Doug, 67, recalls bringing friends to our hospital for emergencies as a teenager. Today, he lives in North York with his wife Eleanor and works as a carpenter.
Doug smoked for decades before quitting about eight years ago. Knowing that smoking increases risk for lung cancer, Eleanor pressed him to visit their family doctor.
When their doctor recommended screening, Doug registered for the Ontario Lung Screening Program at his local hospital. There, a CT scan showed a suspicious nodule, leading to an initial diagnosis of early-stage cancer.
Doug was sent for further testing and eventually referred to Michael Garron Hospital. A Level 1 Thoracic Surgery Centre, we provide comprehensive surgical care encompassing nearly all areas of the chest. These services support patients in East Toronto and surrounding areas by way of our partnerships with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, North York General Hospital and Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie.
Innovative care, supported by donors
At our hospital, Doug met Dr. Sayf Gazala, Chief of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Gazala confirmed that the cancer was on the lower lobe of Doug’s right lung.
“He was very clear and to the point, which I appreciate,” says Doug. “We talked about my treatment options and whether to go for surgery or radiation. Based on our discussions, I decided it would be best to have surgery.”
Eleanor had read about minimally invasive procedures with a surgical robot. This gold standard care is associated with less pain, fewer complications and shorter recovery times compared to traditional surgery.
Last year, with the help of generous donors, Michael Garron Hospital replaced its aging da Vinci surgical robot with a new one. This allowed us to expand our range of robotic-assisted procedures to include lung cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada.
“Eleanor asked Dr. Gazala if the team was going to use the robot and he said most likely,” says Doug. “They needed to see what was happening at the time of the operation to know for sure.”
Weeks later, Doug was in the operating room. As it turned out, the cancer was well-suited for robotic-assisted surgery.
“They operated in the morning. Later that evening, I was walking along the sixth floor hooked up to an IV. I did three or four laps and returned to bed,” he recalls.
“The nurses were like angels. They knew what was going to happen before it did, so they knew exactly what to do and when,” Doug adds. “And the Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre is very sharp looking. It’s a needed upgrade for the community.”
Doug’s next steps
Just 26 hours after surgery, Doug was discharged from our hospital. At home, he eventually removed bandages covering four small incisions made during surgery. All were healing nicely. He since returned to our hospital to remove a small stitch from the area where a drainage device had been placed.
Given that his carpentry job requires heavy lifting, Doug will take five weeks to recover before returning to work. He’s grateful for the care he received at Michael Garron Hospital and will visit Dr. Gazala in the coming months for follow-up care.
“The hospital is the anchor of the community. I work with a lot of people who go there for everything,” says Doug. “The care I received was outstanding.”
Donor support provides access to leading-edge equipment that enhances care for patients. Please give what you can at mghf.ca/donate