Patient information
New Patient Care Kits
Learning you have a life threatening disease and that the only traditional treatment available is surgery,
chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment can create emotional and physical shock. Often
a diagnosis is delivered when a person is very ill from the disease and/or in pain and recovering from surgery.
Many patients desperately need to talk to someone who has the same diagnosis - they have many questions but little knowledge of
what to ask. Ability to reach out to stranger for support is stifled by the emotional and physical pain.
In order to protect patient confidentiality, patients' names cannot be given to support groups,
but doctors can provide patients with information of support people available by phone or email. To bridge this gap,
OCATS provides New Patient Care to approximately 300 gyne cancer patients a year. These kits are designed, created, and
prepared and deliverd to gyne oncologists and cancer centres by surivors and our support people.
New Patient Care Kits for Saskatchewan’s New Gynecology Units will include:
- 100 Questions & Answers About "Ovarian" Cancer (or Cervical, Uterine, Peritoneal) Information booklets with detailed information about the specific disease for the patient and her family. Seperate resources are included and kits created specifically for ovarian, cervical, uterine/endometrial and peritoneal cancers.
- Journal designed by survivors specifically for gyne cancer patients with suggestions, reminders, suggested questions for medical appointments, room for notes and special dates of appointments, tests and test results along with a calendar
- Understanding Ovarian (or other) Cancer, A Woman’s Guide, Booklet
- The Road to Survivorship, Living After Cancer Treatment, Booklet
- Information on Genetic Testing for Breast/Ovarian Cancer Risk, Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon
- "Honey, It's All About Me Now" - publication created by survivors to help other women come to terms with being the patient and hints on allowing their friends and family to be the suppor person now.
- Support Group Information on who to call, how they can help, where they meet and contact information.
- Gyne Cancer Survival Tips, from patients who have experienced treatments and their side effects and what they found helpful
- Who is your MRP, Most Responsible Physician publication, explaining who is in charge of every patient's care.
- An assortment of pampering products and awareness ribbon
- OCATS Guide for GP’s
Gynecologic Oncologists in Saskatchewan
A Gynecologic oncologist is an obstetrician/gynecologist who has had extensive training in providing care of women with and without cancer but who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of women with cancer of the reproductive organs including ovary, endometrium, uterus, cervix, vagina, vulva and fallopian tubes. Physicians must complete an approved, 5 year residency program in obstetrics and gynecology. Following this, he/she must complete a 2–3 year clinical fellowship in gynecologic oncology, which includes surgical skills in specialized areas including radical pelvic surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, and urologic surgery. Additionally, fellowship provides training in administration of chemotherapy. The fellowship is certified by a university and approved by the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of Canada after a formal examination.
Gynecologic oncologists are trained in providing comprehensive, multi-disciplinary care and are unique among surgical oncologists and medical oncologists in this regard. They are skilled surgical oncologists who also are trained in administering chemotherapy. Gynecologic oncologists are involved, along with radiation oncologists, in assessment, decision making and preparing a treatment plan for patients with gynecologic cancer requiring radiation. Therefore, a gynecologic oncologist is able to provide an outstanding degree of continuity of care for their patients. For example, if a patient is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, a gynecologic oncologist can perform a staging laparotomy to surgically remove and determine the extent of the tumor. Following the surgery, he/she can review the pathological diagnosis and determine if additional treatment is required. If chemotherapy is indicated, the same gynecologic oncologist is capable of administering treatment. This allows the patient to form a long-term, meaningful relationship with her physician. The gynecologic oncologist is prepared to provide important supportive services from diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and hospice care. This benefits the patient in getting proper and timely treatment. Studies have proven that women with gynecologic malignancies have improved outcomes when treated by gynecologic oncologists .
To have an appointment with a Gynecologic Oncologist you should be referred by your family doctor or another specialist. It is helpful for women to know who the specialists are and be comfortable asking for a referral if she believes she has a possibility of having a gynecologic cancer based on symptoms and/or family history. The ideal scenario for the patient though is to have a proactive general physician who can perform the appropriate examinations (rectovaginal examination), order diagnostic tests (CA125 blood test, transvaginal ultrasound and/or CT Scan) and support you through the process of referral to the Gynecologic Oncologist. It is important for patients to be confident in reporting their symptoms and advocating for their own needs.
Here are our cancer specialists - Gynecological Oncologists in Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
Dr. K. Christopher Giede, MD FRCSC
Assistant Professor and Head, Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Royal University Hospital
103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W8, Phone 306-966-8693, Fax 306-966-8040
Dr. Anita Agrawal, Gynecologic Oncologist
Royal University Hospital
103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W8, Phone 306-966-8693, Fax 306-966-8040
Regina
Dr. Lizbeth Brydon, Gynecologic Oncologist
#100-2631 –28th Avenue, Regina, SK, S4S 6X3, Phone 586-1800 (Brenda, Receptionist), Fax 306-586-3511
Dr. Maryam Al-Hayki, Gynecologic Oncologist
Allan Blair Cancer Centre, Pasqua Hospital, 4101 Dewdney Avenue, Regina SK, S4T 7T1
Phone 306-766-2213, Fax 306-766-2688
Dr. AspeLucero (Carlos Julio) Gynecologic Oncologist
Allan Blair Cancer Centre, Pasqua Hospital, 4101 Dewdney Avenue, Regina SK, S4T 7T1
Phone 306-766-2213, Fax 306-766-2688