princess margaret cancer centre patient & family … · there have been many advances in breast...

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In this issue:

Advances in Breast Cancer Reconstruction: What’s New in 2016

Library Corner

Patient & Family Education NewsP R I N C E S S M A R G A R E T C A N C E R C E N T R E

Advances in Breast Cancer Reconstruction: What’s New in 2016Summarized by Naa Kwarley Quartey, Research Associate, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

On June 28, 2016, Dr. Toni Zhong, Clinical and Research Director of the Breast

Reconstruction Program at the University Health Network, presented at the

Lunch and Learn Health Talk. Dr. Zhong spoke about:

• New advances in breast reconstruction

• Research in breast reconstruction

• How research in breast reconstruction has improved patient care across Ontario

What is Breast Reconstruction?Breast reconstruction is a type of surgery women can have to make a new breast

shape after removal of their entire breast. Removal of the breast is known as a

mastectomy. Breast reconstruction has been an area of breast cancer care that has not

been as well studied, but it is an important area of breast cancer care and treatment.

Advances in Breast ReconstructionThere have been many advances in breast reconstruction in recent years.

These advances include:

1 Better knowledge of the biology of breast cancer: Surgeries performed today

are not as radical as they once were. Surgeries now keep more skin making it easier

to reconstruct the breast either right after a

mastectomy (immediate reconstruction) or a

few years later (delayed reconstruction).

2 Better and safer types of breast implants:

There are newer and safer implants available to

patients. These newer implants are made well and

women are able to tolerate them. The implants

also come in many shapes and sizes. They are

more natural in shape and are more stable.

3 Better technology to make breast

reconstruction more personal: Advances in

technology have improved the way doctors

can pick implants that fit a patients’ body type.

3-dimensional (3D) photos are taken before

surgery. Patients can then see what different

implants will look like on their body.

4 Better surgery techniques use a patient’s

own tissues to create a breast mound: This

means the breast can be rebuilt without harming

abdominal (stomach) muscle from the patient.

This helps to reduce any pain and weakness in

the abdominal area.

Research in Breast ReconstructionThere have been advances in research which

has improved clinical practice. Dr. Zhong

presented some of her own research in breast

reconstruction.

Dr. Zhong’s study looked barriers to women

having immediate breast reconstruction (breast

reconstruction right after a mastectomy) in

Ontario. Results of this study showed that:

• The rates of immediate breast reconstruction

in Ontario were low in 2011 and 2012.

• Immediate breast reconstruction is only is

available to a small group of patients.

• There is a lot of room for improvement for

immediate breast reconstruction in Ontario.

Ontario Breast Cancer Reconstruction GuidelinesWorking with Cancer Care Ontario (CCO),

Dr. Zhong was part of a team that put together

standard guidelines used in Ontario for breast

reconstruction surgery. These guidelines are for

patients who get immediate reconstruction and

for patients who have delayed reconstruction.

The guidelines were published in January 2016.

Thank you, Dr. Zhong, for an informative talk

about breast reconstruction.

Thank you to Starbucks for providing coffee and tea.

Missed the talk? Want to hear it again?Visit www.thePrincessMargaret.ca/LunchAndLearn

to watch this presentation and past Lunch and

Learn Health Talks.

Library Corner By Michelle Snow, Librarian, Patient & Family

Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Visit the Patient & Family Library to check out

these resources and to find many other health

information resources.

Mobile health apps These apps are free to download. Use them on your

tablet, mobile phone, or portable computer. Learn

more about mobile health apps by visiting the

Princess Margaret Patient & Family Library.

What to expect when getting high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy using a ring and tandem applicator

Read this resource to learn:

• What is brachytherapy

• What to expect when getting brachytherapy using a ring and tandem applicator

• What to expect after brachytherapy

For patients with gynecological cancer

Please visit the UHN Patient Education website for more health information: www.uhnpatienteducation.ca© 2016 University Health Network. All rights reserved. This information is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for non-commercial personal use only.

Author: The Brachytherapy team.Created: 03/2016Form: D-8592

Princess Margaret

Name:

Medical record no.:

Check in location: 17th Floor of Princess Margaret

Check in date no.1: Time:

Check in date no. 2: Time

Princess Margaret Cancer Journey

App provides information and services

that may help patients and families

during cancer treatment. Find brochures on what

to expect at each phase of the cancer journey,

questions to ask the health care team, descriptions

of services available at the Princess Margaret and

links to trustworthy health information.

Inpatient Hospice Palliative Care

Directory (HPC Ontario) helps users

find Ontario facilities offering 24-hour

care for patients facing a life-limiting illness.

Users can search a map by city, address, or postal

code, or by turning on the GPS function to get a

list of Inpatient Hospice Palliative Care facilities

in the area.

CareZone helps keep everyone

coordinated when you are caring for

a parent or other family member in

need. Safely store and share information about

how a loved one is doing, and share medicine

information, appointments, and contacts with

family, friends and caregivers.

Relax Melodies helps you create a

relaxing environment. Choose from

different melodies such as bird and

campfire sounds, flute and piano music, or rain

and wind sounds.

New BooksIn-Between Days: a memoir

about living with cancer by

Teva Harrison

Through comic illustration,

Teva documents how beautiful

life is and what it means to live

with cancer.

Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book

by Susan Love

This new edition provides

information on genetic testing,

the most current screening

technologies and diagnostics,

chemotherapies, immunological

therapies and metastatic disease.

Living with Lymphoma: A

patients guide by Elizabeth Adler

This book includes the most

current information on

lymphoma diagnosis, staging,

new targeted therapies and new

research in stem cell transplants.

Free Yourself from Anxiety:

a mind-body prescription CD

by Erin Olivo

Through mindfulness practices,

these audio CDs will help to

reduce anxiety and stress.

New UHN brochures now available in the libraryTreatment and Side

Effect Management

Visit the libraryHours: Monday – Thursday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Location: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Main floor, Atrium

Phone: 416 946 4501 ext. 5383

Email: [email protected]

Get the best from your chemotherapy and hormone therapy


• Why you should get chemotherapy and hormone therapy at the same time

• Who to call for more information

• What is Docetaxel chemotherapy

• What are the side effects of chemotherapy

• What is hormone therapy (Androgen Deprivation Therapy or ADT)

• What are the side effects of hormone therapy

If you have questions, call the GU Clinic: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pmPhone: 416 946 2233, Press 2 for a GU Team Nurse

For more information on chemotherapy, visit the chemotherapy website: http://www.uhn.ca/PrincessMargaret/PatientsFamilies/Clinics_Tests/Chemotherapy_Transfusion/

For men who have advanced prostate cancer


Author: GU (Genitourinary) ClinicCreated: 03/2016Form: D-8589

Princess Margaret

Caring for your heart during and after breast cancer treatment

Reading this booklet can help you learn:

9 How some breast cancer treatments may affect the heart

9 The signs of heart problems

9 What tests are used to check your heart

9 What you can do to help your heart

9 Where to get more information

For patients and families

Please visit the UHN Patient Education website for more health information: www.uhnpatienteducation.ca© 2016 University Health Network. All rights reserved. This information is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for non-commercial personal use only. Authors: Linda Belford, RN, MN, NP Dr. P. ThavendiranathanCreated: 04/2016Form: D-8619

UHN

Change your diet to manage high blood glucose during cancer treatment


• What is blood glucose

• How cancer treatment affects blood glucose

• What kind of diet (food and drink) can help manage high blood glucose

• What foods I should eat if my appetite is poor

• What foods I should eat if my appetite is good

• Where to get more information

For patients with high blood glucose caused by cancer treatment


Author: Princess Margaret Oncology DietitiansCreated: 01/2016Form: D-8588

Princess Margaret

The information contained in this newsletter is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for non-commercial personal use only.

© University Health Network - Princess Margaret Hospital - Patient and Family Library - 2016

Patient & Survivorship Education Editor: Alaina Cyr, Patient Education Coordinator | Editorial Board: Nazek Abdelmutti, Daniela Fierini, Janet Papadakos, Michelle Snow, Aileen TrangGraphic Artist: Kristin Foster | Please forward comments, questions or submissions to [email protected] Patient Education and Survivorship Programs are supported by the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.

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“When you’ve had cancer, every day is a gift.”

“ Thanks to the groundbreaking research, the care of Dr. Messner and the compassion of the whole team at The Princess Margaret, I’m here today.”

See Chris Taylor’s story at www.thepmcf.ca

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–Chris Taylor

princess margaret cancer centre patient & family … · there have been many advances in breast...

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