GYNECOLOGY
DR. MONA MAZGANI IS A GYNECOLOGIC oncologist surgeon and the Department Head of Gynecology with Island Health. Every day she meets a mother, an aunt or a sister who may soon be diagnosed with female cancer — whether it is ovarian, endometrial, vaginal, cervical or vulvar. “I can easily relate to the women I meet: we share the same hobbies, we have children. It’s so important for me to connect with them, so that when I tell them what is wrong they know they have a friend right here,” says Mazgani. Dr. Mazgani, who emigrated from Holland to Vancouver to complete her fellowship, came to Vancouver Island in 2010. Before her appointment, there was no surgical team fully trained in gynecologic oncology, and radical hysterectomies and pelvic exenteration surgeries were sent to the mainland. Today, four to eight procedures are scheduled every week at Victoria General Hospital. Dr. Mazgani and Dr. Trevor Cohen, the other gynecologic oncologist, co-perform these surgeries together, with their special team of qualified nurses, anesthesiologists and pathologists. “We have the talent and we have the support from Island Health. What we need now is specialized equipment to better the care of our patients. With the right instruments, many of our surgeries can be done laparoscopically, meaning that not only do our patients go home sooner and recover faster, they also have minimal scaring – which can be important for these women.” This campaign is funding a gamma detection probe to assist in tumour identification. “Cancer is a scary thought. These women come in apprehensive, worried not just for their health but for the future of their family,” says Dr. Mazgani. “If I can minimalize the process of detection with this equipment, then we can quickly decide on a treatment plan and I can send a woman home that day where she will be surrounded by her loved ones.” Gynecology Equipment: $56,300 victoriahf.ca/gynecology