Transforming breast cancer care for B.C. patients
Thousands of women across B.C. facing breast cancer will directly benefit from Dr. Patricia Clugston Chair in Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Thanks to generosity inspired by two remarkable women — Dr. Patricia Clugston and breast cancer survivor Jennifer Kelly — VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is partnering with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and UBC to continue the trailblazing work of Dr. Clugston in breast reconstructive surgery and to improve the breast cancer patient journey in this province.
Philanthropic gifts totalling $5 million are supporting the inaugural Dr. Patricia Clugston Chair in Breast Reconstruction Surgery.
“Our foundation is honoured to be supporting VCH clinician Dr. Kathryn Isaac in her appointment to this transformational role, which was only made possible through the power of philanthropy,” says Barbara Grantham, president and CEO of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “Thousands of women across B.C. facing breast cancer will directly benefit from her work.”
As the chair, Dr. Isaac’s role is to increase access to breast reconstruction surgery, address health care navigation issues, improve the clinical experience through surgical innovation and ensure consistency of care across the province. The chair will also develop and enhance partnerships, advocate to government, coordinate training and education, and build an efficient research team.
“I am incredibly proud to be a champion for the betterment of breast cancer care and breast reconstruction in this province,” says Dr. Isaac. “Despite the exceptional comprehensive care available in British Columbia, women diagnosed with breast cancer can be faced with delays to accessing care and struggle to navigate the medical system on their own.”
In addition to the chair’s appointment, the foundation is delighted to announce a $1 million gift from Jim and Yvette Philip, which will improve how breast cancer patients navigate the health care system.
Jim and Yvette Philip were motivated to give back after their daughter, Jennifer Kelly, was diagnosed, treated and survived breast cancer. They were inspired to act by the vision presented to them from three young and extraordinary surgeons: Dr. Isaac, Dr. Sheina Macadam and Dr. Andrea Macneill.
Jennifer’s journey to recovery included a double mastectomy and chemotherapy, followed by breast reconstruction surgery performed by Dr. Macadam.
“I’m very happy that I was able to see Dr. Macadam and have it all done,” says Jennifer. “Because at the end of the day she gave me my life back. She made me feel like a woman again.”
Dr. Peter Lennox, head, UBC Division of Plastic Surgery, could not be more pleased with these transformative gifts.
“Philanthropic leadership is launching a new era of cancer care for women and I cannot wait to see how it will shape the future of breast reconstruction in B.C. and beyond,” says Dr. Lennox.
Breast cancer patients such as Jennifer often face the reality of a mastectomy to surgically remove one or both breasts. Approximately 2,000 mastectomies are done annually in B.C., with 65 per cent of breast reconstruction surgeries in VCH being performed at UBC Hospital.
Studies show that emotional, social and functional well-being, vitality, body image and general mental health can be improved in women who have immediate or delayed breast reconstruction surgery after their mastectomy.
The Breast Reconstruction Program at UBC was established by Dr. Clugston, a talented surgeon who passed away in 2005 at the height of her career. She was a champion for all women facing breast cancer who believed that every mother, wife, sister, grandmother and friend deserved efficient, consistent and coordinated care during their cancer treatment journey.
The chair was generously supported by the BC Cancer Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society (previously the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation), St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, CIBC, the CURE Foundation and hundreds of individual donors.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis for women in B.C. In 2019, an estimated 3,890 women in this province will be newly diagnosed and 695 will die from the disease.
Jennifer and her parents Jim and Yvette Philip are incredibly proud to be part of this transformation to the health care system, which will directly impact the health and wellbeing of future breast cancer patients like Jennifer.