A Note from Sarkis Meterissian, MD, MSc, FRCS(C), FACS
Director Cedars Breast Clinic at the MUHC
Over the last 2 decades significant advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. In 2011 a woman diagnosed with breast cancer has an 80% chance of survival. These advances would not have been possible without comprehensive “one-stop” breast centers such as the Cedars Breast Clinic of the MUHC. This marvellous facility, founded in 2001, brings together experienced surgeons, radiologists, radiology technicians and nurses along with state-of-the-art equipment to provide patients of the MUHC with timely and efficient breast cancer care.
As the management of this horrible disease has gradually improved the team at the Cedars Clinic has turned its attention to the patient herself. We now realize that we must not only cure the disease but heal the patient. With innovative approaches such as the use of a psycho-oncologist specializing in the care of breast cancer patients and the development of an educational tool called the Breast Cancer Navigation Kit we have tried to improve the long and sometimes arduous journey of our patients from diagnosis to cure. Most recently we have provided our patients with an opportunity to participate in a regular exercise regime free of charge with our landmark MUHC-CURVES agreement. Recently published studies clearly indicate that regular exercise can not only improve the psychological outlook of patients but can also lead to improved survival.
With the continued support of donors such as yourselves we will be able to expand our Survivorship Program to continue to provide the option of regular exercise but to also expand it to include dietetic support and lymphedema treatment. These are two crucial aspects of the total body care that the Cedars Breast Clinic wishes to provide its patients so that we can remain, after 2 decades, a state-of-the-art facility for the cure and healing of this chronic disease called breast cancer.
“We must not only cure the disease but heal the patient”
Dr. Sarkis Meterissian
Director Cedars Breast Clinic at the MUHC
Over the last 2 decades significant advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. In 2011 a woman diagnosed with breast cancer has an 80% chance of survival. These advances would not have been possible without comprehensive “one-stop” breast centers such as the Cedars Breast Clinic of the MUHC. This marvellous facility, founded in 2001, brings together experienced surgeons, radiologists, radiology technicians and nurses along with state-of-the-art equipment to provide patients of the MUHC with timely and efficient breast cancer care.As the management of this horrible disease has gradually improved the team at the Cedars Clinic has turned its attention to the patient herself. We now realize that we must not only cure the disease but heal the patient. With innovative approaches such as the use of a psycho-oncologist specializing in the care of breast cancer patients and the development of an educational tool called the Breast Cancer Navigation Kit we have tried to improve the long and sometimes arduous journey of our patients from diagnosis to cure. Most recently we have provided our patients with an opportunity to participate in a regular exercise regime free of charge with our landmark MUHC-CURVES agreement. Recently published studies clearly indicate that regular exercise can not only improve the psychological outlook of patients but can also lead to improved survival.
With the continued support of donors such as yourselves we will be able to expand our Survivorship Program to continue to provide the option of regular exercise but to also expand it to include dietetic support and lymphedema treatment. These are two crucial aspects of the total body care that the Cedars Breast Clinic wishes to provide its patients so that we can remain, after 2 decades, a state-of-the-art facility for the cure and healing of this chronic disease called breast cancer.
“We must not only cure the disease but heal the patient”
Dr. Sarkis Meterissian
CRA No. 10520-2501-RR-0001