5 People Making a Difference for Breast Reconstruction Patients at Humber River Hospital
For patients who undergo breast reconstruction, it’s the people that make all the difference. We would like to introduce you to 5 people at Humber (of many!) who are making a difference for our breast reconstruction patients:
Dr. Laura Whiteacre, General Surgeon
“I am a general surgeon, and about half of my practice is breast. I think one of the most important parts of the work I do is counselling patients who are newly diagnosed with breast disease, because I know that diagnosis comes with a lot of anxiety. In addition to biopsies and lump removal, I really have the opportunity to reassure them and guide them through the process. I started at our Legacy Site (Finch) and have been doing this work almost 30 years. Our Breast Health Centre at Humber’s Wilson Site is a huge step forward. We now share a space with the breast health radiologists, so everything is much more streamlined. It’s more seamless for our patients.”
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Monica Elligsen, Oncology Nurse Navigator, Breast Health
“I am the primary contact for many of Humber’s breast cancer patients from diagnosis onward. One of the best things about my job is how accessible I can be to our patients – they have my direct phone number and email address so they can ask me questions at any time! I provide a lot of psychosocial and information support, and help them work through the often overwhelming choices they have for chemo, surgery, and breast reconstruction. Because it’s my role, I have the time to sit with them for the time that they need. My daily routine is completely patient-centered. Whatever our patients need is what forms my day.”
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Dr. Thomas Constantine, Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Constantine, a plastic surgeon who works with cancer patients and leads Humber River Hospital’s breast reconstruction program, is among the first physicians in North America to apply state-of-the-art technology and his advanced training in supermicrosurgery to treat lymphedema.
“It is not always enough to reconstruct the breast,” says Dr. Constantine, “We also have to consider the lymphatic system and offer comprehensive treatment options to our patients.”
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Shaniza Sakoor, Grateful Patient, BRA Day Speaker, and member of the Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC)
“It feels so good to be on the other side. Returning to Humber to speak at Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day is not about being a cheerleader for me… I want to be of service! When I think of what I went through, words like “survivor” or “fighter” feel very dramatic to me. I was alive before, and I’m alive now. I got hit and I did everything I possibly could. I’m happy. Life goes on. Breast cancer doesn’t define me, but if I hear about someone needing chemo, I’ll be at their side. I want to give support like the support I got.”
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Joanie Magee-Slavkin, Registered Nurse, Plastic Surgery
Joanie is a Registered Nurse in Humber’s Plastic Surgery Clinic. This year Humber River Hospital Foundation named Joanie the 2018 Humber Hero.
One of her grateful patients, Sandy, told us: “By the time I started the reconstruction process in my cancer journey, I was already exhausted, and not even close to being done with my journey. Nurse Joanie made me feel at ease from the first moment I met her. She talked to me like a person – not a patient. Over the past 2 years, we formulated a sort of friendship… I always looked forward to my many visits to the plastics clinic and catching up with Nurse Joanie and the team.”
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Meet Our 2018 Humber Hero: Joanie Magee-Slavkin:
