A Castlegar woman who survived early‑stage breast cancer is publicly recounting a painful timeline of delayed care and post‑operative complications after undergoing a reconstructive procedure at Kelowna General Hospital.
From early detection to recurring fear
In October 2022, at age 47, Leslie Crusch discovered a small lump in her right breast. Without a family physician, she relied on a mammogram she booked after hearing public service advertising. Six months later, testing confirmed cancer at stage 0. Surgery in April 2023 and subsequent radiation treatment followed, and Crusch said she recovered and became vigilant about self‑exams.
"
I was obsessively checking," she said, describing how she found another lump in June 2025. At that time clinicians told her the lump was too small to biopsy and recommended repeat imaging months later. The subsequent imaging showed two lumps.
Decision for more extensive surgery and a long wait
Weighing the emotional toll of years of anxiety about recurrence, Crusch told her doctors, "
I am done – I want a double mastectomy," and opted for a DIEP reconstruction, which uses a patient’s own skin and fat for breast reconstruction.
The procedure was scheduled for April 2026 — roughly 10 months after the second lump was discovered. Three weeks before the planned operation, Crusch received a phone call cancelling it. The next available date offered to her was Aug. 12, 2026, more than a year after the second lump was first detected.
Complications in Kelowna operating rooms
When surgery finally took place, Crusch spent about 10 hours in the operating room at Kelowna General Hospital. Shortly after the initial operation, clinicians identified a problem: blood was not flowing properly in the reconstructed tissue. She was returned to surgery for another corrective operation that lasted an additional four hours.
She says the prolonged procedures and the complication left her with physical and emotional consequences, and she is now speaking out in the hope that others do not have the same experience.
Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Initial lump discovered | Oct. 2022 |
| Diagnosis: Stage 0 | Six months after Oct. 2022 |
| Surgery and radiation | By April 2023 |
| New lump found | June 2025 |
| Imaging shows two lumps | Months after June 2025 |
| Planned double mastectomy with DIEP reconstruction | April 2026 (cancelled) |
| Rescheduled surgery | Aug. 12, 2026 |
| Length of first surgery | 10 hours |
| Length of corrective surgery | 4 hours |
Questions for health authorities and patient safety
Crusch’s account raises questions Kelowna residents will want answered about wait times for cancer surgery, pre‑operative assessment protocols and monitoring of reconstructive flaps following lengthy procedures. Delays in cancer surgery and complex reconstructions are matters of particular concern for patients and clinicians alike because timing and post‑operative monitoring can affect outcomes.
Crusch has gone public with her story to spur change and to warn others of what she experienced. She said she wants systems in place so no other patient must live with the same uncertainty and physical risk.
Local context and next steps
Kelowna General is the largest hospital in the Central Okanagan and a referral centre for complex surgeries in the region. The British Columbia health system has faced pressure in recent years over surgical backlogs and staffing shortages. Cases like Crusch’s highlight how delays and complications intersect with the lived experience of patients.
- Patient perspective: Crusch, a Castlegar resident, has shared her timeline and complications publicly.
- Clinical facts: Initial cancer was stage 0; later imaging showed two lumps; DIEP reconstruction was performed with a subsequent complication addressed surgically.
- Community concern: The account underscores questions about surgical wait times and postoperative care at Kelowna General.
Requests for comment have been directed to Interior Health and Kelowna General Hospital. As this is a developing matter involving patient care, further reporting will follow as officials respond.
