Why Sunnybrook?
We are world leaders in the care of neuroendocrine tumours (NET). Our multidisciplinary clinic is the only one of its kind in Canada. Our integrated care model sees all specialists and treatment options under one roof.
We are high volume. We see more than 1,000 NET patients a year.
Patient resources
Visit our patient education section for information about medications, nutrition tips and more
Our team
Our team includes a core team of surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and a broader team of nuclear medicine physicians, interventional radiologists, dedicated pathologists, and geneticists. All members of the team are specialized in NETs.
Three core specialists simultaneously assess every new patient and meet with patients at each appointment.
The core specialists rotate to cover each clinic, and you may meet with any one of them at any given appointment.
Sten Myrehaug,Extended expert team
Psychology & psychiatry
Dr. Elie Isenberg-Grzeda »
As a psycho-oncologist, Dr. Isenberg-Grzeda's role is in diagnosing and treating the psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of cancer-related distress, and his area of specialty focuses on advanced cancer and incurable cancers. His training includes both advanced psychopharmacological treatments and cancer-specific psychotherapy, including meaning-centered psychotherapy. His research areas include thiamine-related encephalopathy in cancer patients, as well as the pharmacologic treatment of depression in neuroendocrine tumour patients.
Dr. Isenberg-Grzeda graduated from McGill medical school (2009), and completed residency in psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine / Montefiore Medical Center in New York (2013). He went on to pursue fellowship training in psycho-oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer in New York City, where he was also chief fellow.
Endocrinology
Dr. Angela Assal »
As an endocrinologist, Dr. Assal supports the care of NETs patients by focusing on the assessment and management of hormonal secretion associated with the tumour. In addition, her role is crucial in diagnosing and following patients with multiple neuroendocrine neoplasia syndromes (MEN-1 and 2). She joined the multidisciplinary NET clinic team in July 2017.
As the oral anticancer medication pharmacist at the Odette Cancer Centre, Alia Thawer is involved in the management of patients taking oral drugs to treat their neuroendocrine tumours. Her role involves proactively following patients through telephone and in-person visits so that they are able to safely manage their treatment at home. This involves connecting with other health care providers to make sure toxicities are managed collaboratively with the family doctor, endocrinologist and community pharmacist. She is also involved in gaining access to new treatments for patients, as well as making sure treatments are safe to take with other medications.
Alia takes an active role in the Susan Leslie Clinic for Neuroendocrine Tumours’ team to make sure patients have timely access to treatment and are counselled on new or continuing medications to manage their tumour or disease related symptoms. She also has a special interest in educating allied health members in the community about oral treatments in neuroendocrine cancer.
Social work – Denise Bilodeau, MSW RSW
Denise Bilodeau is a Social Worker at the Odette Cancer Centre. She is available to assist patients and their families with personal and practical concerns that may arise because of cancer diagnosis. Support can be offered such areas as coping with your illness, financial concerns, home care, talking to your children about your diagnosis and dealing with advanced illness and needs for care. She can be found in the Patient and Family Support Program office on the ground floor or by calling 416 480 4623.
Clinical nutrition
Certified clinical dieticians can assess your needs and counsel you on how to best manage your diet to support treatment of NET.
Drug reimbursement – Alison Chambers
On-site, drug reimbursement specialists can help you with drug coverage options for medications that are taken at home.
Programs to help with drug coverage include:
- Ontario Drug Benefit including the Trillium Drug Program
- Private drug coverage
- drug manufacturer patient assistance programs
Assistance programs for take-home prescription drugs change often, and we are here to help you throughout your treatment.
Physicians portal
Visit the physicians portal for:
- Referral form (online or fax)
- Evidence supporting the management of NETs
- Videos of surgeries
Research & trials
We are world leaders in NET research. Our team works actively to improve outcomes of NET by studying care delivery, trialling new therapies, and leading expert consensus.
