The Edmund Odette Cancer Centre is the sixth largest cancer centre in North
America.
The genitourinary cancer group is one of the largest within this cancer
centre.
We have over fifty clinicians, scientists, pathologists, radiation therapists,
physicists and nurses within our team.
Our goal is to provide innovative and transformative cancer care to patients
with prostate, kidney,
bladder and testis cancer.
Our clinicians, that consist of surgical radiation and medical oncologists, take a
comprehensive approach from diagnosis to treatment to cure.
We aim to provide state-of-the-art care that applies our research findings and
quickly translates them to the bedside
to improve the delivery
of better cancer care.
Our research efforts in better evaluating patients at risk for prostate
cancer has led to develop our internationally recognized online
prostate cancer risk calculator.
For years, we have used
inaccurate blood test called PSA.
We have developed a new tool to better evaluate an individual's risk for
prostate cancer to better decide
who needs a prostate biopsy.
Most importantly,
when the risk calculator indicates a biopsy is needed, Sunnybrook is the first
in Canada
to provide rapid prostate biopsy clinic.
A patient will get their biopsy results within seventy two hours of their biopsy
and if cancer is unfortunately found they'll get immediate multidisciplinary
cancer care from our team of specialists.
If cancer treatment is necessary our surgical and radiation facilities
provide state-of-the-art treatment.
Our methods in prostate bladder and kidney surgery have attracted referrals
from patients from all over Canada.
Our radiation treatment approaches have garnered international recognition
and have been copied in several countries.
An important facet of our care team is our research scientists.
Although they are not directly involved in patient care,
it is these groups of people
that act as catalysts for breakthroughs in cancer care.
Dr. Arun Seth heads our prostate cancer research team in basic science.
We have been working on prostate cancer biomarkers for quite some time
and trying to identify markers that will distinguish prostate cancer with
greater accuracy
compared to what's already available.
So our research will be more beneficial to prostate cancer
patients because
what we're doing is identifying the gene which can eventually be used to develop
drugs,
monitor the disease, as well as can
be used as a diagnostic marker.
That will eventually give us individualized treatment options.
The strength of our research centre,
because it's a multi-disciplinary
research team,
includes oncologists, pathologists, molecular biologists and surgeons.
Every week we get the samples right
from the surgeons and can analyze in our lab right away. Our research is funded by
government but we would like to see a lot more funding because that way we can buy new
equipment which will help us
do our work better and analyze the tumors in a better way. That's what we
want to see and will help us to
provide better care for patients.
As you can see,
our GU group has a proven track record in research accomplishments with
several hundred peer reviewed publications, national grants and leadership roles
within prestigious national and international oncology associations.
Our accomplishments would not have been possible without the generous gifts from
patients, donors and friends.
Now more than ever
we need your support to continue our excellence in providing cancer care.