Spring 2015
Interventional
Radiology Saves Lives
Robin Urekar had suffered pain in
his neck and shoulders for years, so
he didn’t give it much thought when
he developed pain in his mid-back.
A welder, Robin, 46, had to take time
off from work due to myofascial pain
syndrome, a chronic pain disorder
that can be caused by repetitive
motions performed in certain jobs.
Robin had been on multiple pain
medications for three years.
When Robin started vomiting one
night, he thought he had food
poisoning. The next morning, his
vomit was black, he had black
stools and passed out for about 30
seconds. His wife, Mira, drove him
to Juravinski Hospital from their
home in Caledonia.
Gastroenterologist Dr. Marco Puglia
told Robin he could have died
within hours if he hadn’t sought
treatment. His back pain was due
to a very large, bleeding ulcer, likely
caused by long-term use of antiinflammatory drugs.
Using interventional radiology,
Dr. George Markose was able to
embolize (block off) the bleeding
arteries by inserting a catheter
through a small incision. Dr.
Markose works with a team of highlytrained professionals, including
interventional medical radiation
technologists who operate the
equipment and registered nurses
who assist in the procedure and
monitor the patient. With guidance
from medical imaging, Dr. Markose
could painlessly move the catheter
to the arteries that (Cont’d on page 2)
HEALTH CARE, Transformed.
www.jhccfoundation.ca
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Interventional
radiology saves lives
needed
to be closed off and insert
13 coils to block blood flow.
(Cont’d from page 1)
Robin’s bleeding stopped
and, at his latest check-up,
was told his ulcer is healed.
“I have never heard anything
but positive words about
Juravinski Hospital and
Cancer Centre and now
I know why,” Robin said.
“I was overwhelmed at
how good the care was.
Everyone there is 100 per
cent fantastic.”
To see a video of Robin’s story,
go to hamiltonhealth.ca/robin.
What is
Interventional
Radiology?
The Interventional Radiology
Program is a high-tech
and versatile program that
supports the diagnosis
and treatment of diseases
using the least invasive
techniques, which results in
faster recovery for patients.
The program uses a variety
of diagnostic imaging
equipment such as CT,
Ultrasound and MRIs in
conjunction with surgical
instruments so the physician
can view the organ or organ
system while conducting the
procedure.
This program involves
procedures such as:
biopsying a mass, inserting a
dialysis catheter or injecting
chemotherapy at a higher
dose directly into the tumour.
Care4 Welcomes Two New Partners
Juravinski Hospital and Cancer
Centre Foundation is pleased to
welcome two new local businesses
to our Care4 program.
Staybridge Suites Hamilton will
provide a preferred rate to guests
who reference Hamilton Health
Sciences or the Care4 program
when they make a reservation and
will provide a contribution back to
The Foundation. To book, please visit
hamiltonhealth.ca/care4.
Charles Long Interior Design is a
family-owned business based in
Dundas. The company provides
interior design services.
When Charles learned about the
Care4 program through another
corporate partner, Acura of Hamilton,
he approached The Foundation
wanting to lend his support. He
will donate $100 from each new
in-home client consultation to
Juravinski Hospital and Cancer
Centre Foundation.
Care4 is a fundraising partnership
that empowers businesses to
demonstrate social responsibility
by making a financial commitment
to Hamilton Health Sciences
Foundation.
Research Project Using Genetic Links to
Reduce Cancer Rates
An innovative research project at
Juravinski Hospital and Cancer
Centre stands to have a major
impact on cancer in Canada.
Thanks to donor support, Juravinski
Hospital and Cancer Centre
Foundation’s Grant Distribution
Program provided funding for the
study into Lynch Syndrome (LS), a
hereditary disorder associated with
an increased risk of colon, uterine
and ovarian cancers.
“It is because of this funding that
this study is possible. It could not
happen without it,” said Dr. Lua
Eiriksson, one of the study’s principal
investigators.
Led by Dr. Eiriksson and Dr. Laurie
Elit, the study seeks to determine
how many women with uterine
or ovarian cancer have LS, the
accuracy of LS screening and
the cost vs. benefits of screening
tumours in patients with LS.
Researchers will screen the tumours
of women with uterine or ovarian
cancer to see if they have the
mutation specific to LS and then
offer genetic counseling and testing.
This provides an opportunity for
screening and preventive surgery.
Dr. Eiriksson says about five per
cent of women with uterine cancer
have LS. Many may later develop
colon cancer. “If Lynch Syndrome
is identified, we have the opportunity
to provide more frequent and earlier
screening for colon cancer in these
women,” she says.
Because LS is a result of genetic
mutations, often several family
members are affected. If women with
LS are identified, genetic screening
can detect family members at risk.
“It costs money to test these tumour
samples. But if you are able to find
the genetic mutation, you might be
able to prevent a number of cancers
in the future,” Dr. Eiriksson said.
The Hummingbird – Spring 2015
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Gala Raises More Than $540,000 for Medical Research
On Saturday, February 28, more
than 670 people attended Hamilton
Health Sciences Foundation’s Raise
a Little Health Gala at the Hamilton
Convention Centre. The rockinspired event was a tremendous
success raising more than $540,000
in gross revenue in support of
research at Hamilton Health
Sciences. The annual Gala is The
Foundation’s premier fundraiser.
This year’s Gala supported the
“Enabling Quality Palliative Care
for Advanced Cancer Patients”
research project at Juravinski
Hospital and Cancer Centre. The
study is exploring new approaches
to improving the delivery of palliative
care through the development of an
instrument that can help determine
the appropriate care for patients with
advanced cancer. Team members
who are working on this project
include Dr. Bindi Dhesy, Dr. Oren
Levine and Dr. Marissa Slaven.
Proceeds from last year’s Gala
supported two initiatives. The
HIP ATTACK Trial, led by Dr. P.J.
Devereaux, is exploring whether
quicker access to surgery for hip
fracture patients will improve quality
of life. Secondly, funds supported
the Lung Cancer Disease Site Team
in their goal to use new technologies
to discover multiple types of
lung cancer.
You can watch the Gala video,
which provides more information
about the 2015 projects by visiting
hamiltonhealth.ca/gala2015.
From left to right: Dr. Bindi Dhesy, Medical
Oncologist, Dr. Oren Levine, Medical
Resident, Dr. Marissa Slaven, Palliative
Care Physician.
Local Company’s Commitment
to the Next Generation
Special Occasions Can
Transform Health Care
Mother’s Day is quickly approaching, as
is the graduation and wedding season. As
you celebrate life’s milestones with family,
friends and loved ones, you can make
these special moments more meaningful
by making a donation to Juravinski
Hospital and Cancer Centre Foundation.
There are many ways to take your
special occasion and make it matter,
such as making a donation in lieu of a
gift, or encouraging your guests to do the
same. Your donation will help purchase
medical equipment, support capital
redevelopment projects and enable
investments in research and education
at Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre.
To m a k e y o u r d o n a t i o n o r f o r
more information, please visit
hamiltonhealth.ca/makeitmatter.
For more than a decade,
Hamilton Health Sciences
has offered a “High School
Health Research Bursary” to
senior high school students.
This program involves
assigning mentors from
Hamilton Health Sciences research community to work
with students who have decided to pursue post-secondary
studies in health or life sciences. Originally only students
from local and regional high schools were eligible to apply
for the bursaries; however, the program has recently
expanded so that students from across the province can
apply. This program is made possible with the loyal support
of Tripemco Burlington Insurance and its partner companies
Aviva Traders and Economical Select who have provided
more than $125,000 to support 98 students to date and an
additional 15 students in 2015. Together Hamilton Health
Sciences and Tripemco are committed to developing the
next generation of medical researchers.
Tripemco’s President and CEO, Paul Vaccarello views this
as an ideal opportunity to give back to the community and
are honoured to have a part in providing students with such
a unique and rare experience.
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www.jhccfoundation.ca
Relay for Life 2015
– register and raise funds today
Have you heard? Relay for Life 2015
is now a daytime event!
Assemble your co-workers, friends
and family members on Saturday,
June 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the F.H.
Sherman Recreation and Learning
Centre in Stoney Creek and help
us fight cancer and raise funds for
essential medical equipment.
How to Donate
Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation is
pleased to offer a variety of methods by
which you can donate to support our goal
of Health Care, Transformed. The choice
is yours – go online, respond to a mailing,
establish a monthly auto-withdrawal,
honour a loved one through a memorial
gift, or designate a legacy gift as you craft
your will.
Our staff is available for consultation
about specific program or equipment
needs and can provide more information,
particularly around legacy giving.
Stay Connected
For the third consecutive year, an
anonymous donor has pledged to
match every dollar raised. Funds
raised will go toward the purchase
of an anesthesia machine for
Juravinski Hospital, which costs an
estimated $100,000. This essential
piece of operating room equipment
delivers anesthetic in precise
doses and monitors a patient’s vital
signs during surgery. The machine
automatically sends the information
to those monitoring the patient in the
OR and stores it for follow up.
to more precisely target tumours
and limits effects of radiation on
surrounding healthy tissue. In 2013,
we were able to raise funds toward
the purchase of a robot to prepare
chemotherapy doses in a safe,
sterile, automated environment.
This will also be the third year
Juravinski Hospital and Cancer
Centre Foundation hosts the event
in partnership with the Canadian
Cancer Society. Last year, our team
raised more than $127,000 toward
the purchase of a MR simulator
and required renovations. An MR
simulator is advanced imaging
equipment that provides higher
resolution images of cancerous
tumours, other tissues and organs.
This technology allows physicians
Join the Juravinski Hospital and
Cancer Centre staff, physicians
and patients at Relay for Life 2015.
Register at relayforlife.ca/Hamilton.
Use the drop down menu to identify
Juravinski Hospital and Cancer
Centre as your Team Company
to ensure your fundraising efforts
benefit Juravinski Hospital and
Cancer Centre. To register using a
paper form, email Helaine Ortmann
at [email protected] or call
905-521-2100, ext. 66381.
2014 Annual Report
To learn more about how our donors
and community partners are helping
to transform health care across our
hospitals and cancer centre, read the
2014 Donor Report now available at
www.hamiltonhealth.ca.
Enjoy reading our semi-annual
newsletter? Now you can stay informed
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your e-mail inbox. Every 6-8 weeks
we will send you information on recent
hospital developments, new programs,
patient stories, events and other
fundraising opportunities.
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the link to read more.
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Hamilton, ON L8N 3M8
905-522-3863
www.hamiltonhealth.ca