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With each breast cancer diagnosis, a team of physicians work together, contributing their area of expertise, in diagnosing, treating, operating, and supporting each patient throughout their journey.

Today, on National Women Physician’s Day, we highlight incredible work of each of these female doctors, with patients and behind the scenes, to provide our patients with quality, compassionate care.

Read below to see how these four physicians all contribute to a patient’s breast cancer journey, through JBH’s Complete Breast Care program. This program provides a specialized, patient-centred approach to breast care, dedicated to providing rapid, specialized breast care through a patient’s breast health journey.

 “Although I may never meet the patient, I am usually one of the first steps along their journey.” – Dr. Mariam Ghali Eskander

Diagnostic Imaging is often one of the first steps taken in diagnosing cancer. Dr. Mariam Ghali Eskander is a Radiologist at JBH whose job is it to interpret the imaging from CT scans, X-Rays, mammograms, ultrasounds or MRIs to help make a diagnosis.

After the images are taken, she reviews the results and states her findings, interpretations and recommendations through a report that is shared with the rest of the oncology team.

 “I meet weekly with the surgeon and pathologist to review imaging and pathology results to determine how we will approach it surgically. Our Complete Breast Care program is a strong collaboration between the different departments.”

 After the images are reviewed, if there are suspicious findings, a biopsy is taken and and sent to a Pathologist to review.

“My role as a pathologist is to provide a diagnosis based on the clinical history and type of tissue provided.” – Dr. Babita Kajal

 As a pathologist, Dr. Babita Kajal works behind the scenes with tissue samples to provide a diagnosis for each patient. Her evidence and findings help  the oncology team put together an appropriate treatment and follow up plan.

“The early morning rounds as part of the Diagnosis Assessment Program brings radiologists, surgeons and pathologists together to discuss a case. Once a diagnosis is agreed upon, further treatment steps are then discussed.”

With a confirmed diagnosis and treatment plan in place,  patients meet their Oncology Surgeon, and sometime also a  Plastic Surgeon, if reconstructive surgery is part of the treatment plan.

“We make a plan and I carry out the surgery portion of their cancer plan.” – Dr. Janice Austin.

As the Oncology Surgeon, Dr. Janice Austin, meets her patients near the beginning of their cancer journey, usually at the appointment when patients are  learning their diagnosis for the first time.

“I think most people are surprised that I am not just making a brief appearance to complete a surgery. After surgery I remain involved in a patients care for a number of years.”

Before surgery, she works closely with her patients, discussing their preferences and treatment goals and keeps them actively involved in the creation of their care plans.

She also works closely with Dr. Sun, a Plastics Surgeon, who performs reconstructive surgery, often in the same surgery as when the cancer is being removed.

“I work closely with the oncology surgeon to coordinate the surgical plan.” – Dr. Kimberly Sun

Dr. Kimberly Sun, a plastics surgeon, works with the oncology surgeon to help to make the breast look and feel as natural as possible after all or part of it has been removed.

“As the plastics surgeon, I provide patients with reconstructive options undergoing breast cancer surgery. My goal is to always provide the patient with their best esthetic outcome based on their individual needs and wishes.”

 Each of these female physicians contribute their expertise to  the Complete Breast Care Program at Joseph Brant Hospital. We thank each of them for working together to provide compassionate, patient-centred care to our patients and community.