Supporting the Sisterhood
Inspired by the women she met during her breast cancer journey, Helen Berner is giving back to enrich the future of care.
Helen Berner knows why accessing the latest state-of-the-art breast imaging equipment is so important – it helped save her life.
One morning while in the shower she discovered a grape-sized lump under her breast. At first, she didn’t think too much about it, but as the days passed she became more aware of and concerned about its presence.
“It took me a while to build up the courage to tell my husband John and even more courage to call the doctor,” she says. “I was so afraid. I didn’t want to hear that it was cancer, but it was.”
Helen’s healthcare journey is a positive one because her cancer was caught early.
She opted to have her care at St. Joseph’s, which she says made an important difference in her overall experience.
“Everyone I met, from the technicians and nurses to my physician – Dr. Parsyan, was so kind and understanding. They know you are afraid.”
Her care team was there to answer her questions, provide information and offer comfort when she could no longer hold back her tears.
Helen’s diagnosis coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, she was able to have her surgery before the lockdown. But her follow-up treatments continued during and after.
Every day, she traveled alone to London from Kincardine for her radiation treatment with her dog Silvie to keep her company.
She becomes emotional when she remembers her time fighting cancer, and the sisterhood that developed with other women in the waiting room at St. Joseph’s Norton and Lucille Wolf Breast Care Centre.
“You share stories, you support each other and you give each other reassurances that it is all going to work out,” she says.
“Fortunately, more women are beating cancer,” she says. “It’s partly because of the equipment advances, treatments and technology. Keeping up with the new technology and equipment, helps to make our chances better for full recovery. That is one reason why I donate.”
Centre of Excellence
Dr. Sarah Knowles, Interim Medical Director, St. Joseph’s Breast Care Program says the Program is a centre of excellence because of the combination of incredibly devoted staff, the newest technology and equipment, research and its focus on trainees.
“Our staff, from radiologists, technologists, nurses, surgeons, and clerical staff are dedicated to our patient-centered approach,” she says. “We have a great staff working here, some of them are world experts and that attracts the best of the best people to work here.”
Maintaining this level of excellence takes a constant investment in cutting-edge technology and research.
A $5-million fundraising campaign has identified urgent game-changing imaging equipment needed to detect and diagnose breast cancer faster. New equipment including 3D Mammography systems that combine contrast-enhanced mammography with 3D mammography to better pinpoint lesions; ultrasound units designed specifically for accurate imaging of breast tissue; and sensory suites to comfort patients undergoing their exams are just a few pieces that will be funded.
St. Joseph’s is leading the way with contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) with mammography-guided biopsy technology – having identified its important benefits through research undertaken by Dr. Anat Kornecki, Breast Radiologist Lead at St. Joseph’s.
“The opportunity to acquire the latest mammography imaging equipment paired with either standard 2D, 3D or contrast-enhanced mammography will be a game-changer for our patients,” says Dr. Kornecki.