week, Kaiser Permanente said, “our oncology patients are carefully evaluated by our oncologists to ensure any scheduling adjustments are safe, aligned with standards of care, medically appropriate, and that urgent needs are prioritized without delay. Our care teams ensure that any appointment changes are made within a window of safety for each patient, so their health is never put in jeopardy.”
In an updated statement sent over the weekend, Kaiser Permanente said it “remains committed to our nurses, employees and patients – and focused on reaching a fair agreement that reflects employees’ value while protecting access to affordable, high-quality care.”
“For more than three weeks, our physicians, nurses, staff, leaders and contingency personnel have expertly and safely cared for patients and members.”
“Our hospitals, emergency departments and all medical offices remain open, although some pharmacies are closed or have modified hours. Members continue to have 24/7 access to same day care through Get Care Now on kp.org and the KP app. Some appointments have temporarily shifted to virtual care, and we are actively rescheduling non-urgent procedures postponed over the past few weeks. We recognize that some members have experienced delays and long wait times. We apologize for this disruption and we appreciate their patience.”
“Employees across the organization are stepping in, and many from other markets have volunteered to support Southern California operations. We have expanded contracted services, strengthened staffing support, and increased communication with affected members. We are also partnering with community providers to help minimize impacts. Leadership teams are monitoring operations around the clock to ensure patients continue to receive safe, high-quality care.”
“Members should visit kp.org for the latest pharmacy and facility information.”
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