Odette Cancer Centre Oncologists in China

Seven oncologists from Sunnybrook’s Odette Cancer Centre will speak in Nanjing, China at a symposium hosted by Nanjing First Hospital on November 3, 2007 at the conclusion of an unprecedented five-day visit and the first information exchange between the hospitals about cancer prevention, and integrated treatments across surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

“This visit will be a unique medical and cultural exchange of our perspectives as oncologists always striving to best meet the needs of cancer patients. For the Sunnybrook team, the experience will be enriching to observe first-hand and to learn more about cancer care in China,” says Dr. Sherif Hanna, head of surgical oncology and hepatobiliary surgeon and team lead for the visit. “

The Sunnybrook team who independently funded their visit, has comprehensive representation from surgical, medical and radiological oncology and consists of Dr. Hanna, Dr. Linda Rabeneck, vice president, Regional Cancer Services, Sunnybrook, Dr. Claire Holloway, breast specialist surgical oncologist and co-chair Breast Site Group, Dr. Yooj Ko, medical oncologist and chair, Gastrointestinal Site Group, Dr.Calvin Law, surgical oncologist, Dr. Belinda Curpen, breast MRI radiologist and Dr. Timothy Hanna, radiation oncology trainee.

These oncologists will attend clinics, visit ward patients and observe in the operating rooms and endoscopy suites at Nanjing First Hospital, affiliated with Nanjing Medical University.

Their visit will conclude with presentations at a full-day symposium focused on prevention and treatment of cancers of the liver, breast, colon, pancreas and stomach. There will be numerous presentations including ‘Screening/Digital Mammography for Breast Cancer’, ‘Locally Advanced Breast Cancer’, ‘Screening for Colorectal Cancer’, ‘New Strategies in the Medical Management of Hepato-Cellular Carcinoma’ (HCC, one of the more common types of liver cancer), ‘Advances in the Whipple Procedure’ (or primary surgery used to treat pancreatic cancer) and ‘Role of Radiotherapy in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma’.

This visit is the next step in exchange relations between Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Nanjing First Hospital, which began in 2001. Dr. Hanna was first invited to Nanjing to teach modern techniques of liver surgery. In 2006, two physicians from Nanjing First Hospital visited Sunnybrook and the Odette Cancer Centre to attend clinics, participate in patient rounds and teaching rounds and attend local lectures and symposiums.

Nanjing First Hospital is located in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Nanjing has a population of over five million, is a former capital city of China and is located in one of the country’s largest economic regions at the delta of the Yangtze River.